Eckerd College vs. SU

Should I go to Eckerd College or Southwestern University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Eckerd College or SU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Eckerd College vs. Southwestern University comparison
Eckerd College Southwestern University College 3 College 4
Eckerd College Southwestern University
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Overview

 Eckerd College SU
Location Saint Petersburg, FL Georgetown, TX
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 1,986 1,457
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #377 #189
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website eckerd.edu southwestern.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Eckerd College SU
Tuition (In State) $49,668 $50,558
Tuition (Out of State) $49,668 $50,558
Room & Board $14,268 $13,628
Avg Net Price $40,122 $30,687
Avg Grant Aid $26,757 $32,956
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 99%

Admission

 Eckerd College SU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,664 6,585
Admitted 3,670 2,573
Acceptance Rate 78.7% 39.1%
Enrolled % 14.6% 15.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.8 3.5
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 24/29 24/30
SAT Range 1150/1336 1170/1340
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2026

Academics

 Eckerd College SU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (26%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Education (8%)

Outcomes

 Eckerd College SU
Graduation Rate 63% 73%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,400 $57,400
Making Student Loan Payments 65% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $26,893
Median Loan Payment $279 $278

Diversity

 Eckerd College SU
% Men 0% 0%
% Women 0% 0%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 76% 62%
% Black 5% 5%
% Hispanic 8% 22%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 4% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

 Eckerd College SU
% In-State 19% 89%
% Out-of-State 76% 9%

Campus

 Eckerd College SU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Eckerd College is larger than than SU based on total student enrollment (1,986 students vs. 1,457 students)

Eckerd College vs. SU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Eckerd College or SU?

  • Southwestern University is 1.8% more expensive to attend than Eckerd College for in-state tuition ($50,558.00 vs. $49,668.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 1.8% higher at SU than Eckerd College ($50,558.00 vs. $49,668.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southwestern University than Eckerd College ($30,687 vs. $40,122)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern University are 4.7% lower than costs at Eckerd College ($13,628 vs. $14,268)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Eckerd College as Southwestern University (99% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern University students is 23.2% larger than aid received Eckerd College ($32,956 vs. $26,757)

Eckerd College vs. SU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Eckerd College or SU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SU or Eckerd College .

  • The average SAT score at Southwestern University (1168) is 34 points higher than at Eckerd College (1134)
  • Incoming Eckerd College students have at the same average ACT score (26) as students at SU (26)
  • Accepted freshman Eckerd College students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at SU (3.5)
  • Eckerd College has a higher acceptance rate (78.7%) than SU (39.1%)

Eckerd College vs. SU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Eckerd College or SU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SU and Eckerd College.

  • The graduation rate at SU is higher than Eckerd College (73% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from Southwestern University earn on average $9,000 more per year than Eckerd College graduates after ten years. ($57,400 vs. $48,400)
  • Southwestern University students graduate with a $107 lower median federal student loan debt than Eckerd College graduates. ($26,893 vs. $27,000)
  • SU graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than Eckerd College graduates. ($278 vs. $279)
  • More SU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Eckerd College students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 65%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/