Southern Wesleyan University (SWU) vs Naropa University

Southern Wesleyan University and Naropa University, two distinct institutions of higher learning, offer unique educational experiences to their students. Southern Wesleyan, a private Christian university in Central, South Carolina, boasts a 100% acceptance rate, making it an accessible option for aspiring students. Naropa, a private liberal arts university in Boulder, Colorado, has a more selective admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 75%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs, with Southern Wesleyan excelling in fields like business, education, and nursing, while Naropa is renowned for its programs in contemplative psychology, environmental studies, and religious studies. Explore the detailed comparison table below to delve into further distinctions between these two institutions, including student body demographics, graduation rates, and additional factors that may influence your choice of university.
Naropa University logo

Naropa University

Southern Wesleyan University logo

Southern Wesleyan University

Overview

Location Boulder, Colorado Central, South Carolina
Campus setting City: Midsize Suburb: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 54.0% 72.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation Methodism

Admission

Acceptance rate 100.0% 56.6%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $25

Graduate: $60
Undergraduate: $25

Graduate: $25
SAT range N/A 980 - 1168
ACT range N/A 18 - 24
Students submitting SAT score 45.0%
Students submitting ACT score 36.0%
Total number of applicants 148 749
Total number of admissions given out 148 424
Admitted students who chose to enroll 29 163
Yield rate 19.6% 38.4%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $53,858 $35,643
Average net price $29,924 $19,479
Tuition $34,600 $25,748
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,234

Meal plan: $5,018
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

92.0%
Average amount $22,372
100.0%
Average amount $18,506
Students receiving federal student loan 50.0%
Average amount $11,330
68.0%
Average amount $5,469
Students taking out private loans 0.0%
Average amount $0
12.0%
Average amount $8,327

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 325
Men 26.5% Women 73.5%
1,043
Men 33.9% Women 66.1%
Graduate students 639
Men 25.2% Women 74.8%
257
Men 20.2% Women 79.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 40.7% N/A
International students 2.4% 1.2%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 104 570
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Colorado California New York Arizona Georgia N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Psychology
  • English Language and Literature
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Health Professions
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies
  • Business
  • Education
  • Liberal Arts
  • Family and Consumer Sciences
  • Public Administration and Social Service
Students to faculty ratio 9:1 13:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 34.2% 52.1%
Dropout rate 23.7% 47.9%
Transferred out 42.1% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $33,475
  • Year 2: $31,133
  • Year 3: $31,734
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $19,802
  • Year 2: $21,052
  • Year 3: $20,185
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $23,019
  • Year 2: $28,598
  • Year 3: N/A
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $18,154
  • Year 3: N/A
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,550
  • Year 2: $53,045
  • Year 3: $55,845
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,273
  • Year 2: $44,021
  • Year 3: $48,165
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,512
  • Year 2: $46,556
  • Year 3: $47,813
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,583
  • Year 2: $42,682
  • Year 3: $44,880
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,637
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $43,594
Human Services, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,018
  • Year 2: $30,771
  • Year 3: $34,205
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $18,309
  • Year 3: N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $33,561
  • Year 2: $28,598
  • Year 3: N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $33,138
  • Year 3: N/A
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,120
  • Year 2: $24,035
  • Year 3: N/A