SWU vs. UVa-Wise

Should I go to Southern Wesleyan University or The University of Virginia's College at Wise? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if SWU or UVa-Wise 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 Virginia's College at Wise comparison
Southern Wesleyan University The University of Virginia's College at Wise College 3 College 4
The University of Virginia's College at Wise
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Overview

 SWU UVa-Wise
Location Central, SC Wise, VA
Setting Distant Town Distant Town
Enrollment 1,175 1,704
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #826 #750
Religious Affiliation Wesleyan - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website edu. uvawise.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 SWU UVa-Wise
Tuition (In State) $26,520 $6,040
Tuition (Out of State) $26,520 $25,419
Room & Board $9,650 $11,919
Avg Net Price $17,639 $9,923
Avg Grant Aid $19,636 $14,299
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 98%

Admission

 SWU UVa-Wise
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 846 835
Admitted 433 631
Acceptance Rate 51.2% 75.6%
Enrolled % 34.2% 39.8%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.57
Typical High School Grades A/A+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/23 19/25
SAT Range 1013/1160 915/1160
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 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

 SWU UVa-Wise
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (66%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (3%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (3%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (21%)
  • Business (17%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • History (7%)

Outcomes

 SWU UVa-Wise
Graduation Rate 42% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,800 $42,100
Making Student Loan Payments 50% 57%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $20,827
Median Loan Payment $279 $215

Diversity

 SWU UVa-Wise
% Men 33% 40%
% Women 67% 60%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 63% 78%
% Black 28% 12%
% Hispanic 5% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 0%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 7%

Students

 SWU UVa-Wise
% In-State 58% 76%
% Out-of-State 42% 21%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • The University of Virginia's College at Wise is larger than than SWU based on total student enrollment (1,704 students vs. 1,175 students)

SWU vs. UVa-Wise Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SWU or UVa-Wise?

  • Southern Wesleyan University is 339.1% more expensive to attend than UVa-Wise for in-state tuition ($26,520.00 vs. $6,040.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.3% higher at SWU than The University of Virginia's College at Wise ($26,520.00 vs. $25,419.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Virginia's College at Wise than SWU ($9,923 vs. $17,639)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Wesleyan University are 23.5% lower than costs at The University of Virginia's College at Wise ($9,650 vs. $11,919)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Wesleyan University than The University of Virginia's College at Wise (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Wesleyan University students is 37.3% larger than aid received The University of Virginia's College at Wise ($19,636 vs. $14,299)

SWU vs. UVa-Wise Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman SWU students have a 0.43 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UVa-Wise (3.57)
  • UVa-Wise has a higher acceptance rate (75.6%) than SWU (51.2%)

SWU vs. UVa-Wise Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, SWU or UVa-Wise? 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 UVa-Wise and SWU.

  • The graduation rate at SWU is higher than The University of Virginia's College at Wise (42% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Southern Wesleyan University earn on average $2,700 more per year than UVa-Wise graduates after ten years. ($44,800 vs. $42,100)
  • The University of Virginia's College at Wise students graduate with a $6,173 lower median federal student loan debt than SWU graduates. ($20,827 vs. $27,000)
  • UVa-Wise graduates are paying $64 less per month on federal student loans than SWU graduates. ($215 vs. $279)
  • More UVa-Wise graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SWU students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 50%)

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