SWU vs. Randolph

Comparable Facts

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

Southern Wesleyan University is larger than Randolph based on total student enrollment (980 students vs. 816 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Southern Wesleyan University is located in Central, SC (Distant Town setting); Randolph College is in Lynchburg, VA (Small City setting).
• Southern Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Randolph College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Southern Wesleyan University 10:1; Randolph College 8:1.

SWU vs. Randolph Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SWU or Randolph? 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 Randolph ($20,134 vs. $21,668).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Wesleyan University are 18% lower than at Randolph College ($10,126 vs. $12,350).
• Randolph College is 1.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than SWU (about $510 more per year; $30,310.00 vs. $29,800.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.7% higher at Randolph than at Southern Wesleyan University (about $510 more per year; $30,310.00 vs. $29,800.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Southern Wesleyan University as at Randolph College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Randolph College students is 19.9% larger than aid received by Southern Wesleyan University students ($23,372 vs. $19,498).

SWU vs. Randolph Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Randolph College (1160) is 30 points higher than at SWU (1130).
• Incoming SWU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (25 vs. 22 at Randolph).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Southern Wesleyan University 1040/1210; Randolph College 1100/1210.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Southern Wesleyan University 22/28; Randolph College 19/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SWU - Test optional; Randolph - Test optional.
• Enrolled freshman SWU students have a 0.65 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Randolph (3.35).
• SWU has a higher acceptance rate (99.5%) than Randolph (93.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 33.4% at SWU vs. 11.7% at Randolph.

SWU vs. Randolph Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SWU and Randolph? 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.

• Randolph College's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Southern Wesleyan University's (42%).
• Graduates from Southern Wesleyan University earn a median of about $1,600 more per year than Randolph graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $43,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Randolph College and SWU graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Randolph College and SWU graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More Randolph graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SWU students, three years after graduation. (63% 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.