Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Louisville, Kentucky
96.9% Acceptance Rate
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
96.9%Acceptance Rate
1118Avg SAT
23Avg ACT
Acceptance Rate
96.9%
Avg SAT
1118
Avg ACT
23
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
1028–1203
ACT Middle 50%
20–25
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is a specialized, private institution dedicated to intensive theological training, ministry preparation, and advanced biblical scholarship. Admissions are highly specialized, focusing on the applicant's commitment to ministry, recommendations from church leadership, and their potential for academic and spiritual development. The institution is not a typical liberal arts college; its admissions process is based on evidence of serious, long-term religious and vocational intent.
Applicants must demonstrate a high degree of commitment to the seminary's religious mission and lifestyle. Admissions success is tied almost exclusively to the reputation of the applicant's prior religious studies and the endorsement of established church or academic mentors. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their long-term goals for ministry, as this is a mission-specific institution where vocational calling and theological depth are the primary metrics for entry.
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Acceptance Rate
Admission at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is inclusive by design: 96.9% of applicants who meet basic eligibility are accepted.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 96.9% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Check Your Admission Chances at SBTS
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at SBTS — landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into SBTS Without SAT or ACT?
SBTS considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Average SAT Score: 1118
Admitted students at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary average a 1118 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1118 — Less Competitive
A 1118 average leaves meaningful room above it for a competitive application.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1203 SAT or 25 ACT) to stand out. Below average? The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 1028? A retake is worth it at SBTS — two or three sittings is standard for competitive applicants, and there's no cap on how many times you can test.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 545 | 500 | 590 |
| SAT Reading | 571 | 528 | 613 |
| SAT Composite | 1118 | 1028 | 1203 |
A score under 1028 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1203+ puts you ahead of three-quarters of the admitted class. (These percentiles mark where a given share of the admitted class scored at or below.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1100
Can I get into The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) with a 1200 SAT?
At 1200, your SAT is squarely in SBTS's favor. That said, admissions staff read the full file — GPA, activities, and essays still carry real weight even with a strong score in hand.
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) ACT Requirements
SBTS's admitted students average an ACT of 23.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 23 — Slightly Competitive
An average of 23 tracks near the middle of the national distribution.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 20 | 17 | 23 |
| ACT English | 23 | 19 | 26 |
| ACT Composite | 23 | 20 | 25 |
Can I get into The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary with a 25 ACT?
At 25, you're in the top quarter of SBTS's admitted class by ACT score. That's a real advantage, but admissions still reads GPA, essays, and activities alongside it.
The ACT's four sections — English, Math, Reading, Science — are each scored independently on a 1–36 scale, and admissions staff do notice a lopsided breakdown. If one section trails the others significantly, that's worth addressing before you apply, particularly for STEM programs where Science carries extra weight.
Beyond the number itself, SBTS weighs your transcript rigor, activities, recommendations, and essays just as heavily — the ACT opens the door, the rest of your file decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for SBTS
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
SBTS's open-access model means the real strategic decisions happen after enrollment: course planning, advising, and whether to transfer later.
Match Your Church Endorsement to Your Degree Track
Southern requires every applicant to secure an official endorsement from their local church, submitted via an online form emailed directly to your pastor or a non-family church leader. If you're applying to the MDiv or another vocational-ministry track, make sure your recommender's form explicitly speaks to your "call to ministry" - reviewers cross-check this language against your own spiritual autobiography. A mismatch (a pastor describing you as a promising layperson while you're applying to a ministry-track degree) creates an inconsistency that slows review.
Treat the Spiritual Autobiography's Three Sections as Three Separate Mini-Essays
The required spiritual autobiography is split into three distinct sections, each capped at 1,000 characters: your understanding of the gospel, your conversion and spiritual growth, and your specific call to ministry and reason for applying to Southern. Applicants commonly blur the conversion story and the ministry call into one flowing narrative - but reviewers score these as separate data points. Draft each section independently, and make the third section name Southern specifically (its faculty, program, or theological distinctives), not just "seminary" in general.
If You're on the Fence Between MATS and MDiv, Decide Before You Apply
Southern's MATS applicants must formally acknowledge that the degree is designed for laypersons only, not those pursuing vocational ministry. If there's any chance you'll pursue pastoral or vocational ministry later, apply directly to the MDiv track now rather than starting in MATS and trying to pivot - switching tracks after enrolling as a declared layperson applicant reopens parts of the admissions review, including a fresh church endorsement conversation about your ministry call.
Use the Free Campus-Visit Incentive Before You Submit
Southern covers two nights of hotel lodging for you and your immediate family on your first campus visit, with travel reimbursement available if you're considering relocating to Louisville. Book this visit before finalizing your application and specifically request time with faculty in your intended program - since complete files are typically decided within 1-3 business days, having your name and story already known to a specific faculty member or admissions counselor before submission meaningfully shapes how quickly and favorably your file is read.
Expert Insight:
A recurring failure is applicants asking a spouse or family member to complete the church endorsement because it's logistically easier - Southern explicitly disallows family members from submitting this form, and the file simply stalls silently until a qualifying non-family church leader is located, costing weeks in a program that otherwise turns around decisions in 1-3 business days.
SBTS Profile
Full Name
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS)
City
Louisville
State
Kentucky
ZIP Code
40280-0001
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a SBTS Degree Worth It?
SBTS offers a rigorous academic environment, but 'worth it' is a personal calculation of cost, program fit, and outcomes — the figures below are a starting point.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery, AL | 1090 | 21 |
| Spring Hill College | Mobile, AL | 1090 | 22 |
| Troy University | Troy, AL | 1086 | 22 |
| Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ | 1095 | 22 |
| University of the Ozarks | Clarksville, AR | 1088 | 21 |
| Pacific Union College | Angwin, CA | 1093 | 22 |
| Fort Lewis College | Durango, CO | 1084 | 20 |
| Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction, CO | 1070 | 23 |
| University of Northern Colorado | Greeley, CO | 1077 | 22 |
| Central Connecticut State University | New Britain, CT | 1091 | 24 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | 1119 | 23 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, AR | 1119 | 22 |
| University of Central Arkansas | Conway, AR | 1117 | 22 |
| University of La Verne | La Verne, CA | 1116 | 22 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL | 1197 | 24 |
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery, AL | 1148 | 23 |
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
Degree Programs at SBTS
Bachelor Degree Programs
Masters Degree Programs
Doctoral Degree Programs
Associate Degree Programs
UG Certificate or Diploma Programs
Professional Certificate Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About SBTS Admissions
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary's acceptance rate is 96.9%, comparatively higher than most selective universities — admission is more attainable here.
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1118, and within the 1028–1203 range, keeps you competitive.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out — plus a solid test score where the school considers one.
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