Admit rate has ranged 54%–62% over the last 5 years — notably volatile, though the latest figure above (78%) falls outside that window. 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 is a small, faith-driven institution in Keene, Texas, where a 12:1 student-faculty ratio and a 150-acre campus foster a close-knit community. Its identity is inextricably linked to its Seventh-day Adventist heritage, shaping campus life, academics, and a culture of service. While its admissions are accessible, the school's focus is on outcomes, recently ranking as a top performer in social mobility and boasting a nursing program described by an alum as an 'elite mark in the North Texas nursing community.'
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
Campus Size
150 acres
Graduation Rate
52%
Student-Faculty Ratio
12:1
Median Earnings (10yr)
$52,946
Freshman Retention Rate
73%
Outcomes & value
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
42%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
34%
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.
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
Southwestern Adventist University operates with an accessible admissions process, positioning itself as a 'less selective' institution. The university is , meaning SAT or ACT scores are not required for admission, though submitted scores for admitted students typically fall within an SAT range of 910–1200 or an ACT range of 17–25. The primary academic benchmark is a cumulative high school GPA; a GPA of 2.75 or higher qualifies for regular admission, while a GPA between 2.50 and 2.74 may also be considered. The process is designed to be straightforward, with the university emphasizing a within its faith-based context.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Academics at SWAU are defined by intimate scale and a focus on practical, career-oriented programs within a Christian framework. With a student-faculty ratio of 12:1 and 38.5% of its classes having fewer than 20 students, the environment is geared toward personalized attention. The university offers 39 majors, with notable strength in professional fields like Business, Education, and Health Professions. Its nursing program, in particular, carries a strong regional reputation. The curriculum is evolving to meet modern demands, including plans for new certificates that blend disciplines like Business and English with skills in marketing automation and AI. This forward-looking approach exists alongside a traditional liberal arts and sciences foundation, all aimed at preparing students for meaningful work and service.
Life at SWAU is intentionally communal, revolving around the university's Seventh-day Adventist identity. The 150-acre campus in Keene, Texas, is the setting for a "close-knit community atmosphere." The Student Association explicitly aims to "bring life and vibrancy to the campus by maintaining the social, physical, and spiritual welfare of the student body." This translates into a calendar filled with student-led events, community service projects, and campus traditions that foster a "vibrant, dynamic" environment. The university promotes an "intentional development" of students' mental, spiritual, physical, and social lives, creating a holistic experience deeply connected to faith. Policies, such as those outlined in the student handbook, reflect the Adventist lifestyle, including adherence to specific health principles.
SWAU's outcomes tell a story of supporting students through to completion and into the workforce, with a particular emphasis on upward mobility. The university's freshmen retention rate is a solid 73%, a strong indicator of student satisfaction and institutional support. Its six-year graduation rate is reported at 47%, though other sources cite figures around 41-42%. Where SWAU shines is in its ranking as a top performer on social mobility, a metric that rewards success in graduating Pell Grant recipients. Alumni earnings data varies, but the focus is on return on investment for a diverse student body. The success of specific programs, like nursing, is attested to by alumni who credit their "Christian based private pedigree" for career advancement in competitive regional fields.
Financial aid at Southwestern Adventist University is need-based, awarded "based on demonstrated financial need, not merit or athletic achievement." The university states that 100% of students receive some form of aid. The average aid package is reported to be $13,345, which brings the average after scholarships and grants down to $20,198. Aid comes from a combination of federal and state programs, institutional need-based grants (like the SWAU Need Based Grant), merit-based awards, and federal loans. The university provides a Net Price Calculator for personalized estimates, encouraging families to see aid as a partnership in making the private, faith-based education accessible.
Southwestern Adventist University stands out as a specific and purposeful choice. It is not a generic small college but a deliberately Seventh-day Adventist institution where faith permeates campus life, academics, and community standards. This creates a cohesive, all-in environment for students seeking that alignment. Its standout feature is a demonstrated commitment to social mobility, effectively serving and graduating students from lower-income backgrounds and preparing them for stable careers—especially in high-demand fields like nursing and business. The combination of a highly supportive 12:1 student-faculty ratio, a tight-knit campus community on 150 acres, and a focus on practical outcomes makes SWAU a compelling option for students looking for a personalized, faith-based education with a clear return on investment.
Southwestern Adventist University seal · sourceSouthwestern Adventist University - Niche · sourceSouthwestern Adventist University · sourceSouthwestern Adventist University - Adventist Colleges and Universities · source
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