FSW vs. Beacon College

Deciding between Florida SouthWestern State College and Beacon College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • FSW Fort Myers, FL
  • Beacon College Leesburg, FL
  • Setting
  • FSW Large Suburban
  • Beacon College Small Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • FSW 14,301
  • Beacon College 531
  • Type
  • FSW Public 4 Year
  • Beacon College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • FSW
  • Beacon College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • FSW -
  • Beacon College -
  • Status
  • FSW Non-profit
  • Beacon College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • FSW
  • Beacon College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • FSW $3,401
  • Beacon College $51,680
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • FSW $12,979
  • Beacon College $51,680
  • Room & Board
  • FSW $11,185
  • Beacon College $15,658
  • Average Net Price
  • FSW $8,356
  • Beacon College $46,997
  • Average Grant Aid
  • FSW $5,938
  • Beacon College $23,988
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • FSW 80%
  • Beacon College 93%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • FSW -
  • Beacon College 674
  • Admitted
  • FSW -
  • Beacon College 293
  • Acceptance Rate
  • FSW Open
  • Beacon College 43.5%
  • Enrolled
  • FSW Open
  • Beacon College 38.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • FSW
  • Beacon College
  • Typical ACT score
  • FSW
  • Beacon College
  • Average High School GPA
  • FSW 3.06
  • Beacon College 3.2
  • Typical High School Grades
  • FSW B
  • Beacon College B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • FSW Unavailable
  • Beacon College Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • FSW
  • Beacon College Low
  • ACT Range
  • FSW
  • Beacon College
  • SAT Range
  • FSW
  • Beacon College
  • Submit Test Scores
  • FSW Open admission
  • Beacon College Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • FSW
  • Beacon College

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • FSW 27:1
  • Beacon College 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • FSW
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (56%)
    • Health Professions (26%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
    • Business (5%)
    • Education (4%)
  • Beacon College
    • Human Services (41%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (33%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (26%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • FSW -
  • Beacon College 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • FSW $37,400
  • Beacon College N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • FSW 43%
  • Beacon College 55%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • FSW $9,000
  • Beacon College $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • FSW $93
  • Beacon College $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • FSW 36%
  • Beacon College 65%
  • % Women
  • FSW 64%
  • Beacon College 35%
  • Racial Diversity
  • FSW High
  • Beacon College Medium
  • HBCU
  • FSW No
  • Beacon College No
  • % White
  • FSW 51%
  • Beacon College 70%
  • % Asian
  • FSW 2%
  • Beacon College 3%
  • % Black
  • FSW 11%
  • Beacon College 15%
  • % Hispanic
  • FSW 28%
  • Beacon College 4%
  • % Native American
  • FSW 0%
  • Beacon College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • FSW 0%
  • Beacon College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • FSW 2%
  • Beacon College 4%
  • % International
  • FSW 2%
  • Beacon College 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • FSW 4%
  • Beacon College 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • FSW 93%
  • Beacon College 34%
  • % Out-of-State
  • FSW 0%
  • Beacon College 65%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • FSW Yes
  • Beacon College Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • FSW No
  • Beacon College No
  • Meal Plan
  • FSW No
  • Beacon College Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • FSW Yes
  • Beacon College No
  • Daycare Facility
  • FSW Yes
  • Beacon College No

Comparable Facts

Compare Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers, FL with Beacon College in Leesburg, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Florida SouthWestern State College is larger than Beacon College based on total student enrollment (14,301 students vs. 531 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Florida SouthWestern State College is located in Fort Myers, FL (Large Suburban setting); Beacon College is in Leesburg, FL (Small Suburban setting).
  • Florida SouthWestern State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Beacon College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Florida SouthWestern State College 27:1; Beacon College 12:1.

FSW vs. Beacon College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, FSW or Beacon College? 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 Florida SouthWestern State College than Beacon College ($8,356 vs. $46,997).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Florida SouthWestern State College are 28.6% lower than at Beacon College ($11,185 vs. $15,658).
  • Beacon College is 1,419.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than FSW (about $48,279 more per year; $51,680.00 vs. $3,401.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 298.2% higher at Beacon College than at Florida SouthWestern State College (about $38,701 more per year; $51,680.00 vs. $12,979.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Beacon College than at Florida SouthWestern State College (93% vs. 80%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Beacon College students is 304% larger than aid received by Florida SouthWestern State College students ($23,988 vs. $5,938).

FSW vs. Beacon College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, FSW or Beacon College? 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 Beacon College and FSW.

  • Florida SouthWestern State College reports an open admissions policy.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: FSW - Open admission; Beacon College - Test-free.
  • Accepted freshman Beacon College students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.2) than students at FSW (3.06).

FSW vs. Beacon College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for FSW and Beacon College? 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).

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Florida SouthWestern State College graduates have a $16,000 lower median loan debt than Beacon College graduates ($9,000 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, FSW graduates have an estimated $165 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Beacon College graduates ($93 vs. $258).
  • More Beacon College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FSW students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 43%)

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.