Enrollment: 1631
Average SAT: 499
Average ACT: 21
Most Popular Majors: Business/Commerce, General,Elementary Education and Teaching,Religion/Religious Studies,
Regular Application Deadline: 08/01
Student Faculty Ratio: 21:1

Undergraduate Receiving Need-Based Financial Aid: 6
Average Freshman Total Need-Based Gift Aid: $12,621.00

Students Say - Academics
"Those seeking "a quality education with a Christian perspective" may find their way to Southern Wesleyan University, a small liberal arts school in rural South Carolina where "Many are going into the ministry or the field of education after graduation." SWU also features "a good Music Department." Students here frequently emphasize the preeminence of faith in their academic lives, telling us that SWU excels at "helping people be where God wants them to be" by promoting "learning in [one's] desired field with a strong emphasis on living the Christian lifestyle within that field." All this takes place in "an amazing family atmosphere" where "Small class sizes enable us to get to know our teachers personally" and "Professors care about their students" so much that "they make sure that you succeed in school whether you are in their class or not." As one enthusiastic student puts it, "The professors at SWU make the experience. They are like lighthouses along the shores of rocky failure. They guide and direct us into a safe path of success and achievement. They're simply amazing." The administration, likewise, "is excellent. They are approachable, understanding, and engaging in students' activities and classes." A few critics feel that "the faculty does not generally encourage deep analysis," suggesting that students who do not wholly embrace conservative Christian values may find SWU less welcoming than those who do."

Students Say - Campus Life
"Ask a student to describe the SWU campus vibe in three words, and he or she may well respond, "Community, community, community! From janitors to students to professors to deans, SWU is a collaborative effort and experience." SWU is a "very social campus that is still focused on academics" where students "enjoy having a good time but . . . have good standards and morals." Weekdays "are pretty much packed" with study, organizations, sports, service, and devotion. Weekends, on the other hand, "are dead." During leisure time, students "play cards, go rock climbing and ice skating, watch movies, go to the Falls in downtown Greenville, and other things." Students tell us that "most people are into school baseball and basketball," and a few even assert that "campus life has plenty of things for us to do, like concerts and other local events," although as many insist that "fun generally means getting off campus" by "heading off to Wal-Mart or to bigger surrounding cities." Hometown Central offers "very little to do. It's a small town.""

Students Say - Student Body
"SWU undergrads are "friendly, fun, and committed to the school and God." Students can be cliquish: "The typical SWU student has his or her own clique, and he or she does not tend to branch out to other cliques and groups," writes one student. Democrats are in short supply on this campus; conservative politics are the style here. Black students make up approximately one-third of the student body."

Clemson University
College of Charleston

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