Southern Wesleyan University

What Southern Wesleyan University does

Southern Wesleyan University (SWU) is a private, nonprofit Christian university headquartered in Central, South Carolina, founded in 1906 as the Wesleyan Methodist Bible Institute and affiliated with The Wesleyan Church. The institution delivers higher education across multiple modalities: on-campus residential undergraduate programs at its Central, SC campus and fully online undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs through the SWU Global division. Academic organization includes the Benson School of Business, the School of Education, the newly launched School of Nursing (established May 2026), and five academic divisions spanning humanities, music and fine arts, religion, science, and social sciences. Student-facing technology infrastructure consists of the Canvas learning management system for course delivery (integrated with Brainfuse 24/7 online tutoring via single sign-on) and a Jenzabar-powered mySWU portal (version 2026.1) for student information, registration, financial aid, and accounts, supported by Microsoft 365 for email and authentication.

SWU serves five primary customer segments: traditional freshman and transfer undergraduates seeking residential four-year degrees; online and graduate students including working adults pursuing flexible remote degrees; dual enrollment high school students; military and veteran students utilizing VA benefits and Yellow Ribbon program support; and international students. Beyond degree programs, the institution provides auxiliary services including the Rickman Library, Student Success Center with peer tutoring and accessibility accommodations, career services via the Handshake platform, conference and venue services including an Eagles Rest bed-and-breakfast, and Title IX support services. Revenue is generated primarily through tuition and fees across both on-campus and online programs, with the Student Resource Fee covering technology access, supplemented by donations, grants, auxiliary services, and military education benefits.

Distribution combines two primary modalities: on-campus residential enrollment driven by admissions visits, campus events such as Future Warrior Day, and recruitment staff; and online self-serve enrollment managed through the admissions website and supported by academic success coaches. Marketing is coordinated by the Office of Marketing and Communications across the university website, social media, press releases, Google AdWords paid search, Facebook and Microsoft digital advertising, and the mySWU student portal for enrolled populations.

Name

Southern Wesleyan University

Legal name

Southern Wesleyan University

Website

https://swu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1906

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Southern Wesleyan University is a private, nonprofit Christian university in Central, South Carolina, founded in 1906 and affiliated with The Wesleyan Church, offering undergraduate through doctoral degrees on-campus and online through multiple schools including Business, Education, and Nursing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Affiliated Private Research Universities (EDAHABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Religiously Affiliated Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAF)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Online degree programs
• Liberal arts education
• Graduate programs
• Adult education

Headquarters

HQ city

Central

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Southern Wesleyan University is a private Christian university offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs through on-campus residential education at its Central, South Carolina campus and fully online programs through SWU Global. The institution delivers liberal arts and professional education across academic divisions and schools including business, education, nursing, religion, sciences, and the humanities, with a Christ-centered educational philosophy.

Product overview

Southern Wesleyan University is a private, four-year Christian university in Central, South Carolina, established in 1906. The institution offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs through both on-campus and fully online modalities via the SWU Global division. Academic structure includes the Benson School of Business, School of Education, newly launched School of Nursing (2026), and five academic divisions (Humanities, Music and Fine Arts, Religion, Science, and Social Sciences). Student-facing technology platforms include the Jenzabar-powered mySWU portal for administrative services and the Canvas learning management system for course delivery. Academic support services include the Student Success Center with tutoring partnerships, Rickman Library with database resources, and assisted learning technology. The institution also provides military student programs, career services, conference services, and Title IX compliance services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• On-Campus Programs Traditional four-year undergraduate and graduate degree programs delivered at the Central, South Carolina campus. Includes liberal arts, professional education, and Christian studies across multiple schools and divisions.
• Online Degree Programs (SWU Global) Undergraduate and graduate degree programs delivered fully online for working adults and remote students. Includes bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs across business, education, nursing, and human services through the SWU Global division.
• Benson School of Business Professional school offering business administration, organizational leadership, and business-related undergraduate and graduate degrees, available both on-campus and online.
• School of Education Teacher education and education administration programs including early childhood education, elementary education, special education, and graduate degrees in educational leadership.
• School of Nursing The university's newest academic school (launched May 2026) offering Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and pre-nursing studies programs.
• Military Students Programs Support services for military and veteran students including VA benefits, tuition assistance discounts, Yellow Ribbon program, and Warrior Wisdom resources.
• Dual Enrollment Program Programs allowing high school students to earn college credit through on-campus or dual enrollment options.
• Rickman Library University library providing research resources, databases (EBSCO, ProQuest, Gale), interlibrary loan, 3D printing/makerspace, and librarian support services.
• Student Success Center Academic support services including peer tutoring, writing coaching, success coaching, and disability accommodations. Partners with Brainfuse for 24/7 online tutoring.
• Career Services Career guidance services including vocational discovery, success planning, Handshake platform integration, and work-study job postings.
• Conference Services Event and venue rental services including meeting spaces, summer camps, Eagles Rest bed and breakfast, and facilities for external groups.
• Academic Divisions (Humanities, Music and Fine Arts, Religion, Science, Social Sciences) Five academic divisions offering degree programs in liberal arts, sciences, fine arts, religion, and social sciences disciplines.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Baptist Easley HospitalminorOthersSWU partners with Baptist Easley Hospital for emergency medical services, including Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) services. Located at 200 Fleetwood Drive, Easley, SC 29640. Students are referred to this hospital for sexual assault emergency care.
• Pickens County Advocacy CenterminorOthersProvides free 24-hour crisis intervention services to SWU students who have experienced sexual assault. Advocates meet students at Baptist Easley Hospital and assist with reporting options. 24/7 hotline available.
• DellminorOthersSWU offers Dell discounts to students through a university partnership program, allowing students to purchase computers and technology at discounted rates.
• JenzabarcoreTechnology or IntegrationSWU uses Jenzabar as its enterprise portal system (mySWU) for student information management, course registration, financial services, and institutional operations.
• Canvas (by Instructure)coreTechnology or IntegrationSWU uses Canvas as its primary learning management system (LMS) for both on-campus and online course delivery. Students access Canvas through swu.instructure.com.
• MicrosoftcoreTechnology or IntegrationSWU utilizes Microsoft 365 for email, productivity tools, and student email services. Also uses Microsoft Clarity for site optimization and Microsoft Advertising for targeted advertising campaigns.
• GooglecoreTechnology or IntegrationSWU uses Google Analytics for website usage analysis and Google AdWords for advertising campaigns based on user interests and remarketing.
• Facebook AdvertisingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSWU uses Facebook Advertising for online interest-based advertising to reach prospective students and target relevant audiences based on website usage.
• BrainfusecoreTechnology or IntegrationBrainfuse provides 24/7 online tutoring services for all SWU students, accessible through Canvas single sign-on. Services include tutoring in math, reading, writing, science, business, and technology, plus academic tools.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• North Greenville University: Private, Southern Baptist-affiliated university in Tigerville, SC offering undergraduate and graduate programs in liberal arts and professional fields. Comparable faith affiliation, regional footprint, and small private university profile to SWU.
• Anderson University (South Carolina): Private, faith-affiliated (South Carolina Baptist Convention) university located in Anderson, SC, near SWU, offering on-campus and online undergraduate and graduate programs. Directly comparable in mission, regional footprint, denominational affiliation model, and small private size.
• Trevecca Nazarene University: Private, Church of the Nazarene-affiliated university in Nashville, TN with on-campus and substantial online adult-learner programs. Directly comparable to SWU in Wesleyan-holiness heritage and investment in online education.
• Carson-Newman University: Private, Tennessee Baptist Convention-affiliated university in Jefferson City, TN offering liberal arts and professional programs. Comparable faith-based mission, similar size, and overlapping online program offerings.
• Lee University: Private, Church of God-affiliated university in Cleveland, TN offering on-campus and online undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. Closest denominational peer (also Wesleyan-holiness heritage) and similar size and program mix to SWU.
• Bob Jones University: Private, fundamentalist Christian university in Greenville, SC (roughly 30 miles from SWU) offering liberal arts and professional education with residential and distance programs. Closest faith-based competitor in the Upstate South Carolina market with similar size and mission.
• Oral Roberts University: Private, charismatic/Pentecostal-affiliated university in Tulsa, OK offering liberal arts and professional programs with residential and distance options. Comparable in faith-based mission integration, university size, and program breadth (including doctoral programs).
• Erskine College: Private, Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church-affiliated liberal arts college in Due West, SC offering residential and select online programs. Highly comparable in denominational sponsorship model, small size, and South Carolina footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Southern New Hampshire University: Large private, nonprofit university with one of the largest online enrollments in the U.S., serving adult and graduate learners nationally. Comparable as an online higher-education competitor and operator of comparable adult-learner programs, though vastly larger in scale.
• Western Governors University: Large, nonprofit online university offering competency-based undergraduate and graduate programs nationwide. Adjacent competitor in online adult-learner higher education with overlapping business, IT, education, and healthcare program verticals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SWUVideo
• Facebookfacebook.com/321580464497
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southern-wesleyan-university
• Xx.com/swu_edu

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Southern Wesleyan University