SWU vs. Bluefield State College

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

 SWU Bluefield State College
Location Central, SC Bluefield, WV
Setting Distant Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 1,175 1,306
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #826 #986
Religious Affiliation Wesleyan - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website edu. bluefieldstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 SWU Bluefield State College
Tuition (In State) $26,520 $8,840
Tuition (Out of State) $26,520 $16,030
Room & Board $9,650 $10,200
Avg Net Price $17,639 $11,759
Avg Grant Aid $19,636 $10,160
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 96%

Admission

 SWU Bluefield State College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 846 813
Admitted 433 790
Acceptance Rate 51.2% 97.2%
Enrolled % 34.2% 33.4%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.41
Typical High School Grades A/A+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/23 17/22
SAT Range 1013/1160 870/1080
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 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

 SWU Bluefield State College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (66%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (3%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (3%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Health Professions (29%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
  • Engineering Technology (16%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Education (9%)

Outcomes

 SWU Bluefield State College
Graduation Rate 42% 22%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,800 $31,800
Making Student Loan Payments 50% 30%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $19,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $196

Diversity

 SWU Bluefield State College
% Men 33% 40%
% Women 67% 60%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 63% 85%
% Black 28% 9%
% Hispanic 5% 1%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 1%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

 SWU Bluefield State College
% In-State 58% 54%
% Out-of-State 42% 46%

Campus

 SWU Bluefield State College
Campus Housing Yes No
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Bluefield State College is larger than than SWU based on total student enrollment (1,306 students vs. 1,175 students)

SWU vs. Bluefield State College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SWU or Bluefield State College?

  • Southern Wesleyan University is 200% more expensive to attend than Bluefield State College for in-state tuition ($26,520.00 vs. $8,840.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 65.4% higher at SWU than Bluefield State College ($26,520.00 vs. $16,030.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bluefield State College than SWU ($11,759 vs. $17,639)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Wesleyan University are 5.7% lower than costs at Bluefield State College ($9,650 vs. $10,200)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Wesleyan University than Bluefield State College (100% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Wesleyan University students is 93.3% larger than aid received Bluefield State College ($19,636 vs. $10,160)

SWU vs. Bluefield State College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman SWU students have a 0.59 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Bluefield State College (3.41)
  • Bluefield State College has a higher acceptance rate (97.2%) than SWU (51.2%)

SWU vs. Bluefield State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, SWU or Bluefield State College? 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 Bluefield State College and SWU.

  • The graduation rate at SWU is higher than Bluefield State College (42% vs. 22%)
  • Graduates from Southern Wesleyan University earn on average $13,000 more per year than Bluefield State College graduates after ten years. ($44,800 vs. $31,800)
  • Bluefield State College students graduate with a $8,000 lower median federal student loan debt than SWU graduates. ($19,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Bluefield State College graduates are paying $83 less per month on federal student loans than SWU graduates. ($196 vs. $279)
  • More SWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bluefield State College students, three years after graduation. (50% vs. 30%)

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