What is the acceptance rate at Southwestern Adventist University?

Southwestern Adventist University's acceptance rate is approximately 78% (Keene, TX), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.

What SAT score do you need for Southwestern Adventist University?

Admitted students at Southwestern Adventist University typically score 910–1200 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

How much does Southwestern Adventist University cost?

At Southwestern Adventist University, the average net price (after aid) is about $22,778 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.

How many undergraduates attend Southwestern Adventist University?

Southwestern Adventist University enrolls approximately 570 undergraduate students.

Where is Southwestern Adventist University located?

Southwestern Adventist University is located in Keene, TX.

Southwestern Adventist University: Acceptance Rate, SAT & Cost — QuantAdmit

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Southwestern Adventist University

Keene, TXprivate nonprofitwww.swau.edu/

Acceptance

78%

SAT 25–75

910–1200

Avg net price

$22,778

Earnings (10 yr)

$52,946

Graduation rate

52%

Admit rate has ranged 54%–62% 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.

Southwestern Adventist University (SWAU) is a small, faith-based institution in Keene, Texas, where Seventh-day Adventist values shape a tight-knit academic community. With a 78% acceptance rate and test-optional admissions, SWAU emphasizes accessibility while offering intimate class sizes (12:1 student-faculty ratio) and strong programs in education, theology, and business. Campus life revolves around spiritual growth, with 75% of students living on campus, and graduates benefit from robust financial aid—84% receive assistance averaging $19k annually.

Admission requirements

Test-optional — scores considered if submitted

Required

High school transcript
Grade point average
TOEFL (non-native English)

Considered (not required)

Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program

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: 570
In-state tuition: $25,380
Out-of-state tuition: $25,380
Top Majors: Elementary Education, Theology
Acceptance Rate: 55.5%–78.4%
On-Campus Housing: 75% of students
Student-Faculty Ratio: 12:1
Avg. Financial Aid Package: $19,000

Outcomes & value

Median earnings (10 yr): $52,946
Value (earnings ÷ net price): 2.3×
Median debt at graduation: $26,998
Graduation rate: 52%
First-year retention: 73%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr): 52%
Pell (lower-income) share: 74%
First-generation share: 34%
Endowment / student: $46,425

Financial health

3.0 / 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.

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$66,941

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.

Compare on earnings: best colleges for Nursing

Campus & location

Campus safety

On-campus violent crimes (2024): 0
Per 1,000 students: 0.00

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: 100
Summer high: 93°F
Winter low: 41°F
Annual rain: 43.6"
Annual snow: 1.2"
Natural-hazard risk: Relatively Moderate

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: 16
Scholarly works: 109

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: 2.3%
Bottom → top quintile: 21%
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 Southwestern Adventist University?: Southwestern Adventist University's acceptance rate is approximately 78% (Keene, TX), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Southwestern Adventist University?: Admitted students at Southwestern Adventist University typically score 910–1200 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Southwestern Adventist University cost?: At Southwestern Adventist University, the average net price (after aid) is about $22,778 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Southwestern Adventist University?: Southwestern Adventist University enrolls approximately 570 undergraduate students.
Where is Southwestern Adventist University located?: Southwestern Adventist University is located in Keene, TX.

Admissions

SWAU is moderately selective, with ranging from 55.5% to 78.4% depending on the reporting source. The university is test-optional, waiving SAT/ACT requirements for applicants with a minimum 2.5 GPA (or 2.75 for GED holders). Mid-50% test scores for admitted students fall between 910–1200 (SAT) or 17–25 (ACT). Notably, 68% of male applicants and 99% of female applicants were admitted in one recent cycle, suggesting gender disparities in selectivity. The Common Application is accepted, and the student body leans heavily toward first-time freshmen and transfers from Adventist high schools.