SWU vs. USC Aiken

Should I go to Southern Wesleyan University or University of South Carolina Aiken? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if SWU or USC Aiken 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. University of South Carolina Aiken comparison
Southern Wesleyan University University of South Carolina Aiken College 3 College 4
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Overview

 SWU USC Aiken
Location Central, SC Aiken, SC
Setting Distant Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 1,175 3,840
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #826 #888
Religious Affiliation Wesleyan - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website edu. usca.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 SWU USC Aiken
Tuition (In State) $26,520 $10,398
Tuition (Out of State) $26,520 $20,856
Room & Board $9,650 $8,376
Avg Net Price $17,639 $11,872
Avg Grant Aid $19,636 $9,891
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 SWU USC Aiken
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 846 2,453
Admitted 433 1,855
Acceptance Rate 51.2% 75.6%
Enrolled % 34.2% 29.8%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.19
Typical High School Grades A/A+ B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/23 18/24
SAT Range 1013/1160 950/1180
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 USC Aiken
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (66%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (3%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (3%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)

Outcomes

 SWU USC Aiken
Graduation Rate 42% 41%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,800 $39,600
Making Student Loan Payments 50% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $268

Diversity

 SWU USC Aiken
% Men 33% 36%
% Women 67% 64%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 63% 58%
% Black 28% 27%
% Hispanic 5% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

 SWU USC Aiken
% In-State 58% 87%
% Out-of-State 42% 11%

Campus

 SWU USC Aiken
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

  • University of South Carolina Aiken is larger than than SWU based on total student enrollment (3,840 students vs. 1,175 students)

SWU vs. USC Aiken Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SWU or USC Aiken?

  • Southern Wesleyan University is 155% more expensive to attend than USC Aiken for in-state tuition ($26,520.00 vs. $10,398.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 27.2% higher at SWU than University of South Carolina Aiken ($26,520.00 vs. $20,856.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Carolina Aiken than SWU ($11,872 vs. $17,639)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Aiken are 15.2% lower than costs at Southern Wesleyan University ($8,376 vs. $9,650)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Southern Wesleyan University as University of South Carolina Aiken (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Wesleyan University students is 98.5% larger than aid received University of South Carolina Aiken ($19,636 vs. $9,891)

SWU vs. USC Aiken Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman SWU students have a 0.81 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at USC Aiken (3.19)
  • USC Aiken has a higher acceptance rate (75.6%) than SWU (51.2%)

SWU vs. USC Aiken Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, SWU or USC Aiken? 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 USC Aiken and SWU.

  • The graduation rate at SWU is higher than University of South Carolina Aiken (42% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Southern Wesleyan University earn on average $5,200 more per year than USC Aiken graduates after ten years. ($44,800 vs. $39,600)
  • University of South Carolina Aiken students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than SWU graduates. ($26,000 vs. $27,000)
  • USC Aiken graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than SWU graduates. ($268 vs. $279)
  • More USC Aiken graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SWU students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 50%)

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