Southern Wesleyan University

The information on this page was last updated 3/16/2023. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]


Summary

Southern Wesleyan University is a private Christian university committed to liberal arts and professional education. We are proud to be an institution of The Wesleyan Church, a worldwide body of evangelical Protestant believers. Our name has changed over the years, but our mission-to be a Christian community of learners that recognizes God as the source of all truth and wisdom-has remained.


Contact information

Mailing address:
Southern Wesleyan University
PO Box 1020
Central, SC 29630

Website: swu.edu

Phone: 864-644-5000

Email: [email protected]


Organization details

EIN: 570324936

CEO/President: Dr. William D. Barker

Chairman: Sue Rickman

Board size: 31

Founder:

Ruling year: 1970

Tax deductible: Yes

Fiscal year end: 06/30

Member of ECFA: No

Member of ECFA since:


Purpose

We believe that every individual has a God given purpose, brought to fruition by the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit and the challenge of scholarship. As we participate in a consecrated community of learners we are continuously transformed into the image of Christ both individually and corporately.


Mission statement

Southern Wesleyan University is a Christ-centered, student focused learning community devoted to transforming lives by challenging students to be dedicated scholars and servant leaders who impact the world for Christ.


Statement of faith

he following is a summary of the doctrine set forth in the Articles of Religion, but the statement is not intended to replace or in any way supersede the more explicit affirmations found in the most current version of The Discipline of the Wesleyan Church. We believe in God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

We believe that Jesus Christ, the Son, suffered in our place on the cross, that He died but rose again, that He now sits at the Father's right hand until He returns to judge all men at the last day.

We believe in the Holy Scriptures as the inspired and inerrant Word of God.

We believe that by the grace of God every person has the ability and responsibility to choose between right and wrong and that those who repent of their sins and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are justified by faith.

We believe that God not only counts the believer as righteous but that He also makes him righteous, freeing him of sin's dominion at conversion, purifying his heart by faith and perfecting him in love at entire sanctification, and providing for his growth in grace in every stage of his spiritual life, enabling him through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit to live a victorious life.

Donor confidence score

Show donor confidence score details

Transparency grade

C

To understand our transparency grade, click here.


Financial efficiency ratings

Sector: Colleges/Universities

CategoryRatingOverall rankSector rank
Overall efficiency rating313 of 107732 of 130
Fund acquisition rating22 of 107810 of 130
Resource allocation rating811 of 107893 of 130
Asset utilization rating417 of 107742 of 130

Financial ratios

Funding ratiosSector median20202019201820172016
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts =
Fundraising expense /
Total contributions
11%0%0%0%0%0%
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio =
Fundraising expense /
Total revenue
2%0%0%0%0%0%
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance =
Total contributions /
Total revenue
18%26%15%13%12%12%
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio =
Fundraising expense /
Total expenses
2%0%0%0%0%0%
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance =
Total other revenue /
Total revenue
82%74%85%87%88%88%
 
Operating ratiosSector median20202019201820172016
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio =
Program services /
Total expenses
84%78%74%76%74%77%
Spending ratio Spending ratio =
Total expenses /
Total revenue
95%97%97%97%101%97%
Program output ratio Program output ratio =
Program services /
Total revenue
79%76%72%74%75%75%
Savings ratio Savings ratio =
Surplus (deficit) /
Total revenue
5%3%3%3%-1%3%
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate =
Surplus (deficit) /
Net assets
4%2%2%3%-1%2%
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio =
Management and general expense /
Total expenses
13%22%26%24%26%23%
 
Investing ratiosSector median20202019201820172016
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover =
Total expenses /
Total assets
0.500.610.620.690.680.65
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment =
Total assets /
Total current assets
2.662.722.943.123.622.75
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover =
Total expenses /
Total current assets
1.541.671.822.162.471.78
 
Liquidity ratiosSector median20202019201820172016
Current ratio Current ratio =
Total current assets /
Total current liabilities
7.304.575.085.359.466.18
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio =
Total current liabilities /
Total current assets
0.140.220.200.190.110.16
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level =
(Total current assets -
Total current liabilities) /
(Total expenses / 12)
6.415.625.304.534.355.64
 
Solvency ratiosSector median20202019201820172016
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio =
Total liabilities /
Total assets
25%22%23%24%24%26%
Debt ratio Debt ratio =
Debt /
Total assets
15%0%0%0%0%0%
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio =
Net assets /
Total expenses
143%127%124%110%112%114%

Financials

Balance sheet
 
Assets20202019201820172016
Cash$6,461,766$5,926,587$5,182,208$7,209,112$11,413,731
Receivables, inventories, prepaids$476,362$393,113$452,113$768,023$881,752
Short-term investments$7,758,333$7,151,291$6,970,530$2,488,371$2,162,379
Other current assets$0$57,912$0$0$0
Total current assets$14,696,461$13,528,903$12,604,851$10,465,506$14,457,862
Long-term investments$0$0$0$0$0
Fixed assets$24,605,806$24,675,161$25,040,575$25,749,661$23,484,017
Other long-term assets$617,757$1,504,184$1,667,581$1,721,321$1,825,895
Total long-term assets$25,223,563$26,179,345$26,708,156$27,470,982$25,309,912
Total assets$39,920,024$39,708,248$39,313,007$37,936,488$39,767,774
 
Liabilities20202019201820172016
Payables and accrued expenses$1,410,074$2,057,298$1,031,697$453,632$301,670
Other current liabilities$1,806,846$603,343$1,323,722$652,947$2,036,042
Total current liabilities$3,216,920$2,660,641$2,355,419$1,106,579$2,337,712
Debt$0$0$0$0$0
Due to (from) affiliates$0$0$0$0$0
Other long-term liabilities$5,552,148$6,544,395$7,150,868$7,813,057$8,077,287
Total long-term liabilities$5,552,148$6,544,395$7,150,868$7,813,057$8,077,287
Total liabilities$8,769,068$9,205,036$9,506,287$8,919,636$10,414,999
 
Net assets20202019201820172016
Without donor restrictions$20,864,557$20,130,946$20,200,648$20,203,087$20,564,695
With donor restrictions$10,286,399$10,372,266$9,606,072$8,813,765$8,788,080
Net assets$31,150,956$30,503,212$29,806,720$29,016,852$29,352,775
 
Revenues and expenses
 
Revenue20202019201820172016
Total contributions$6,612,578$3,772,147$3,643,886$3,084,321$3,082,778
Program service revenue$14,279,255$15,847,737$16,128,753$17,263,581$18,665,428
Membership dues$0$0$0$0$0
Investment income($326,840)$340,559$3,153,681$469,340$170,367
Other revenue$4,590,079$5,320,602$5,036,686$4,677,855$4,547,988
Total other revenue$18,542,494$21,508,898$24,319,120$22,410,776$23,383,783
Total revenue$25,155,072$25,281,045$27,963,006$25,495,097$26,466,561
 
Expenses20202019201820172016
Program services$19,147,401$18,296,073$20,678,363$19,091,909$19,888,751
Management and general$5,359,927$6,288,480$6,494,775$6,739,111$5,888,035
Fundraising$0$0$0$0$0
Total expenses$24,507,328$24,584,553$27,173,138$25,831,020$25,776,786
 
Change in net assets20202019201820172016
Surplus (deficit)$647,744$696,492$789,868($335,923)$689,775
Other changes in net assets$0$0$0$0$0
Total change in net assets$647,744$696,492$789,868($335,923)$689,775

Compensation

Compensation data for this ministry has not been collected.


Response from ministry

No response has been provided by this ministry.


The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 3/16/2023. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]


History

Southern Wesleyan University was originally established in 1906 as the Wesleyan Methodist Bible Institute whose mission was to develop Christian character in its students while giving thorough intellectual training. Now, as a four-year, private, liberal arts college, SWU's structure and name have changed, but our mission-to be a Christian community of learners that recognizes God as the source of all truth and wisdom-has remained.

For a timeline, visit: swu.edu/about/who-we-are/our-history/


Program accomplishments


Needs