Southern Wesleyan University
Central, South Carolina · Private Nonprofit · 99.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 36/100 · Poor Value
Southern Wesleyan University earns a Poor Value ROI score of 36 - typical for small Christian liberal arts colleges in the Southeast. Tuition lists at $29,800, but heavy aid drops net price to $15,464 and four-year cost to $61,856. Median earnings six years out are $38,000, growing to $47,756 by year ten. Payback period of 15.8 years and debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.684 against $26,000 median debt produce difficult economics. The catastrophic signal is the repayment rate of just 55.9%, scoring 13 out of 100 - nearly half of borrowers are not actively paying down loans. Completion rate of 52.4% is mediocre. The program data reveals serious debt concerns: business graduates carry $40,323 median debt (well above the school-wide median of $26,000) and human services graduates carry $41,027 with a punishing 1.271 debt-to-earnings ratio. Something in the financing structure is producing meaningfully higher individual-program debt than the institutional median. As of 2024-2025 Scorecard data, Southern Wesleyan represents the small Christian-college value problem: heavy aid creates a reasonable headline net price, but actual borrowing in certain programs is much higher than the aggregate suggests, and repayment outcomes are alarming.
The data raises concerns about Southern Wesleyan University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score36/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period15.8 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Southern Wesleyan University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $29,800/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $29,800/yr |
| Average net price | $15,464/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $61,856 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $47,756 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $38,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $276 |
| Estimated payback period | 15.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 52.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 747 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Southern Wesleyan University is $29,800/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $15,464/year, or roughly $61,856 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $14,084/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $17,381/year.
The median graduate leaves with $26,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $276 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $47,756 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.68 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $14,084 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,218 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,230 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $14,899 |
| $110,001+ | $17,381 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $14,084 - meaningfully discounted. Four-year cost around $56,000. For Pell-eligible students the headline net price is reasonable, but the program-level data shows actual borrowing is often much higher ($40,000+ in business and human services), and the 56% repayment rate signals real downstream debt problems. Tread carefully.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($30,001-$48,000 and $48,001-$75,000) pay $14,218 and $14,230 respectively - essentially flat across these tiers and only modestly above the lowest bracket. Four-year cost around $57,000. The aid formula does not differentiate strongly across income brackets, which is unusual.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families ($110,001+) pay $17,381 - only modestly higher than the lower brackets. The pricing is remarkably flat across income tiers. For full-pay families, the financial case rests on the religious mission and small-college community; comparable Southeastern Christian colleges (Anderson-SC, North Greenville) may offer similar experience with stronger outcomes.
Earnings by Major
Top 8 most popular majors at Southern Wesleyan University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $62,278 | D |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $31,326 | F |
| Human Services, General | $47,528 | F |
| Religion/Religious Studies | $28,636 | D |
| Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology, Other | $25,785 | - |
| Teacher Education | $42,006 | C |
| Political Science and Government | $52,534 | C |
| Biology | $47,882 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business is Southern Wesleyan's largest program with 57 graduates. First-year earnings of $52,070 climb to $62,278 by year four - solid placement. But median debt is a striking $40,323 (vs the school-wide $26,000), producing a 0.774 ratio and D ROI grade. The high debt is the puzzle: this program appears to enroll students taking on substantially more debt than the institutional norm suggests. Possibly reflects adult-learner program costs or supplementary borrowing. Prospective students should ask financial aid for program-specific debt projections.
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
Human Development graduates 24 students with first-year earnings of $31,326 against an exceptional $39,792 median debt - a punishing 1.27 ratio and F ROI grade. Even more so than the Business program, this lineup shows program-level debt vastly exceeding the school-wide median. The math is fundamentally broken for students entering low-paying social services and family-counseling careers.
Human Services, General
Human Services graduates 18 students with first-year earnings of $32,290 against $41,027 debt - a 1.271 ratio and F ROI grade. Earnings recover to $47,528 by year four, still inadequate against the borrowing. This program mirrors the Human Development pattern: high debt for a low-paying field. Strong recommendation: explore community college and state-school human services degrees at a fraction of this cost.
Religion/Religious Studies
Religion graduates 15 students annually with first-year earnings of $28,636 against $22,012 debt - a 0.769 ratio and D ROI grade. Earnings data for year four is not reported. Standard ministry-track economics: low immediate earnings driven by entry-level church staff and ministry positions. Students choose this program for vocation, not financial return.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education graduates 13 students with first-year earnings of $42,006 - reasonable South Carolina starting teacher salary. Median debt of $27,000 produces a 0.643 ratio and C ROI grade. Standard education-degree trajectory: stable but flat earnings against meaningful debt. One of the more defensible program choices at Southern Wesleyan.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 47.5% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 55.9% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 53.1% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 56.3% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 99.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 510-590 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 530-620 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 22-28 |
| Enrollment | 747 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 43.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $5,744 |
Southern Wesleyan admits 99.5% of applicants - effectively universal admission. SAT mid-ranges (510-590 math, 530-620 reading) and ACT 22-28 indicate students with moderate academic preparation - slightly above typical open-admission norms. The 52% completion rate reflects the open-admission challenge: students enroll without academic screening, and the small institution's support infrastructure cannot bring most through to graduation.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Southern Wesleyan's peers include Allen University, Anderson University-SC, Peirce College, North Central University, and Ohio Dominican University - a mix of HBCU, religious, and adult-learner privates. Within this set Southern Wesleyan's 36 score is comparable to peer Christian institutions; Anderson typically scores in the 45-55 range. The peer comparison underscores that Southern Wesleyan's outcomes are typical for small Christian privates in the region.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Wesleyan University (this school) | 36 | $15,464 | $47,756 |
| Cornerstone University | 37 | $20,301 | $47,314 |
| Oklahoma Baptist University | 37 | $20,958 | $48,434 |
| Milligan University | 37 | $21,365 | $46,641 |
| Evangel University | 35 | $18,669 | $46,573 |
| Corban University | 35 | $28,035 | $48,917 |
Who Thrives Here
Southern Wesleyan fits students drawn to Wesleyan Christian tradition and community, particularly first-generation students from rural and small-town South Carolina. Enrollment of 747 is small. Pell rate of 43.1% is high, indicating a working-class student body. The data is brutal: business (the largest program with 57 graduates) earns a D grade with surprisingly high program-level debt; human services produces F grades with debt exceeding annual earnings. Students drawn here for religious community should plan for non-financial returns on the investment.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Southern Wesleyan University. With a net cost of $15,464 per year and median graduate earnings of only $47,756 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 15.8 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 52.4% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $26,000 against $47,756 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.