SWU vs. UTC

Should I go to Southern Wesleyan University or The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if SWU or UTC 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. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga comparison
Southern Wesleyan University The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga College 3 College 4
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
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Overview

 SWU UTC
Location Central, SC Chattanooga, TN
Setting Distant Town Midsize City
Enrollment 1,175 11,283
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #826 #788
Religious Affiliation Wesleyan - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website edu. utc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 SWU UTC
Tuition (In State) $26,520 $7,992
Tuition (Out of State) $26,520 $24,110
Room & Board $9,650 $9,500
Avg Net Price $17,639 $14,417
Avg Grant Aid $19,636 $9,309
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 94%

Admission

 SWU UTC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 846 8,345
Admitted 433 6,897
Acceptance Rate 51.2% 82.6%
Enrolled % 34.2% 32.6%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.61
Typical High School Grades A/A+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/23 20/26
SAT Range 1013/1160 1023/1210
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 May 1, 2025

Academics

 SWU UTC
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (66%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (3%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (3%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

 SWU UTC
Graduation Rate 42% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,800 $40,600
Making Student Loan Payments 50% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $20,792
Median Loan Payment $279 $214

Diversity

 SWU UTC
% Men 33% 42%
% Women 67% 58%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 63% 75%
% Black 28% 11%
% Hispanic 5% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 7%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

 SWU UTC
% In-State 58% 89%
% Out-of-State 42% 11%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is larger than than SWU based on total student enrollment (11,283 students vs. 1,175 students)

SWU vs. UTC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SWU or UTC?

  • Southern Wesleyan University is 231.8% more expensive to attend than UTC for in-state tuition ($26,520.00 vs. $7,992.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 10% higher at SWU than The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ($26,520.00 vs. $24,110.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga than SWU ($14,417 vs. $17,639)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga are 1.6% lower than costs at Southern Wesleyan University ($9,500 vs. $9,650)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Wesleyan University than The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (100% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Wesleyan University students is 110.9% larger than aid received The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ($19,636 vs. $9,309)

SWU vs. UTC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman SWU students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UTC (3.61)
  • UTC has a higher acceptance rate (82.6%) than SWU (51.2%)

SWU vs. UTC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, SWU or UTC? 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 UTC and SWU.

  • The graduation rate at SWU is higher than The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (42% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Southern Wesleyan University earn on average $4,200 more per year than UTC graduates after ten years. ($44,800 vs. $40,600)
  • The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga students graduate with a $6,208 lower median federal student loan debt than SWU graduates. ($20,792 vs. $27,000)
  • UTC graduates are paying $65 less per month on federal student loans than SWU graduates. ($214 vs. $279)
  • More UTC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SWU students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 50%)

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