Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

Benedict College vs Southern Wesleyan University: which has better ROI?

Private nonprofit, Columbia SC · vs · Private nonprofit, Central SC

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Southern Wesleyan University comes closer — median earnings $47,756 against a $61,856 total, vs $31,902 at Benedict College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureBenedict CollegeSouthern Wesleyan University
Net price / yr$18,250$15,464
Total net cost$73,000$61,856
Median earnings, 10 yrs$31,902$47,756
Median debt$32,500$26,000
Payback
20-year net return-$402,160-$73,936

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Benedict College or Southern Wesleyan University?

Southern Wesleyan University, at $15,464 a year after aid versus $18,250 — a gap of $2,786 a year, or $11,144 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Benedict College or Southern Wesleyan University graduates earn more?

Southern Wesleyan University graduates report a median $47,756 ten years after entry, $15,854 more than the $31,902 at Benedict College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.

Which leaves students with less debt, Benedict College or Southern Wesleyan University?

Southern Wesleyan University: its completers carry a median $26,000 in federal loans versus $32,500 at Benedict College, a difference of $6,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

52% of students finish at Southern Wesleyan University, against 24% at Benedict College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.

Benedict College vs Southern Wesleyan University: frequently asked questions

Is Benedict College or Southern Wesleyan University a better value?
Southern Wesleyan University comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Benedict College or Southern Wesleyan University?
Southern Wesleyan University: $15,464/yr net price after aid versus $18,250/yr at Benedict College — a difference of $2,786 a year, or about $11,144 over four years.
Do Benedict College or Southern Wesleyan University graduates earn more?
Southern Wesleyan University graduates earn a median $47,756 ten years after entry, versus $31,902 at Benedict College — a $15,854 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.