SWU vs. AU

Deciding between Southern Wesleyan University and Averett University? 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.

Averett University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • SWU Central, SC
  • AU Danville, VA
  • Setting
  • SWU Distant Town
  • AU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • SWU 980
  • AU 1,476
  • Type
  • SWU Private 4 Year
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SWU
  • AU #637
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SWU Wesleyan
  • AU -
  • Status
  • SWU Non-profit
  • AU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SWU
  • AU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SWU $29,800
  • AU $38,550
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SWU $29,800
  • AU $38,550
  • Room & Board
  • SWU $10,126
  • AU $14,530
  • Average Net Price
  • SWU $20,134
  • AU $23,471
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SWU $19,498
  • AU $29,998
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SWU 100%
  • AU 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SWU 427
  • AU 2,573
  • Admitted
  • SWU 425
  • AU 1,456
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SWU 99.5%
  • AU 56.6%
  • Enrolled
  • SWU 33.4%
  • AU 18.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SWU 1130
  • AU 1030
  • Typical ACT score
  • SWU 25
  • AU 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • SWU 4.0
  • AU 3.07
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SWU A/A+
  • AU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • SWU Average
  • AU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • SWU
  • AU Low
  • ACT Range
  • SWU 22/28
  • AU 15/28
  • SAT Range
  • SWU 1040/1210
  • AU 926/1143
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SWU Test optional
  • AU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SWU
  • AU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SWU 10:1
  • AU 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SWU
    • Business (66%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (3%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (3%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • AU
    • Business (23%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SWU 42%
  • AU 41%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SWU $44,800
  • AU $48,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SWU 50%
  • AU 51%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SWU $27,000
  • AU $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SWU $279
  • AU $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SWU 36%
  • AU 45%
  • % Women
  • SWU 64%
  • AU 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SWU Medium
  • AU Medium
  • HBCU
  • SWU No
  • AU No
  • % White
  • SWU 63%
  • AU 58%
  • % Asian
  • SWU 0%
  • AU 1%
  • % Black
  • SWU 28%
  • AU 33%
  • % Hispanic
  • SWU 5%
  • AU 4%
  • % Native American
  • SWU 0%
  • AU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SWU 0%
  • AU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SWU 2%
  • AU 0%
  • % International
  • SWU 1%
  • AU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SWU 1%
  • AU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SWU 56%
  • AU 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SWU 39%
  • AU 39%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • SWU Yes
  • AU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • SWU No
  • AU No
  • Meal Plan
  • SWU Yes
  • AU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • SWU Yes
  • AU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • SWU No
  • AU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Southern Wesleyan University in Central, SC with Averett University in Danville, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Averett University is larger than SWU based on total student enrollment (1,476 students vs. 980 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Southern Wesleyan University is located in Central, SC (Distant Town setting); Averett University is in Danville, VA (Small City setting).
  • Southern Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Averett University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Southern Wesleyan University 10:1; Averett University 16:1.

SWU vs. AU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SWU or AU? 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 AU ($20,134 vs. $23,471).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Wesleyan University are 30.3% lower than at Averett University ($10,126 vs. $14,530).
  • Averett University is 29.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than SWU (about $8,750 more per year; $38,550.00 vs. $29,800.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 29.4% higher at AU than at Southern Wesleyan University (about $8,750 more per year; $38,550.00 vs. $29,800.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southern Wesleyan University than at Averett University (100% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Averett University students is 53.9% larger than aid received by Southern Wesleyan University students ($29,998 vs. $19,498).

SWU vs. AU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SWU or AU? 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 AU and SWU.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Southern Wesleyan University (1130) is 100 points higher than at AU (1030).
  • Incoming SWU students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (25 vs. 21 at AU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Southern Wesleyan University 1040/1210; Averett University 926/1143.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Southern Wesleyan University 22/28; Averett University 15/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SWU - Test optional; AU - Test optional.
  • Enrolled freshman SWU students have a 0.93 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at AU (3.07).
  • SWU has a higher acceptance rate (99.5%) than AU (56.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 33.4% at SWU vs. 18.1% at AU.

SWU vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SWU and AU? 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.

  • Southern Wesleyan University's six-year graduation rate (42%) is higher than Averett University's (41%).
  • Graduates from Averett University earn a median of about $3,600 more per year than SWU graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,400 vs. $44,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Averett University graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than SWU graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, AU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SWU graduates ($258 vs. $279).
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SWU students, three years after graduation. (51% 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.