Degree Dividend
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Bob Jones University vs Southern Wesleyan University: which has better ROI?

Private nonprofit, Greenville 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 $44,354 at Bob Jones University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureBob Jones UniversitySouthern Wesleyan University
Net price / yr$16,641$15,464
Total net cost$66,564$61,856
Median earnings, 10 yrs$44,354$47,756
Median debt$16,585$26,000
Payback
20-year net return-$146,684-$73,936

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

Which is cheaper, Bob Jones University or Southern Wesleyan University?

Southern Wesleyan University, at $15,464 a year after aid versus $16,641 — a gap of $1,177 a year, or $4,708 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Bob Jones University or Southern Wesleyan University graduates earn more?

Southern Wesleyan University graduates report a median $47,756 ten years after entry, $3,402 more than the $44,354 at Bob Jones University. 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, Bob Jones University or Southern Wesleyan University?

Bob Jones University: its completers carry a median $16,585 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Southern Wesleyan University, a difference of $9,415. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

65% of students finish at Bob Jones University, against 52% at Southern Wesleyan University. 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.

Bob Jones University vs Southern Wesleyan University: frequently asked questions

Is Bob Jones University 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, Bob Jones University or Southern Wesleyan University?
Southern Wesleyan University: $15,464/yr net price after aid versus $16,641/yr at Bob Jones University — a difference of $1,177 a year, or about $4,708 over four years.
Do Bob Jones University or Southern Wesleyan University graduates earn more?
Southern Wesleyan University graduates earn a median $47,756 ten years after entry, versus $44,354 at Bob Jones University — a $3,402 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.