SWU vs. Coastal Carolina

Comparable Facts

Compare Southern Wesleyan University in Central, SC with Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Coastal Carolina University is larger than SWU based on total student enrollment (11,348 students vs. 980 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Southern Wesleyan University is located in Central, SC (Distant Town setting); Coastal Carolina University is in Conway, SC (Small City setting).
• Southern Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Coastal Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Southern Wesleyan University 10:1; Coastal Carolina University 17:1.

SWU vs. Coastal Carolina Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SWU or Coastal Carolina? 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 Coastal Carolina University than SWU ($14,379 vs. $20,134).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Wesleyan University are 16.6% lower than at Coastal Carolina University ($10,126 vs. $12,146).
• Southern Wesleyan University is 156% more expensive for in-state tuition than Coastal Carolina (about $18,160 more per year; $29,800.00 vs. $11,640.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.6% higher at SWU than at Coastal Carolina University (about $172 more per year; $29,800.00 vs. $29,628.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southern Wesleyan University than at Coastal Carolina University (100% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Wesleyan University students is 93.3% larger than aid received by Coastal Carolina University students ($19,498 vs. $10,087).

SWU vs. Coastal Carolina Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SWU or Coastal Carolina? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Coastal Carolina and SWU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Coastal Carolina University (1140) is 10 points higher than at SWU (1130).
• Incoming SWU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 23 at Coastal Carolina).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Southern Wesleyan University 1040/1210; Coastal Carolina University 1050/1220.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Southern Wesleyan University 22/28; Coastal Carolina University 21/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SWU - Test optional; Coastal Carolina - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman SWU students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Coastal Carolina (3.72).
• SWU has a higher acceptance rate (99.5%) than Coastal Carolina (75.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 33.4% at SWU vs. 16.9% at Coastal Carolina.

SWU vs. Coastal Carolina Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SWU and Coastal Carolina? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Coastal Carolina University's six-year graduation rate (46%) is higher than Southern Wesleyan University's (42%).
• Graduates from Southern Wesleyan University earn a median of about $2,600 more per year than Coastal Carolina graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $42,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Coastal Carolina University graduates have a $2,070 lower median loan debt than SWU graduates ($24,930 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Coastal Carolina graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SWU graduates ($257 vs. $279).
• More Coastal Carolina graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SWU students, three years after graduation. (54% 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.