Samford University vs. SWU

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

Samford University SWU
Location Birmingham, AL Central, SC
Setting Large Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 5,791 1,188
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #213 #1043
Religious Affiliation Baptist Wesleyan - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website samford.edu edu.
Team Colors                    

Costs

Samford University SWU
Tuition (In State) $37,144 $26,520
Tuition (Out of State) $37,144 $26,520
Room & Board $12,160 $10,654
Avg Net Price $32,176 $20,336
Avg Grant Aid $21,758 $18,771
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Samford University SWU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,541 472
Admitted 3,734 472
Acceptance Rate 82.2% 100%
Enrolled % 28.9% 33.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.84 4.0
Typical High School Grades A- A/A+
Admissions Standards Challenging Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/29 19/24
SAT Range 1070/1260 980/1200
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 May 1, 2026

Academics

Samford University SWU
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Work and Family Studies (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Business (66%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (3%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (3%)
  • Psychology (3%)

Outcomes

Samford University SWU
Graduation Rate 70% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,400 $44,800
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 50%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $232 $279

Diversity

Samford University SWU
% Men 11% 4%
% Women 23% 22%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 81% 63%
% Black 7% 28%
% Hispanic 5% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Samford University SWU
% In-State 23% 59%
% Out-of-State 77% 41%

Campus

Samford University SWU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Samford University is larger than than SWU based on total student enrollment (5,791 students vs. 1,188 students)

Samford University vs. SWU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Samford University or SWU?

  • Samford University is 40.1% more expensive to attend than SWU for in-state tuition ($37,144.00 vs. $26,520.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 40.1% higher at Samford University than Southern Wesleyan University ($37,144.00 vs. $26,520.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southern Wesleyan University than Samford University ($20,336 vs. $32,176)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Wesleyan University are 14.1% lower than costs at Samford University ($10,654 vs. $12,160)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Samford University as Southern Wesleyan University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Samford University students is 15.9% larger than aid received Southern Wesleyan University ($21,758 vs. $18,771)

Samford University vs. SWU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman SWU students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Samford University (3.84)
  • SWU has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than Samford University (82.2%)

Samford University vs. SWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Samford University or SWU? 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 SWU and Samford University.

  • The graduation rate at Samford University is higher than Southern Wesleyan University (70% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from Samford University earn on average $12,600 more per year than SWU graduates after ten years. ($57,400 vs. $44,800)
  • Samford University students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than SWU graduates. ($22,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Samford University graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than SWU graduates. ($232 vs. $279)
  • More Samford University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SWU students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 50%)

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