VSU vs. SWU

Should I go to Valdosta State University or Southern Wesleyan University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if VSU or SWU 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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Valdosta State University vs. Southern Wesleyan University comparison
Valdosta State University Southern Wesleyan University College 3 College 4
Valdosta State University
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Overview

VSU SWU
Location Valdosta, GA Central, SC
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 10,209 1,175
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #982 #826
Religious Affiliation - Wesleyan - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website valdosta.edu edu.
Team Colors                    

Costs

VSU SWU
Tuition (In State) $4,371 $26,520
Tuition (Out of State) $15,426 $26,520
Room & Board $8,922 $9,650
Avg Net Price $12,836 $17,639
Avg Grant Aid $9,875 $19,636
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

VSU SWU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,975 846
Admitted 4,451 433
Acceptance Rate 89.5% 51.2%
Enrolled % 25.3% 34.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.23 4.0
Typical High School Grades B A/A+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/21 19/23
SAT Range 950/1130 1013/1160
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jun 15, 2025

Academics

VSU SWU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Business (66%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (3%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (3%)
  • Psychology (3%)

Outcomes

VSU SWU
Graduation Rate 43% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,300 $44,800
Making Student Loan Payments 41% 50%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $279

Diversity

VSU SWU
% Men 31% 33%
% Women 69% 67%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 51% 63%
% Black 36% 28%
% Hispanic 5% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

VSU SWU
% In-State 69% 58%
% Out-of-State 30% 42%

Campus

VSU SWU
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

  • Valdosta State University is larger than than SWU based on total student enrollment (10,209 students vs. 1,175 students)

VSU vs. SWU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, VSU or SWU?

  • Southern Wesleyan University is 506.7% more expensive to attend than VSU for in-state tuition ($26,520.00 vs. $4,371.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 71.9% higher at SWU than Valdosta State University ($26,520.00 vs. $15,426.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Valdosta State University than SWU ($12,836 vs. $17,639)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Valdosta State University are 8.2% lower than costs at Southern Wesleyan University ($8,922 vs. $9,650)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Wesleyan University than Valdosta State University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Wesleyan University students is 98.8% larger than aid received Valdosta State University ($19,636 vs. $9,875)

VSU vs. SWU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman SWU students have a 0.77 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at VSU (3.23)
  • VSU has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than SWU (51.2%)

VSU vs. SWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at VSU is higher than Southern Wesleyan University (43% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from Southern Wesleyan University earn on average $4,500 more per year than VSU graduates after ten years. ($44,800 vs. $40,300)
  • Valdosta State University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than SWU graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
  • VSU graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than SWU graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
  • More SWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VSU students, three years after graduation. (50% vs. 41%)

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