Southwestern Adventist University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Keene, Texas. It enrolls 570 students (a small, tight-knit 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.
Good
57/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes35
Value34
Affordability55
Selectivity31
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 78.4%, Southwestern Adventist University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
78.4%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
910 – 1200
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
17 – 25
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Southwestern Adventist University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
2.2 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Southwestern Adventist 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 $22,778 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$22,778
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
42%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
53%
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
$25,380
Room & Board (on-campus)
$9,400
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,400
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,308
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,308
Total Cost of Attendance
$35,592
Application fee: $25 (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
$16,725
$30,001 – $48,000
$21,462
$48,001 – $75,000
$15,441
$75,001 – $110,000
$27,439
Over $110,000
$31,475
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.
$3,50010%percentile
$6,72425%percentile
$26,998Medianpercentile
$27,86675%percentile
$37,36190%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 $23,251
↓ $3,747
No Pell $15,500
↓ $11,498
Dependent students $22,000
↓ $4,998
Independent students $20,000
↓ $6,998
Female students $21,775
↓ $5,223
Male students $20,500
↓ $6,498
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $12,000, less than completers ($26,998), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
44% of full-time students who enrolled at Southwestern Adventist University graduate within six years, and 72% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
44%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
72%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Southwestern Adventist University earn a median of $52,946 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$52,946
Earning > $25K
77%
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
$45,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$49,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$43,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$49,500
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$49,100
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
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 ↑
20.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 83% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Southwestern Adventist University is home to 570 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 34% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
570
Part-Time
7%
First-Generation
34%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 50.2%286
White 19.0%108
Black 11.8%67
Other 6.7%38
Asian 6.5%37
International 5.3%30
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Southwestern Adventist University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: FringeKeene, Texas
Housing
Mostly residential375 beds on campus
Adult Learners
15%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
Southwestern Adventist University offers
a varied set of programs:
27 distinct programs across
16 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 Southwestern Adventist University is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$69M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$57,436
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
47 instructional faculty across 4 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
13
28%
$55,534
Associate Professors
18
38%
$59,920
Assistant Professors
15
32%
$55,528
No Rank
1
2%
$66,074
Pros & Cons of Southwestern Adventist University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Southwestern Adventist University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Solid post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Southwestern Adventist University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Southwestern Adventist University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Southwestern Adventist University.
Is Southwestern Adventist University hard to get into?
Southwestern Adventist University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 78.4%.
What is the acceptance rate at Southwestern Adventist University?
Southwestern Adventist University has an acceptance rate of 78.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Southwestern Adventist University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Southwestern Adventist University scored between 910 and 1200 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Southwestern Adventist University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Southwestern Adventist University scored between 17 and 25 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Southwestern Adventist University cost?
The average net price after aid at Southwestern Adventist University is $22,778 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Southwestern Adventist University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $52,946 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $22,778 per year. That's roughly 2.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Southwestern Adventist University known for?
Southwestern Adventist University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Theology, Kinesiology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Southwestern Adventist University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Southwestern Adventist University are $52,946, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Southwestern Adventist University accredited?
Yes. Southwestern Adventist University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Southwestern Adventist University?
Southwestern Adventist University enrolls 570 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Southwestern Adventist University?
Southwestern Adventist University graduates 44% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Southwestern Adventist University a public or private college?
Southwestern Adventist University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Southwestern Adventist University located?
Southwestern Adventist University is located in Keene, Texas.
What programs does Southwestern Adventist University offer?
Southwestern Adventist University offers 27 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Theology, Kinesiology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Southwestern Adventist University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Southwestern Adventist University is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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