Wartburg College vs. SWU

Comparable Facts

Compare Wartburg College in Waverly, IA with Southern Wesleyan University in Central, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Wartburg College is larger than SWU based on total student enrollment (1,483 students vs. 980 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Wartburg College vs. SWU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wartburg College or SWU? 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 Southern Wesleyan University than Wartburg College ($20,134 vs. $24,031).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Wesleyan University are 13.8% lower than at Wartburg College ($10,126 vs. $11,750).
• Southern Wesleyan University is 13.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wartburg College (about $3,550 more per year; $29,800.00 vs. $26,250.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.5% higher at SWU than at Wartburg College (about $3,550 more per year; $29,800.00 vs. $26,250.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southern Wesleyan University than at Wartburg College (100% vs. 97%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wartburg College students is 106.9% larger than aid received by Southern Wesleyan University students ($40,336 vs. $19,498).

Wartburg College vs. SWU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wartburg College or SWU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SWU and Wartburg College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Southern Wesleyan University (1130) is 60 points higher than at Wartburg College (1070).
• Incoming SWU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 24 at Wartburg College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wartburg College 930/1200; Southern Wesleyan University 1040/1210.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wartburg College 21/27; Southern Wesleyan University 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wartburg College - Test optional; SWU - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman SWU students have a 0.52 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Wartburg College (3.48).
• SWU has a higher acceptance rate (99.5%) than Wartburg College (75.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.6% at Wartburg College vs. 33.4% at SWU.

Wartburg College vs. SWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wartburg College and SWU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Wartburg College's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Southern Wesleyan University's (42%).
• Graduates from Wartburg College earn a median of about $3,300 more per year than SWU graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,100 vs. $44,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southern Wesleyan University and Wartburg College graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Southern Wesleyan University and Wartburg College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More Wartburg College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SWU students, three years after graduation. (81% 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.