Florida Southern vs. SWU

Comparable Facts

Compare Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL with Southern Wesleyan University in Central, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Florida Southern College is larger than SWU based on total student enrollment (3,211 students vs. 980 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Florida Southern College is located in Lakeland, FL (Small City setting); Southern Wesleyan University is in Central, SC (Distant Town setting).
• Florida Southern College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Southern Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Florida Southern College 11:1; Southern Wesleyan University 10:1.

Florida Southern vs. SWU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Florida Southern 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 Southern Wesleyan University than Florida Southern ($20,134 vs. $29,384).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Wesleyan University are 29.5% lower than at Florida Southern College ($10,126 vs. $14,360).
• Florida Southern College is 47.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than SWU (about $14,240 more per year; $44,040.00 vs. $29,800.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 47.8% higher at Florida Southern than at Southern Wesleyan University (about $14,240 more per year; $44,040.00 vs. $29,800.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Florida Southern College as at Southern Wesleyan University (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Florida Southern College students is 61% larger than aid received by Southern Wesleyan University students ($31,394 vs. $19,498).

Florida Southern vs. SWU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Florida Southern or SWU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SWU and Florida Southern.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Florida Southern College (1240) is 110 points higher than at SWU (1130).
• Incoming Florida Southern students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (27 vs. 25 at SWU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Florida Southern College 1150/1330; Southern Wesleyan University 1040/1210.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Florida Southern College 25/30; Southern Wesleyan University 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Florida Southern - Test optional; SWU - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Florida Southern May 1, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman SWU students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Florida Southern (3.73).
• SWU has a higher acceptance rate (99.5%) than Florida Southern (64.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11% at Florida Southern vs. 33.4% at SWU.

Florida Southern vs. SWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Florida Southern and SWU? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Florida Southern College's six-year graduation rate (55%) is higher than Southern Wesleyan University's (42%).
• Graduates from Southern Wesleyan University earn a median of about $2,100 more per year than Florida Southern graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $42,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Florida Southern College graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than SWU graduates ($24,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Florida Southern graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SWU graduates ($248 vs. $279).
• More Florida Southern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SWU students, three years after graduation. (65% 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.