Anderson University

Anderson, SC · SoutheastQuad's selectivitySelective

Known forTest-optional heavyFaith-centered

Website Admissions Apply Visit Financial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

5 in 10 applicants admitted

Anderson admits about 5 in 10 applicants (55%). That puts it in the "Selective" tier, more selective than 81% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

55%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivitySelective

Applied

4,548

Admitted

2,488

Yield

33%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1100–1280

10001600

ACT middle 50%

22–29

1836

Applications +112% since fall 2014 · admit rate 72% → 55%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 3,183 undergrads, where 21% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

3.2K

undergrads · larger than 70% of colleges

Diversity index

0.31

Pell Grant

21%

below the median

First generation

25%

below the median

Small cityNCAA D-II · South Atlantic ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research

Steady · index 0.30 → 0.31 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (10% of graduates). 13 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 50% of colleges. 100% of faculty are full-time. Spends $8,526 a year on instruction per student.

13 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 50% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $25,581 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $1.3K more than the national median. The 98% who received grants paid $24,434 on average; the other 2% paid the full sticker price of $51,030.

50%

$25.6K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $1.3K above the national median

Full price: $51,030 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid: 42% · avg $25K; of first-years got a grant without federal aid (a proxy: at most colleges that's merit aid)

Aid generosity

Generous

grants cover 50% of full price

Federal loans

42%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits

Cost steady · +2% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $42,101 ten years after enrolling, more than at 18% of colleges; 62% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.4 years of that salary.

62%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$42.1K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$26.7K

≈ $283/month for 10 years

Retention

82%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 52% → 66% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 5% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid rose 2%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 112% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 72% to 55%.

Cost
Steady
+2% after inflation
Applications
Growing
+112%
Selectivity
More selective
admit rate 72% → 55%
Diversity
Steady
index 0.30 → 0.31

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Franciscan University of Steubenville

58% admit · SAT 1230 · 2.9K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso private

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Gustavus Adolphus College

61% admit · 1.9K undergrads

Similar selectivityAlso private

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Harding University

71% admit · SAT 1170 · 3.4K undergrads

Similar scoresSimilar sizeAlso Southeast

Compare side-by-side

Stonehill College

66% admit · 2.5K undergrads

Similar sizeAlso private

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

1
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
4
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12
18
Anderson University (2026)
Anderson University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 217633 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything