SWU vs. HSC- Hampden-Sydney

Comparable Facts

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

Southern Wesleyan University is larger than HSC- Hampden-Sydney based on total student enrollment (980 students vs. 946 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Southern Wesleyan University is located in Central, SC (Distant Town setting); Hampden Sydney College is in Hampden-Sydney, VA (Distant Rural setting).
• Southern Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Hampden Sydney College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Southern Wesleyan University 10:1; Hampden Sydney College 9:1.

SWU vs. HSC- Hampden-Sydney Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SWU or HSC- Hampden-Sydney? 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 HSC- Hampden-Sydney ($20,134 vs. $29,717).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Wesleyan University are 39.5% lower than at Hampden Sydney College ($10,126 vs. $16,732).
• Hampden Sydney College is 83.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than SWU (about $24,750 more per year; $54,550.00 vs. $29,800.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 83.1% higher at HSC- Hampden-Sydney than at Southern Wesleyan University (about $24,750 more per year; $54,550.00 vs. $29,800.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Southern Wesleyan University as at Hampden Sydney College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Hampden Sydney College students is 108.8% larger than aid received by Southern Wesleyan University students ($40,720 vs. $19,498).

SWU vs. HSC- Hampden-Sydney Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SWU or HSC- Hampden-Sydney? 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 HSC- Hampden-Sydney and SWU.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Hampden Sydney College (1140) is 10 points higher than at SWU (1130).
• Incoming SWU students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 25) as students at HSC- Hampden-Sydney (25).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Southern Wesleyan University 1040/1210; Hampden Sydney College 1030/1250.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Southern Wesleyan University 22/28; Hampden Sydney College 23/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SWU - Test optional; HSC- Hampden-Sydney - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: HSC- Hampden-Sydney Feb 1, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman SWU students have a 0.47 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at HSC- Hampden-Sydney (3.53).
• SWU has a higher acceptance rate (99.5%) than HSC- Hampden-Sydney (40.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 33.4% at SWU vs. 22.8% at HSC- Hampden-Sydney.

SWU vs. HSC- Hampden-Sydney Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SWU and HSC- Hampden-Sydney? 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.

• Hampden Sydney College's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than Southern Wesleyan University's (42%).
• Graduates from Hampden Sydney College earn a median of about $9,200 more per year than SWU graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,000 vs. $44,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Hampden Sydney College and SWU graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Hampden Sydney College and SWU graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More HSC- Hampden-Sydney graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SWU students, three years after graduation. (75% 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.