SWU vs. West Virginia Wesleyan College

Comparable Facts

Compare Southern Wesleyan University in Central, SC with West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, WV on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

West Virginia Wesleyan College is larger than SWU based on total student enrollment (1,055 students vs. 980 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Southern Wesleyan University is located in Central, SC (Distant Town setting); West Virginia Wesleyan College is in Buckhannon, WV (Remote Town setting).
• Southern Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. West Virginia Wesleyan College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Southern Wesleyan University 10:1; West Virginia Wesleyan College 13:1.

SWU vs. West Virginia Wesleyan College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SWU or West Virginia Wesleyan College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at West Virginia Wesleyan College than SWU ($19,218 vs. $20,134).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Wesleyan University are 22% lower than at West Virginia Wesleyan College ($10,126 vs. $12,988).
• West Virginia Wesleyan College is 14.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than SWU (about $4,290 more per year; $34,090.00 vs. $29,800.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.4% higher at West Virginia Wesleyan College than at Southern Wesleyan University (about $4,290 more per year; $34,090.00 vs. $29,800.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Southern Wesleyan University as at West Virginia Wesleyan College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by West Virginia Wesleyan College students is 49.5% larger than aid received by Southern Wesleyan University students ($29,150 vs. $19,498).

SWU vs. West Virginia Wesleyan College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SWU or West Virginia Wesleyan College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between West Virginia Wesleyan College and SWU.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Southern Wesleyan University (1130) is 100 points higher than at West Virginia Wesleyan College (1030).
• Incoming SWU students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (25 vs. 19 at West Virginia Wesleyan College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Southern Wesleyan University 1040/1210; West Virginia Wesleyan College 892/1160.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Southern Wesleyan University 22/28; West Virginia Wesleyan College 16/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SWU - Test optional; West Virginia Wesleyan College - Test optional.
• Enrolled freshman SWU students have a 0.48 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at West Virginia Wesleyan College (3.52).
• SWU has a higher acceptance rate (99.5%) than West Virginia Wesleyan College (93.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 33.4% at SWU vs. 22.6% at West Virginia Wesleyan College.

SWU vs. West Virginia Wesleyan College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SWU and West Virginia Wesleyan College? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• West Virginia Wesleyan College's six-year graduation rate (55%) is higher than Southern Wesleyan University's (42%).
• Graduates from West Virginia Wesleyan College earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than SWU graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,600 vs. $44,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, West Virginia Wesleyan College and SWU graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, West Virginia Wesleyan College and SWU graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More West Virginia Wesleyan College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SWU students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 50%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.