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 1,188 11,380
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1043 #815
Religious Affiliation Wesleyan - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website edu. utc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 SWU UTC
Tuition (In State) $26,520 $8,232
Tuition (Out of State) $26,520 $16,296
Room & Board $10,654 $10,052
Avg Net Price $20,336 $13,801
Avg Grant Aid $18,771 $9,834
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 93%

Admission

 SWU UTC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 472 9,096
Admitted 472 7,006
Acceptance Rate 100% 77%
Enrolled % 33.7% 34%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.61
Typical High School Grades A/A+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/24 20/25
SAT Range 980/1200 1005/1185
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline May 1, 2026

Academics

 SWU UTC
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 17:1
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 4% 5%
% Women 22% 8%
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 59% 88%
% Out-of-State 41% 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 (11,380 students vs. 1,188 students)

SWU vs. UTC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SWU or UTC?

  • Southern Wesleyan University is 222.2% more expensive to attend than UTC for in-state tuition ($26,520.00 vs. $8,232.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 62.7% higher at SWU than The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ($26,520.00 vs. $16,296.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga than SWU ($13,801 vs. $20,336)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga are 6% lower than costs at Southern Wesleyan University ($10,052 vs. $10,654)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Wesleyan University than The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (100% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Wesleyan University students is 90.9% larger than aid received The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ($18,771 vs. $9,834)

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)
  • SWU has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than UTC (77%)

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/