SWU vs. UofSC

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

 SWU UofSC
Location Central, SC Columbia, SC
Setting Distant Town Midsize City
Enrollment 1,188 36,579
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1043 #210
Religious Affiliation Wesleyan - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website edu. sc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 SWU UofSC
Tuition (In State) $26,520 $12,288
Tuition (Out of State) $26,520 $34,534
Room & Board $10,654 $12,558
Avg Net Price $20,336 $26,068
Avg Grant Aid $18,771 $6,762
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 91%

Admission

 SWU UofSC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 472 46,682
Admitted 472 28,706
Acceptance Rate 100% 61.5%
Enrolled % 33.7% 25.5%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.69
Typical High School Grades A/A+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/24 26/32
SAT Range 980/1200 1180/1380
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 Dec 1, 2025

Academics

 SWU UofSC
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (66%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (3%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (3%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Business (35%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

 SWU UofSC
Graduation Rate 42% 70%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,800 $51,700
Making Student Loan Payments 50% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $279 $240

Diversity

 SWU UofSC
% Men 4% 8%
% Women 22% 14%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 63% 77%
% Black 28% 10%
% Hispanic 5% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

 SWU UofSC
% In-State 59% 54%
% Out-of-State 41% 45%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of South Carolina Columbia is larger than than SWU based on total student enrollment (36,579 students vs. 1,188 students)

SWU vs. UofSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SWU or UofSC?

  • Southern Wesleyan University is 115.8% more expensive to attend than UofSC for in-state tuition ($26,520.00 vs. $12,288.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 30.2% higher at UofSC than Southern Wesleyan University ($34,534.00 vs. $26,520.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southern Wesleyan University than UofSC ($20,336 vs. $26,068)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Wesleyan University are 17.9% lower than costs at University of South Carolina Columbia ($10,654 vs. $12,558)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Wesleyan University than University of South Carolina Columbia (100% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Wesleyan University students is 177.6% larger than aid received University of South Carolina Columbia ($18,771 vs. $6,762)

SWU vs. UofSC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman SWU students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UofSC (3.69)
  • SWU has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than UofSC (61.5%)

SWU vs. UofSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at UofSC is higher than Southern Wesleyan University (70% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from University of South Carolina Columbia earn on average $6,900 more per year than SWU graduates after ten years. ($51,700 vs. $44,800)
  • University of South Carolina Columbia students graduate with a $3,750 lower median federal student loan debt than SWU graduates. ($23,250 vs. $27,000)
  • UofSC graduates are paying $39 less per month on federal student loans than SWU graduates. ($240 vs. $279)
  • More UofSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SWU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 50%)

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