Southwestern University vs Vanderbilt
Southwestern University and Vanderbilt University, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Southwestern, a liberal arts college nestled in Georgetown, Texas, boasts a tight-knit community and a focus on undergraduate education. Vanderbilt, a prestigious research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, is renowned for its academic rigor and world-class research opportunities. With acceptance rates of 68% and 10%, respectively, these universities cater to different applicant pools. While Southwestern's popular majors include psychology, business, and biology, Vanderbilt offers a wider range of programs, including engineering, medicine, and law. Explore the comparison table to delve into further details about these universities, including student body demographics, graduation rates, and more, to determine which institution best aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Southwestern University |
![]() Vanderbilt University |
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Overview |
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Location | Georgetown, Texas | Nashville, Tennessee |
Campus setting | City: Small | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 81.0% | 97.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Methodism | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 51.0% | 7.1% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$95
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SAT range | 1150 - 1330 | 1480 - 1570 |
ACT range | 25 - 31 | 34 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 39.0% | 25.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 23.0% | 32.0% |
Total number of applicants | 4,757 | 47,152 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,428 | 3,368 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 355 | 1,626 |
Yield rate | 14.6% | 48.3% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $63,000 | $79,538 |
Average net price | $28,496 | $27,553 |
Tuition | $46,800 | $54,840 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$6,600
Meal plan:
$5,400
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Room/dormitory:
$12,000
Meal plan:
$6,376
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $30,548 |
64.0%
Average amount $49,730 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
57.0%
Average amount $5,466 |
10.0%
Average amount $4,979 |
Students taking out private loans |
11.0%
Average amount $13,464 |
2.0%
Average amount $27,798 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,504
Men 46.3% Women 53.7% |
7,111
Men 48.9% Women 51.1% |
Graduate students | N/A |
6,685
Men 39.5% Women 60.5% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 13.4% | 89.5% |
International students | 1.0% | 11.7% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,107 | 5,598 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Texas California Illinois New Mexico Colorado | Tennessee California New York Florida Texas |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 8:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 73.5% | 93.4% |
Dropout rate | 6.1% | 6.4% |
Transferred out | 20.3% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies (Master's Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Marketing (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (First Professional Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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