Southeastern University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Lakeland, Florida. It enrolls 4,813 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
46/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes26
Value5
Affordability17
Selectivity56
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 53%, Southeastern University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
53%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Southeastern University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
26.1 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Southeastern University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $31,942 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$31,942
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
22%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
28%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$32,950
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,130
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,920
Books & Supplies
$1,600
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$7,800
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$7,800
Total Cost of Attendance
$49,329
Application fee: $40 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$29,498
$30,001 – $48,000
$29,185
$48,001 – $75,000
$31,185
$75,001 – $110,000
$34,795
Over $110,000
$34,482
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,25010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$21,500Medianpercentile
$22,90575%percentile
$32,96690%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $13,765
↓ $7,735
No Pell $10,594
↓ $10,906
Dependent students $12,000
↓ $9,500
Independent students $13,522
↓ $7,978
Female students $12,608
↓ $8,892
Male students $11,833
↓ $9,667
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($21,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
38% of full-time students who enrolled at Southeastern University graduate within six years, and 71% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
38%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
71%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Southeastern University earn a median of $46,744 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$46,744
Earning > $25K
73%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$32,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$43,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$35,300
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$36,100
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$41,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,200, about 26% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
24.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 85% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Southeastern University is home to 4,813 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 35% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
4,813
Part-Time
12%
First-Generation
35%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 53.0%2,550
Hispanic 23.1%1,113
Black 11.1%536
Other 5.2%250
International 2.5%119
Asian 1.7%81
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Southeastern University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityLakeland, Florida
Housing
Partly residential1,806 beds available
Adult Learners
9%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Southeastern University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
77 distinct programs across
19 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Southeastern University is 26:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
26:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$48M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$68,720
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
129 instructional faculty across 6 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
45
35%
$86,546
Associate Professors
39
30%
$66,750
Assistant Professors
38
29%
$54,805
Instructors
4
3%
$49,351
Lecturers
2
2%
$36,524
No Rank
1
1%
$13,979
Pros & Cons of Southeastern University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Southeastern University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
No clear stand-out strengths in the data.
CONS
Above-average net price
Larger class sizes than typical
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Frequently Asked Questions about Southeastern University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Southeastern University.
Is Southeastern University hard to get into?
Admissions at Southeastern University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 53%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Southeastern University?
Southeastern University has an acceptance rate of 53%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Southeastern University cost?
The average net price after aid at Southeastern University is $31,942 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Southeastern University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $46,744 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $31,942 per year. That's roughly 1.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Southeastern University known for?
Southeastern University is best known for its programs in Theology, Business Administration, Theology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Southeastern University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Southeastern University are $46,744, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Southeastern University accredited?
Yes. Southeastern University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Southeastern University?
Southeastern University enrolls 4,813 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Southeastern University?
Southeastern University graduates 38% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Southeastern University a public or private college?
Southeastern University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Southeastern University located?
Southeastern University is located in Lakeland, Florida.
What programs does Southeastern University offer?
Southeastern University offers 77 distinct programs. The most popular include Theology, Business Administration, Theology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Southeastern University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Southeastern University is 26:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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