ECU vs. SWU

Comparable Facts

Compare East Carolina University in Greenville, NC with Southern Wesleyan University in Central, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

East Carolina University is larger than SWU based on total student enrollment (26,940 students vs. 980 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• East Carolina University is located in Greenville, NC (Small City setting); Southern Wesleyan University is in Central, SC (Distant Town setting).
• East Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Southern Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: East Carolina University 17:1; Southern Wesleyan University 10:1.

ECU vs. SWU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECU or SWU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at East Carolina University than SWU ($13,755 vs. $20,134).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Wesleyan University are 12.3% lower than at East Carolina University ($10,126 vs. $11,541).
• Southern Wesleyan University is 304.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECU (about $22,439 more per year; $29,800.00 vs. $7,361.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 26.1% higher at SWU than at East Carolina University (about $6,162 more per year; $29,800.00 vs. $23,638.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southern Wesleyan University than at East Carolina University (100% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Wesleyan University students is 99.4% larger than aid received by East Carolina University students ($19,498 vs. $9,776).

ECU vs. SWU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ECU or SWU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SWU and ECU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at East Carolina University (1160) is 30 points higher than at SWU (1130).
• Incoming SWU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 23 at ECU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Carolina University 1070/1240; Southern Wesleyan University 1040/1210.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Carolina University 21/26; Southern Wesleyan University 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ECU - Test optional; SWU - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman SWU students have a 0.67 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at ECU (3.33).
• SWU has a higher acceptance rate (99.5%) than ECU (89.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at ECU vs. 33.4% at SWU.

ECU vs. SWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECU and SWU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• East Carolina University's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than Southern Wesleyan University's (42%).
• Graduates from Southern Wesleyan University earn a median of about $900 more per year than ECU graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, East Carolina University graduates have a $2,212 lower median loan debt than SWU graduates ($24,788 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, ECU graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SWU graduates ($256 vs. $279).
• More ECU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SWU students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 50%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.