What is the acceptance rate at Southwest Baptist University?

Southwest Baptist University's acceptance rate is approximately 68% (Bolivar, MO), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.

What SAT score do you need for Southwest Baptist University?

Admitted students at Southwest Baptist University typically score 810–1210 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

How much does Southwest Baptist University cost?

At Southwest Baptist University, the average net price (after aid) is about $21,677 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.

How many undergraduates attend Southwest Baptist University?

Southwest Baptist University enrolls approximately 1,341 undergraduate students.

Where is Southwest Baptist University located?

Southwest Baptist University is located in Bolivar, MO.

Southwest Baptist University: Acceptance Rate, SAT & Cost — QuantAdmit

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Southwest Baptist University

Bolivar, MOprivate nonprofitwww.sbuniv.edu/

Acceptance

68%

SAT 25–75

810–1210

Avg net price

$21,677

Earnings (10 yr)

$43,112

Graduation rate

55%

Admit rate has ranged 71%–100% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.

Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.

Southwest Baptist University (SBU) is a small Christian university in Bolivar, Missouri, where nearly every applicant gets in (acceptance rates hover between 70-99%), but graduates leave with surprisingly strong job placement rates—especially in business fields. With over 100 academic programs and a tight-knit, faith-driven campus culture, SBU offers a low-stakes admissions process and high-touch support for students who thrive in its Baptist-affiliated community.

Admission requirements

Test scores required

Required

High school transcript
Grade point average
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
TOEFL (non-native English)

Considered (not required)

Class rank

Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.

More details

Undergrad enrollment: 1,341
In-state tuition: $30,566
Out-of-state tuition: $30,566
Location: Bolivar, MO
Acceptance Rate: 70-99% (varies by source)
6-Year Graduation Rate: 51%
Average Financial Aid Package: $16,550
Median Earnings 1 Year Post-Grad: $43,499
Business Grads Employed at Graduation: 100%

Outcomes & value

Median earnings (10 yr): $43,112
Value (earnings ÷ net price): 2.0×
Median debt at graduation: $20,957
Graduation rate: 55%
First-year retention: 65%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr): 59%
Pell (lower-income) share: 70%
First-generation share: 35%
Endowment / student: $23,370

Financial health

2.6 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard

U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.

Top-earning majors

Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.

Computer Science$61,516
Mathematics$59,948
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$53,454
Business Administration, Management and Operations$38,289
Criminal Justice and Corrections$35,060
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness

Campus & location

Campus safety

On-campus violent crimes (2024): 1
Per 1,000 students: 0.75

On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.

Climate

Pleasant days / yr: 78
Summer high: 88°F
Winter low: 29°F
Annual rain: 48.6"
Annual snow: 13"
Natural-hazard risk: Relatively Low

Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.

Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility

Research output

Institutional h-index: 56
Scholarly works: 651

Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.

Economic mobility

Mobility rate: 1.1%
Bottom → top quintile: 10%
From bottom quintile: 11%

Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.

Quick answers

What is the acceptance rate at Southwest Baptist University?: Southwest Baptist University's acceptance rate is approximately 68% (Bolivar, MO), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Southwest Baptist University?: Admitted students at Southwest Baptist University typically score 810–1210 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Southwest Baptist University cost?: At Southwest Baptist University, the average net price (after aid) is about $21,677 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Southwest Baptist University?: Southwest Baptist University enrolls approximately 1,341 undergraduate students.
Where is Southwest Baptist University located?: Southwest Baptist University is located in Bolivar, MO.

Admissions

SBU is one of the least selective universities in the U.S., with reported ranging from 70.9% to 99.7% across sources. The admissions bar is low: a 2.5+ GPA, 21+ ACT (or 1060 SAT), or top 50% high school class rank will suffice. policies aren't mentioned, but with near-universal acceptance, SBU effectively operates as an open-enrollment institution for students meeting baseline requirements. Notably, 100% of undergraduates receive financial aid, with over $23.8 million awarded annually.

sbuniv.edu bigfuture.collegeboard.org sbuniv.edu acceptancerate.com prepscholar.com thoughtco.com niche.com