Admit rate has ranged 39%–51% 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 University, a small liberal arts college in Georgetown, Texas, combines rigorous academics with an intimate, supportive community. Known for its 11:1 student-faculty ratio and strong emphasis on undergraduate research, SU offers a distinctive blend of intellectual challenge and personal attention, with 55% of students holding leadership roles in campus organizations. Its 43% acceptance rate reflects growing selectivity, while a 74% graduation rate outpaces national averages.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Class rank
Letters of recommendation
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
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
1,440
In-state tuition
$53,813
Out-of-state tuition
$53,813
Acceptance Rate
43%
Graduation Rate
74%
On-Campus Housing
74%
Majors/Minors Offered
37/41
Student-Faculty Ratio
11:1
Students Receiving Aid
99%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$56,878
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
1.9×
Median debt at graduation
$25,000
Graduation rate
73%
First-year retention
81%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
74%
Pell (lower-income) share
48%
First-generation share
20%
Endowment / student
$280,366
Financial health
2.7 / 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.
Business/Commerce, General$48,432
Communication and Media Studies$32,925
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.
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
3
Per 1,000 students
2.08
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
99
Summer high
95°F
Winter low
44°F
Annual rain
42.2"
Annual snow
1.8"
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
175
Scholarly works
5,796
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
0.8%
Bottom → top quintile
25%
From bottom quintile
3%
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 University?
Southwestern University's acceptance rate is approximately 43% (Georgetown, TX), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Southwestern University?
Admitted students at Southwestern University typically score 1130–1300 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Southwestern University cost?
At Southwestern University, the average net price (after aid) is about $29,224 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Southwestern University?
Southwestern University enrolls approximately 1,440 undergraduate students.
Where is Southwestern University located?
Southwestern University is located in Georgetown, TX.
Admissions
Southwestern University is selective, with a 43% acceptance rate for the Class of 2029—one of the lowest in its history, drawn from nearly 5,900 applications. The middle 50% of admitted first-years scored between 1150–1320 on the SAT (EBRW+M) or 25–31 on the ACT, though tests remain optional. Waitlisted applicants may still secure admission, per recent CDS data. The admissions office emphasizes Holistic admissionsA review that weighs the whole applicant — grades, essays, activities, and context — rather than relying on test scores and GPA alone., with no published minimum GPA or rank requirements.
SU’s 37 majors and 41 minors span traditional liberal arts (like Political Science and Fine Arts, each comprising 5% of degrees) to modern fields like Computer Science (4%). The Princeton Review notes its curriculum cultivates "future academics," supported by an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. Over half of students engage in faculty-mentored research or creative projects. The 74% six-year graduation rate—more than double the national average—reflects its academic support systems. Unique among peers, SU requires a in every major, often blending interdisciplinary study with real-world applications.
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.
With 74% of students living on campus, SU fosters tight-knit connections. Students organize 300+ annual events, from trivia nights to conferences, while 55% hold leadership roles in clubs. The campus culture is notably inclusive—emotional support animals are common, and professors are praised for knowing students personally. Georgetown’s Hill Country setting provides a peaceful backdrop, though Austin’s music and tech scenes are just 30 minutes away. Greek life exists but doesn’t dominate; instead, traditions like Paideia (a cross-disciplinary cohort program) build community.
SU’s 74% graduation rate (66% on-time) far exceeds the 33.3% national average. Within a year, 20% of graduates pursue advanced degrees, often in law, medicine, or STEM fields. Alumni earnings data is strong: liberal arts graduates here typically outearn high school graduates by $20,000+ annually, with top performers making $55,000+ early-career. Notably, SU ranks #3 among Texas peers for alumni earnings one year post-graduation, per federal data. The career center reports robust employer networks in Austin and Dallas for internships and jobs.
SU’s net price averages $28,584 after aid, with 99% of first-years receiving grants or scholarships. The average aid package totals $50,107, significantly offsetting the $61,730 total cost (2023-24). Merit scholarships range up to full tuition, and the Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. Calculator helps families estimate personalized costs. While sticker price is steep, SU’s aid generosity—plus Texas’ no-state-income-tax advantage—makes it competitive with public flagships for middle-income students.
Southwestern punches above its weight: its undergraduate research opportunities rival those at large universities, yet its 1,500 students enjoy seminar-style classes (average size: 17). The Paideia program—a hallmark—integrates coursework across disciplines, while the Prothro Center for Lifelong Learning offers alumni free classes for life. Unlike many liberal arts colleges, SU has grown more selective (Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. dropped 10+ points in a decade) without sacrificing its quirky, collaborative vibe. Its location—a charming town near Austin—gives access to internships at Tesla, Dell, and thriving arts nonprofits.
Southwestern University logo · sourceCampus Photos • Southwestern University · sourceSouthwestern University · sourceCampus Photos • Southwestern University · source
