Southwestern University is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Georgetown, Texas. It enrolls 1,440 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
64/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes74
Value18
Affordability24
Selectivity80
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 43.1%, Southwestern University is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
43.1%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1130 – 1300
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
26 – 30
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 University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
10.0 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Southwestern 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 $29,224 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$29,224
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
25%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
46%
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
$53,813
Room & Board (on-campus)
$15,072
Room & Board (off-campus)
$17,290
Books & Supplies
$1,250
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,730
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,515
Total Cost of Attendance
$67,493
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
$22,478
$30,001 – $48,000
$19,096
$48,001 – $75,000
$28,175
$75,001 – $110,000
$30,387
Over $110,000
$36,332
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.
$5,50010%percentile
$12,00025%percentile
$25,000Medianpercentile
$28,00075%percentile
$38,65090%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 $20,500
↓ $4,500
No Pell $18,490
↓ $6,510
Dependent students $19,500
↓ $5,500
Independent students $21,043
↓ $3,957
Female students $19,995
↓ $5,005
Male students $18,495
↓ $6,505
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,250, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
64% of full-time students who enrolled at Southwestern University graduate within six years, and 82% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
64%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
82%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Southwestern University earn a median of $56,878 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$56,878
Earning > $25K
84%
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
$58,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$70,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$66,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$54,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$66,200
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,600, about 17% 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 ↑
17.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 93% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Southwestern University is home to 1,440 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
1,440
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
20%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 51.3%739
Hispanic 29.6%426
Black 5.7%82
Other 4.8%69
Asian 3.3%47
International 2.2%32
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Southwestern University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityGeorgetown, Texas
Housing
Strongly residential1,070 beds for 1,440 students
Adult Learners
3%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 University offers
a varied set of programs:
28 distinct programs across
17 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 University is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$517M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$79,698
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
120 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
41
34%
$97,512
Associate Professors
33
28%
$81,318
Assistant Professors
32
27%
$67,570
Instructors
14
12%
$51,434
Pros & Cons of Southwestern University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Southwestern University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Best for:
Based on the data, Southwestern University is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Southwestern University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Southwestern University.
Is Southwestern University hard to get into?
Southwestern University is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 43.1%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at Southwestern University?
Southwestern University has an acceptance rate of 43.1%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Southwestern University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Southwestern University scored between 1130 and 1300 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 University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Southwestern University scored between 26 and 30 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Southwestern University cost?
The average net price after aid at Southwestern University is $29,224 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Southwestern University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $56,878 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $29,224 per year. That's roughly 1.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Southwestern University known for?
Southwestern University is best known for its programs in Business, Psychology, Kinesiology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Southwestern University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Southwestern University are $56,878, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Southwestern University accredited?
Yes. Southwestern University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Southwestern University?
Southwestern University enrolls 1,440 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Southwestern University?
Southwestern University graduates 64% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Southwestern University a public or private college?
Southwestern University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Southwestern University located?
Southwestern University is located in Georgetown, Texas.
What programs does Southwestern University offer?
Southwestern University offers 28 distinct programs. The most popular include Business, Psychology, Kinesiology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Southwestern University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Southwestern University is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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