Southwestern College vs. Rockhurst

Should I go to Southwestern College or Rockhurst University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Southwestern College or Rockhurst 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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Southwestern College vs. Rockhurst University comparison
Southwestern College Rockhurst University College 3 College 4
Rockhurst University
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Overview

 Southwestern College Rockhurst
Location Winfield, KS Kansas City, MO
Setting Distant Town Large City
Enrollment 1,174 3,405
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #453 #285
Religious Affiliation United Methodist Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website sckans.edu rockhurst.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Southwestern College Rockhurst
Tuition (In State) $36,500 $40,700
Tuition (Out of State) $36,500 $40,700
Room & Board $9,380 $10,280
Avg Net Price $27,003 $22,994
Avg Grant Aid $26,047 $32,842
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 Southwestern College Rockhurst
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,240 3,154
Admitted 870 2,096
Acceptance Rate 70.2% 66.5%
Enrolled % 23.3% 13.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.33 3.62
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Average
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 17/22 19/26
SAT Range 900/1220 1083/1288
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 22, 2025 Jun 30, 2025

Academics

 Southwestern College Rockhurst
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (44%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (10%)
  • Health Professions (4%)
  • Health Professions (31%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

 Southwestern College Rockhurst
Graduation Rate 57% 74%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,100 $53,500
Making Student Loan Payments 57% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,750 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $266 $211

Diversity

 Southwestern College Rockhurst
% Men 65% 35%
% Women 35% 65%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 54% 72%
% Black 12% 4%
% Hispanic 8% 7%
% Native American 2% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 5% 2%
% Unknown Race 15% 8%

Students

 Southwestern College Rockhurst
% In-State 36% 58%
% Out-of-State 61% 39%

Campus

 Southwestern College Rockhurst
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Rockhurst University is larger than than Southwestern College based on total student enrollment (3,405 students vs. 1,174 students)

Southwestern College vs. Rockhurst Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Southwestern College or Rockhurst?

  • Rockhurst University is 11.5% more expensive to attend than Southwestern College for in-state tuition ($40,700.00 vs. $36,500.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 11.5% higher at Rockhurst than Southwestern College ($40,700.00 vs. $36,500.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rockhurst University than Southwestern College ($22,994 vs. $27,003)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern College are 9.6% lower than costs at Rockhurst University ($9,380 vs. $10,280)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Southwestern College as Rockhurst University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rockhurst University students is 26.1% larger than aid received Southwestern College ($32,842 vs. $26,047)

Southwestern College vs. Rockhurst Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Rockhurst University (1162) is 163 points higher than at Southwestern College (999)
  • Incoming Rockhurst students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Southwestern College (22)
  • Accepted freshman Rockhurst students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.62) than students at Southwestern College (3.33)
  • Southwestern College has a higher acceptance rate (70.2%) than Rockhurst (66.5%)

Southwestern College vs. Rockhurst Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Southwestern College or Rockhurst? 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 Rockhurst and Southwestern College.

  • The graduation rate at Rockhurst is higher than Southwestern College (74% vs. 57%)
  • Graduates from Rockhurst University earn on average $400 more per year than Southwestern College graduates after ten years. ($53,500 vs. $53,100)
  • Rockhurst University students graduate with a $5,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Southwestern College graduates. ($20,500 vs. $25,750)
  • Rockhurst graduates are paying $55 less per month on federal student loans than Southwestern College graduates. ($211 vs. $266)
  • More Rockhurst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwestern College students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 57%)

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