SWU vs. RU

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

SWU RU
Location Central, SC Radford, VA
Setting Distant Town Distant Town
Enrollment 1,175 7,718
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #826 #566
Religious Affiliation Wesleyan - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website edu. radford.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

SWU RU
Tuition (In State) $26,520 $8,156
Tuition (Out of State) $26,520 $20,246
Room & Board $9,650 $10,567
Avg Net Price $17,639 $17,105
Avg Grant Aid $19,636 $9,733
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 96%

Admission

SWU RU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 846 11,442
Admitted 433 10,680
Acceptance Rate 51.2% 93.3%
Enrolled % 34.2% 11.5%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.31
Typical High School Grades A/A+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/23 19/23
SAT Range 1013/1160 960/1160
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

Academics

SWU RU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (66%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (3%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (3%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Business (18%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

SWU RU
Graduation Rate 42% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,800 $47,400
Making Student Loan Payments 50% 70%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $23,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $237

Diversity

SWU RU
% Men 33% 33%
% Women 67% 67%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 63% 71%
% Black 28% 13%
% Hispanic 5% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 5%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

SWU RU
% In-State 58% 89%
% Out-of-State 42% 11%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Radford University is larger than than SWU based on total student enrollment (7,718 students vs. 1,175 students)

SWU vs. RU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SWU or RU?

  • Southern Wesleyan University is 225.2% more expensive to attend than RU for in-state tuition ($26,520.00 vs. $8,156.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 31% higher at SWU than Radford University ($26,520.00 vs. $20,246.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Radford University than SWU ($17,105 vs. $17,639)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Wesleyan University are 9.5% lower than costs at Radford University ($9,650 vs. $10,567)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Wesleyan University than Radford University (100% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Wesleyan University students is 101.7% larger than aid received Radford University ($19,636 vs. $9,733)

SWU vs. RU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman SWU students have a 0.69 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at RU (3.31)
  • RU has a higher acceptance rate (93.3%) than SWU (51.2%)

SWU vs. RU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at RU is higher than Southern Wesleyan University (56% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from Radford University earn on average $2,600 more per year than SWU graduates after ten years. ($47,400 vs. $44,800)
  • Radford University students graduate with a $4,000 lower median federal student loan debt than SWU graduates. ($23,000 vs. $27,000)
  • RU graduates are paying $42 less per month on federal student loans than SWU graduates. ($237 vs. $279)
  • More RU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SWU students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 50%)

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