Applicants, Acceptance Rate, Yield Trends at SWU

-51.14%

Applicants - since 2015

37.29%

Acceptance Rate

The average acceptance rate at SWU over the past 10 years is 62.20%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 99.53%.

The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 37.27%, and the 2025 yield is 33.41%. Overall, the yield has decreased by 6.79% from 2015 to 2025.

The number of SWU applicants decreased by 9.53% (45 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants decreased by 51.14% overall.

Key Takeaways: SWU Admission Metrics

Acceptance Rate Overview

The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 99.53%, showing a decreasing selectivity trend. This suggests that SWU is admitting a higher proportion of applicants, which may indicate either an increase in application quality or a strategic enrollment decision by the institution.

Yield Rate & Enrollment Patterns

The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 33.41%. The declining yield trend suggests that a lower percentage of admitted students are choosing to enroll at SWU. This pattern may reflect increased competition from peer institutions, changing student demographics, or shifts in institutional enrollment strategy.

Application Volume & Admission Trends

For the 2025 admission cycle, SWU received approximately 427 applications, admitted 425 students, and enrolled 142 students. The declining application volume may indicate shifts in student interest patterns or broader demographic changes affecting college enrollment. Understanding these trends is crucial for prospective students and families assessing SWU's position in the competitive admissions landscape.

Acceptance Rate Changes

SWU 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at SWU over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 62.20%, while the most recent rate stands at 99.53%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.

For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 99.53%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 62.61% and for women is 62.34%.

The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at SWU have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).

YearTotalMenWomen
2015-16 62.24% 60.37% 63.65%
2016-17 55.02%
-7.22%
56.12%
-4.26%
54.23%
-9.42%
2017-18 52.57%
-2.45%
50.56%
-5.55%
54.31%
0.08%
2018-19 53.64%
1.07%
56.49%
5.93%
51.67%
-2.65%
2019-20 35.03%
-18.61%
34.36%
-22.13%
34.61%
-17.06%
2020-21 55.75%
20.72%
58.23%
23.87%
56.17%
21.56%
2021-22 57.01%
1.26%
58.87%
0.64%
57.05%
0.88%
2022-23 51.18%
-5.83%
52.24%
-6.63%
51.66%
-5.40%
2023-24 100.00%
48.82%
100.00%
47.76%
100.00%
48.34%
2024-25 99.53%
-0.47%
98.81%
-1.19%
100.00%
Average 62.20% 62.61% 62.34%
Southern Wesleyan University Acceptance Rate Trends Over Time - Historical Admission Rate Data Visualization Chart

Admission Yield (Enrollment Rate) Changes

SWU has demonstrated a decline in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has decreased from 35.85% in 2015 to 33.41% in 2025, representing a 6.79% decrease. The 10-year average yield stands at 37.27%, reflecting weakening enrollment performance.

The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at SWU from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has decreased by 6.79% over this period.

YearTotalMenWomen
2015-16 35.85% 46.70% 28.08%
2016-17 27.59%
-8.26%
28.91%
-17.79%
26.60%
-1.48%
2017-18 38.32%
10.74%
40.18%
11.27%
36.82%
10.23%
2018-19 39.45%
1.13%
40.00%
-0.18%
39.03%
2.21%
2019-20 54.52%
15.07%
68.29%
28.29%
53.00%
13.96%
2020-21 37.74%
-16.78%
41.85%
-26.44%
37.26%
-15.73%
2021-22 37.94%
0.20%
38.36%
-3.49%
38.91%
1.65%
2022-23 34.18%
-3.76%
38.04%
-0.32%
32.45%
-6.46%
2023-24 33.69%
-0.49%
34.38%
-3.66%
33.33%
0.88%
2024-25 33.41%
-0.27%
33.73%
-0.64%
33.20%
-0.13%
Average 37.27% 41.04% 35.87%
Southern Wesleyan University enrollment rate trends chart showing historical yield changes from 2015 to 2025

Applicants, Admitted, and Enrolled Headcount Changes

Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 820, the average number of admitted is 472, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 174.

The number of SWU applicants decreased by 9.53% (45 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants decreased by 51.14% overall.

The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at Southern Wesleyan University from 2015 to 2025.

YearApplicantsAdmittedEnrolled
2015-16 874 544 195
2016-17 896
2.52%
493
-9.38%
136
-30.26%
2017-18 953
6.36%
501
1.62%
192
41.18%
2018-19 1,016
6.61%
545
8.78%
215
11.98%
2019-20 1,042
2.56%
365
-33.03%
199
-7.44%
2020-21 922
-11.52%
514
40.82%
194
-2.51%
2021-22 749
-18.76%
427
-16.93%
162
-16.49%
2022-23 846
12.95%
433
1.41%
148
-8.64%
2023-24 472
-44.21%
472
9.01%
159
7.43%
2024-25 427
-9.53%
425
-9.96%
142
-10.69%
Average 820 472 174
Southern Wesleyan University - 10 Year Applicants, Admissions, and Enrollment Trends Chart

Compare Acceptance Rate Change to Similar Colleges

The following table compares Southern Wesleyan University' acceptance rate to similar schools.

20242025Change %
Southern Wesleyan University100.00%99.53%-0.47%
Anderson University54.71%52.81%3.60%
Charleston Southern University96.46%76.09%26.77%
Columbia International University94.47%97.58%-3.19%
Bob Jones University---
Furman University42.95%52.57%-18.30%

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