Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Winfield, Kansas
65% Acceptance Rate
Southwestern College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
65%Acceptance Rate
3.33Avg GPA
1060Avg SAT
$53,677Annual Cost
$55,646Grad Salary
39.5%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
65%
Avg GPA
3.33
Avg SAT
1060
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
1020–1090
Need-Based Aid
39.5% receive Pell
Southwestern College, founded in 1885 in Winfield, Kansas, is a private Methodist-affiliated college known for its education and leadership programs. Ranked for regional value, it offers a picturesque campus, online degrees, and a strong focus on service.
With innovative programs in cybersecurity and ministry, Southwestern emphasizes ethical leadership and global engagement through study abroad and community partnerships.
Southwestern College Acceptance Rate
Southwestern College is moderately selective. 65% of applicants are admitted, with room for a well-rounded, if imperfect, transcript.
What SC Admissions Looks For
- Whole-Person Review: Personal circumstances and career goals are weighed alongside grades.
- Flexible on GPA: Strong extracurriculars or work experience can offset an average transcript.
Selectivity at a Glance
Somewhat Selective
Selectivity scale: Somewhat Selective — 65% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.33 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.13 – 3.32
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.88
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Southwestern College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Southwestern College follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
SC reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
💡 The scholarship deadline (December 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
SC GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at SC is 3.33. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.03–3.33 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently. For an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.53–3.73.SC GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Holistic review is critical for admission.
Recommended Strategy: Requires Contextual Factors (Leadership, hardship, or talent).
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.33 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.13 – 3.32
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.93 – 3.12
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.92
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- No essay, SAT/ACT, or letter of recommendation required for standard undergraduate admission; acceptance rate runs roughly 65-75% depending on source/year.
- United Methodist-affiliated with mandatory weekly chapel services; NAIA Division II athletics.
- Every student is issued a laptop as part of the college's technology initiative - one of the earliest schools nationally to do this.
- Regular application deadline is reported around August 18 for the fall term; confirm current-cycle date directly with admissions since it's close to term start.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at SC
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Southwestern College's verified institutional data
--%
Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Southwestern College (SC) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if SC is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into SC Without SAT or ACT?
SC neither requires nor recommends test scores. Submit yours only if it's above the state or national average. Otherwise, leaving it off works in your favor.
Southwestern College Average SAT Score: 1060
The average SAT score of admitted students at Southwestern College is 1060 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1060 — Accessible
This average is on the lower end nationally, making a strong score here a genuine advantage.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1090 SAT) to stand out. Below average? Southwestern College allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1020, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at SC. Retaking multiple times is completely normal. Most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | - | - | - |
| SAT Reading | - | - | - |
| SAT Composite | 1060 | 1020 | 1090 |
Below 1020, you're behind most admitted students; at 1090 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1050
Can I get into Southwestern College (SC) with a 1100 SAT?
A 1100 SAT puts you ahead of most of SC's admitted class, but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for SC
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
SC takes a broad view of applicants. Your energy is best spent proving readiness for coursework and maximizing your financial aid package.
Confirm you're on Southwestern College (Winfield, KS), not another same-named school
This is the United Methodist-affiliated liberal arts college in Winfield, Kansas (UNITID 155900) - not the California community college or other same-named institutions. Double-check the .edu domain (sckans.edu) when directing students to apply, since name collisions are common with "Southwestern College."
Skip essay-writing time, redirect it to scholarship applications
SC does not require or recommend a personal essay, SAT/ACT scores, or letters of recommendation for standard admission. Since the low-friction application removes most of the usual prep burden, redirect the time a student would spend on essays toward institutional scholarship applications, which may have separate requirements.
Mention the laptop program when discussing cost value
Southwestern was one of the first colleges nationally to issue every student a laptop as part of tuition - a genuine differentiator worth citing when a family is comparing sticker price against what's actually included. Confirm current-year specifics with admissions since program details can shift year to year.
Factor in weekly chapel if faith fit matters to the family
SC holds required weekly chapel services as part of its United Methodist identity, with services posted on the chapel's social channels. For a family weighing faith-integration as a decision factor, this is a concrete, verifiable data point to raise directly with admissions rather than relying on generic "Christian college" language.
Expert Insight:
Because admission is so low-barrier here, families sometimes treat SC as an automatic acceptance and delay the FAFSA and scholarship applications - missing out on the institutional aid that meaningfully lowers the $39,672 sticker tuition. Push the financial aid timeline as hard as the application itself.
SC Profile
Full Name
Southwestern College (SC)
City
Winfield
State
Kansas
ZIP Code
67156-2499
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a SC Degree Worth It?
At $53,677/year against a $55,646 median graduate salary, SC is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation. The numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
The average household income among admitted students is $58,200, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.27%.
How much does a degree from SC Cost?
The sticker price is $53,677/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is typically much lower.
39.5% of students receive a Pell Grant and 48.9% take federal loans at SC. File your FAFSA early and list SC as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a SC Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $55,646. That's about 37% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Southwestern College. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faulkner University | Montgomery, AL | 1016 | 20 |
| University of West Alabama | Livingston, AL | 1015 | 20 |
| Marion Military Institute | Marion, AL | 1043 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 1049 | 21 |
| Arkansas Tech University | Russellville, AR | 1050 | 21 |
| Central Baptist College | Conway, AR | 1022 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton | Morrilton, AR | 1020 | 20 |
| Williams Baptist University | Walnut Ridge, AR | 1018 | 19 |
| Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Magnolia, AR | 1050 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | Fort Smith, AR | 1050 | 21 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Southwestern College. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, AL | 1055 | 21 |
| Arkansas Tech University | Russellville, AR | 1050 | 21 |
| Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Magnolia, AR | 1050 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | Fort Smith, AR | 1050 | 21 |
| Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction, CO | 1070 | 23 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Southwestern College. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery, AL | 1090 | 21 |
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | 1119 | 23 |
| Spring Hill College | Mobile, AL | 1090 | 22 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
| Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ | 1095 | 22 |
Degree Programs at SC
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About SC Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Southwestern College run about $55,646 a year.
At about $53,677 a year, Southwestern College's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
About 39.5% receive a Pell Grant at Southwestern College. The odds are moderate and largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 65%, Southwestern College's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Southwestern College average a 3.33 GPA.
Southwestern College doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3.03 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 2.93, Southwestern College becomes a harder reach, though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at Southwestern College — aim above 1060, ideally within the 1020–1090 range admitted students typically fall in.
Southwestern College follows Rolling Admissions. Applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is December 1, 2026. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.