Southern Wesleyan University
#1 Best Psychology Colleges in South Carolina- Graduation Rate
- 52% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $47,756 B-
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $15,464 C+
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 100% F
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 18.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $18.2 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Psychology Colleges in South Carolina.
Every $1 spent returns $18.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,066,231.
What The Data Says
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A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Every $1 invested returns $18.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Southern Wesleyan University Matters
Southern Wesleyan University is a private university in Central, SC and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 747
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- 89
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Education, Psychology, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose Southern Wesleyan University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 100% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1040–1210. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $15,464 a year after grants and scholarships — 10% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $47,756 ten years after enrolling — 17% above the typical college, against $26,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.8% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 88% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.36 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Southern Wesleyan University is a great fit for students who value a supportive environment and personalized attention. With an enrollment of just 747 students and a 100% acceptance rate, it welcomes a diverse range of individuals looking to pursue degrees in fields like Business & Marketing, Education, Psychology, Social Sciences, and Humanities. This smaller campus size allows for closer connections with faculty and peers, which can enhance the overall college experience.
After graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $47,756 within ten years. This figure is quite significant when you consider the investment in education. While the graduation rate sits at 52%, those who do graduate often find themselves in a good position to climb the career ladder. Affordability is also a key consideration, with many students benefiting from financial aid; 43% of students receive Pell Grants, which can help ease the financial burden.
When we look at the practical side, the average net price after aid is $15,464, and the median debt for graduates is $26,000. This means that students can graduate with a manageable debt load, especially when compared to their potential earnings. Those who thrive here tend to appreciate a close-knit community and are often motivated to engage deeply with their studies, making the most of the resources available to them.
Rankings
- #1 Best Psychology Colleges in South Carolina
- #5 Best Education Colleges in South Carolina
- #5 Best Communications Colleges in South Carolina
- #6 Best Online Colleges in South Carolina
- #8 Best Colleges in South Carolina
- #8 Best Bachelor's Programs in South Carolina
- #8 Best Master's Programs in South Carolina
- #9 Best Business Colleges in South Carolina
Can I Get In?
How selective Southern Wesleyan University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Southern Wesleyan University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Central, South Carolina, Southern Wesleyan University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 100%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,140. The graduation rate is roughly 52%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Retention Rate
- 69%
- SAT Average
- 1140
- ACT Midpoint
- 21
- SAT Range
- 1040–1210
- ACT Range
- 22–28
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $5,744
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.49
- First-Gen Students
- 39%
- Applicants
- 846
- Admitted
- 433
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Southern Wesleyan University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Southern Wesleyan University is $29,800, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $15,464. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,084 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $29,800
- Out-of-State
- $29,800
- Avg Net Price
- $15,464
- Median Debt
- $26,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 43%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 78%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $14,084
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $14,218
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $14,230
- Family Income $110K+
- $17,381
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Southern Wesleyan University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Southern Wesleyan University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Southern Wesleyan University earn a median of $47,756, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $41,489
- 8 Years
- $42,347
- 10 Years
- $47,756
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.54x
- Earning > $25K
- 68%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (86)
- 46%
- 100% (86)
- 46%
- 100% (86)
- 46%
- 100% (86)
- 46%
How Southern Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Southern Wesleyan University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Southern Wesleyan University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $15,464/year ($61,856 total). Graduates earn $47,756 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,128,087 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,066,231 (18.2× your investment). The median debt is $26,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 52% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $61,856
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,128,087
- Net Return
- $1,066,231
- ROI Multiple
- 18.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $15,464
- Median Debt
- $26,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 52%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Southern Wesleyan University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Southern Wesleyan University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.79%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 11.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 6.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $70,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.79%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 6.7%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 11.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $95,921
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $7,760,037
- Federal Grants
- $7,753,227
- Investment Income
- $-353,106
Top Programs
The fields Southern Wesleyan University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 24% $55,317 early-career
- Education 11% $39,374 early-career
- Psychology 9%
- Biology & Biomedical 4% $28,558 early-career
- Social Sciences 3% $39,996 early-career
- Communications 3% $21,755 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 3%
- Health Professions 2%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Southern Wesleyan University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Southern Wesleyan University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Central, South Carolina, Southern Wesleyan University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 100%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,140. The graduation rate is roughly 52%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Southern Wesleyan University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Southern Wesleyan University is $29,800, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $15,464. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,084 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,000 in federal student loans.
Is Southern Wesleyan University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Southern Wesleyan University earn a median of $47,756, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Southern Wesleyan University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Southern Wesleyan University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.79%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 11.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 6.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $70,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Southern Wesleyan University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Southern Wesleyan University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.36, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.06), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Southern Wesleyan University.
- Bethel UniversityMishawaka, IN · Close peer55% grad $48,860 earn 98% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Massachusetts College of Liberal ArtsNorth Adams, MA · Close peer52% grad $48,102 earn 90% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Rochester Christian UniversityRochester Hills, MI · Close peer43% grad $48,707 earn 98% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Grace Christian UniversityWyoming, MI · Close peer46% grad $41,663 earn 99% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Midwestern Baptist Theological SeminaryKansas City, MO · Close peer59% grad $50,535 earn 96% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- William Peace UniversityRaleigh, NC · Close peer45% grad $46,643 earn 94% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Southern Wesleyan University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Southern Wesleyan University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.36, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.06), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note