Birmingham-Southern College vs Peirce College
Birmingham-Southern College and Peirce College, two distinct institutions of higher learning, offer unique educational experiences to their students. Birmingham-Southern, a private liberal arts college in Birmingham, Alabama, boasts a selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 68%, while Peirce, a private college with campuses in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and West Chester, Pennsylvania, maintains an open admissions policy. Both institutions offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with Birmingham-Southern excelling in fields like Biology, Business Administration, and Psychology, and Peirce specializing in Business, Healthcare Administration, and Information Technology. While Birmingham-Southern's student body comprises primarily traditional-age undergraduates, Peirce caters to a more diverse demographic, including a significant population of adult learners. With Birmingham-Southern's higher graduation rate of 65% compared to Peirce's 38%, prospective students can explore the detailed comparison table below to discover which college better aligns with their academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Birmingham-Southern College |
![]() Peirce College |
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Overview |
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Location | Birmingham, Alabama | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | 4-1-4 | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 78.0% | 100.0% |
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Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | Methodism | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 65.9% | Open Admission |
Application fees | $50 |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$50
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SAT range | 1090 - 1240 | N/A |
ACT range | 22 - 28 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 7.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 54.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 2,461 | |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,622 | |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 244 | |
Yield rate | 15.0% | |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | |
High school GPA | Required | N/A |
Recommendation letters | Not required | N/A |
High school transcript | Not required | N/A |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | N/A |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $33,790 | $24,636 |
Average net price | $22,888 | $13,714 |
Tuition | $18,850 | $14,400 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,900
Meal plan:
$5,650
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
97.0%
Average amount $10,781 |
100.0%
Average amount $4,796 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
79.0%
Average amount $3,074 |
50.0%
Average amount $11,260 |
Students taking out private loans |
6.0%
Average amount $13,570 |
0.0%
Average amount $0 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,058
Men 48.7% Women 51.3% |
788
Men 26.6% Women 73.4% |
Graduate students | N/A |
87
Men 24.1% Women 75.9% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 38.4% | N/A |
International students | 1.5% | 0.6% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,418 | N/A |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | N/A |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Alabama Georgia Tennessee Florida Texas | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 10:1 | 11:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 69.8% | 11.1% |
Dropout rate | 4.8% | 61.1% |
Transferred out | 24.7% | 22.2% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Associate's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Legal Support Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
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