Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Southern Wesleyan University #1074 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Southern Wesleyan University in the 57.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Southern Wesleyan University #953 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Southern Wesleyan University's composite ranking reflects its ability to deliver consistent outcomes for students across access, affordability, and return. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, a pattern that underscores the institution's focus on long-term financial security for its students.
Azimuth ranks Southern Wesleyan University #1074 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in Central, South Carolina, Southern Wesleyan University enrolls roughly 747 undergraduates. The institution maintains a 69.0% freshman retention rate and a 52.4% six-year graduation rate, reflecting solid student persistence through degree completion. Southern Wesleyan University delivers meaningful long-term financial outcomes for its graduates. Azimuth ranks Southern Wesleyan University #953 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Southern Wesleyan University in the 57.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's program portfolio is anchored in Business, which aligns with stable, accessible career pathways and supports the institution's strong value positioning. Access remains a defining feature of Southern Wesleyan University. 43.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 39.1% are first-generation college students, reflecting the institution's commitment to serving students from diverse economic and educational backgrounds. Azimuth ranks Southern Wesleyan University in the 25.9 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions and in the 12.6 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. For families weighing affordability alongside outcomes, Southern Wesleyan University combines accessible admission with demonstrated earnings gains that support long-term financial security.
Southern Wesleyan University's published cost of attendance is $39,914. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $14,084, middle-income families pay around $14,230, and higher-income families pay approximately $17,381. Azimuth ranks Southern Wesleyan University #507 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary based on demonstrated need and institutional aid policies. Southern Wesleyan participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional scholarships. The institution's aid structure aims to bridge the gap between published cost and what families actually pay, though the affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry. Families should review the institution's financial aid page for current aid policies, merit scholarship availability, and the specific application process. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $16,072; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $52,228, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Southern Wesleyan University is a good fit for students seeking a private college experience in SC with a focus on Business and related applied fields. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $52,228, placing Southern Wesleyan University in the 12.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 57.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 43.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 39.1% are first-generation — and delivers completion rates for Pell students of 45.8%. Published cost of attendance is $17,381, and median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 99.5% admit rate makes the application process moderately selective, and the program mix favors applied-professional fields over research-oriented ones. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find a pathway to upward mobility.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Southern Wesleyan University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Business Administration, Management and Operations
74 graduates
Criminology
8 graduates
Biology, General
13 graduates
Human Services, General
29 graduates
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
16 graduates
Southern Wesleyan University's program portfolio is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's identity as a private nonprofit focused on career-ready outcomes. Business Administration is the largest program with 74 graduates, followed by Human Services, General, Teacher Education, Religion/Religious Studies, and Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services.
Across 17 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with Business representing the dominant concentration across the institution's degree output. The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in applied professional fields.
Business Administration leads with median earnings of $62,278 four years after enrollment across 74 graduates, followed by Criminology at $52,534 and Biology, General at $47,882. Human Services, General rounds out the highest-earning programs with 29 graduates earning $47,528.
This earnings pattern reflects Southern Wesleyan University's positioning as a career-focused institution where program selection directly correlates with early-career financial outcomes. The program mix emphasizes Business at 27%, Education at 9%, and Social Sciences at 3%, creating a portfolio aligned with regional labor-market demand in professional services and applied fields.
Most programs at Southern Wesleyan University are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly, with earnings reflecting immediate labor-market outcomes rather than graduate-school-dependent trajectories. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these dominant program families align with national wage trends and regional hiring patterns.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Southern Wesleyan University's published cost of attendance is $39,914. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $14,084, middle-income families pay around $14,230, and higher-income families pay approximately $17,381.
Azimuth ranks Southern Wesleyan University #507 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary based on demonstrated need and institutional aid policies.
Southern Wesleyan participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional scholarships. The institution's aid structure aims to bridge the gap between published cost and what families actually pay, though the affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry.
Families should review the institution's financial aid page for current aid policies, merit scholarship availability, and the specific application process. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $16,072; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $52,228, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Southern Wesleyan University earn median 4-year earnings of $52,228, placing Southern Wesleyan University in the 12.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Southern Wesleyan University in the 57.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Southern Wesleyan University #953 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Southern Wesleyan University's concentration in business and professional fields.
Business Administration is the largest program with 74 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $62,278, performing at 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. The Human Services, General program graduates 29 students earning median 4-year earnings of $47,528, at 1.0x the benchmark.
Other substantial programs include Teacher Education (19 graduates), Religion/Religious Studies (19 graduates), and Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services (16 graduates), which together form the core of Southern Wesleyan University's degree output and contribute to consistent outcomes across the student body.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Manchester University Similar quality tier (#29463 ranked) | IN | 71% | $51,504 | #29463 | Compare |
Ottawa University-Surprise Similar quality tier (#29464 ranked) | AZ | 78% | $55,552 | #29464 | Compare |
Lagrange College Similar quality tier in Southeast (#29465 ranked) | GA | 62% | $51,745 | #29465 | Compare |
Fisk University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#29470 ranked) | TN | 37% | $45,454 | #29470 | Compare |
Otterbein University Similar quality tier (#29471 ranked) | OH | 85% | $53,313 | #29471 | Compare |
