Gordon College vs. SU

Should I go to Gordon College or Southwestern University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Gordon 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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Gordon College vs. Southwestern University comparison
Gordon College Southwestern University College 3 College 4
Gordon College Southwestern University
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Overview

 Gordon College SU
Location Wenham, MA Georgetown, TX
Setting Large Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 1,610 1,457
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #343 #189
Religious Affiliation Interdenominational United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gordon.edu southwestern.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Gordon College SU
Tuition (In State) $27,000 $50,558
Tuition (Out of State) $27,000 $50,558
Room & Board $12,650 $13,628
Avg Net Price $25,250 $30,687
Avg Grant Aid $15,740 $32,956
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

 Gordon College SU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,579 6,585
Admitted 1,516 2,573
Acceptance Rate 58.8% 39.1%
Enrolled % 21.6% 15.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.58 3.5
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low High
ACT Range 26/32 24/30
SAT Range 1168/1370 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 Feb 1, 2026

Academics

 Gordon College SU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Education (8%)

Outcomes

 Gordon College SU
Graduation Rate 74% 73%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,300 $57,400
Making Student Loan Payments 85% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $26,893
Median Loan Payment $279 $278

Diversity

 Gordon College SU
% Men 5% 0%
% Women 15% 0%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 72% 62%
% Black 4% 5%
% Hispanic 7% 22%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 8% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

 Gordon College SU
% In-State 35% 89%
% Out-of-State 58% 9%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Gordon College is larger than than SU based on total student enrollment (1,610 students vs. 1,457 students)

Gordon College vs. SU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Gordon College or SU?

  • Southwestern University is 87.3% more expensive to attend than Gordon College for in-state tuition ($50,558.00 vs. $27,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 87.3% higher at SU than Gordon College ($50,558.00 vs. $27,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Gordon College than SU ($25,250 vs. $30,687)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gordon College are 7.7% lower than costs at Southwestern University ($12,650 vs. $13,628)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Gordon College than Southwestern University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern University students is 109.4% larger than aid received Gordon College ($32,956 vs. $15,740)

Gordon College vs. SU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Southwestern University (1168) is 56 points higher than at Gordon College (1112)
  • Incoming Gordon College students have at the same average ACT score (26) as students at SU (26)
  • Accepted freshman Gordon College students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at SU (3.5)
  • Gordon College has a higher acceptance rate (58.8%) than SU (39.1%)

Gordon College vs. SU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Gordon 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 Gordon College.

  • The graduation rate at Gordon College is higher than Southwestern University (74% vs. 73%)
  • Graduates from Southwestern University earn on average $12,100 more per year than Gordon College graduates after ten years. ($57,400 vs. $45,300)
  • Southwestern University students graduate with a $107 lower median federal student loan debt than Gordon College graduates. ($26,893 vs. $27,000)
  • SU graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than Gordon College graduates. ($278 vs. $279)
  • More Gordon College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SU students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 80%)

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