Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Wake Forest, North Carolina
76.6% Acceptance Rate
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
76.6%Acceptance Rate
1090Avg SAT
22Avg ACT
$20,909Annual Cost
18.3%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
76.6%
Avg SAT
1090
Avg ACT
22
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
920–1230
ACT Middle 50%
18–26
Need-Based Aid
18.3% receive Pell
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is a specialized, private graduate-level institution in North Carolina dedicated to providing rigorous theological education and ministry preparation. Focused on equipping students for service within the church and the broader mission field, the seminary offers a variety of degree programs that integrate biblical scholarship with practical ministerial training. It serves as a focused and values-driven path for students committed to answering a vocational call in ministry.
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Acceptance Rate
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) runs an open-access admission policy. With a 76.6% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
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. They are worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 76.6% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary 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
SEBTS 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.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Check Your Admission Chances at SEBTS
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary's verified institutional data
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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.
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if SEBTS is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into SEBTS Without SAT or ACT?
SEBTS considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Average SAT Score: 1090
The average SAT score of admitted students at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is 1090 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1090 — Accessible
This average is on the lower end nationally, making a strong score here a genuine advantage.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1230 SAT or 26 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 920, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at SEBTS. 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 | 520 | 440 | 600 |
| SAT Reading | 555 | 480 | 630 |
| SAT Composite | 1090 | 920 | 1230 |
Below 920, you're behind most admitted students; at 1230 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 1100
Can I get into Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) with a 1250 SAT?
A 1250 SAT puts you ahead of most of SEBTS'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.
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at SEBTS is 22.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 22 — Slightly Competitive
This sits close to the national average ACT score.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 21 | 15 | 26 |
| ACT English | 24 | 20 | 27 |
| ACT Composite | 22 | 18 | 26 |
Can I get into Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary with a 26 ACT?
A 26 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of SEBTS's admitted students. That's a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several that admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section, especially Science at STEM-focused schools, stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at SEBTS.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for SEBTS
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Getting into SEBTS isn't the hard part. Building a solid academic foundation and securing aid early is where the real strategy lives.
Do not confuse this with The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS, Louisville, KY) - they are separate SBC seminaries with separate admissions systems
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS, Wake Forest, NC) and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS, Louisville, KY) are both Southern Baptist Convention seminaries with very similar names and overlapping search results - requirements like SBTS's specific "Spiritual Autobiography" character-limited essay format belong to Southern, not Southeastern. Confirm you're referencing sebts.edu materials specifically, since aggregators and even AI-generated summaries frequently mix content from the two institutions.
Apply for the Charles B. Keesee Educational Fund only if you're a Baptist resident of one of seven specific states
This fund provides $4,150-$7,750/year specifically to Baptist students who are residents of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, or West Virginia, enrolled in qualifying ministry-related degrees including the MDiv. Confirm your home-state residency and specific degree program's eligibility with financial aid directly, since this is a named, state-restricted fund distinct from general seminary aid.
If pursuing an MDiv in a specific ministry specialization, check Mercy Scholarship eligibility by exact program name
The Mercy Scholarship (up to $6,000/year) is restricted to specific MDiv specializations: Preaching and Pastoral Ministry, International Church Planting, Missiology, North American Church Planting, Pastoral Ministry with Biblical Counseling, Christian Ministry, Church Revitalization, and the Advanced MDiv. Confirm your intended specialization matches this exact list before assuming eligibility, since general MDiv or unrelated MA tracks may not qualify.
If considering a hybrid degree, plan around the required on-campus weekend built into each course
SEBTS's hybrid courses begin with online coursework but require one mandatory on-campus weekend (Friday night and Saturday) per course, published in advance with the course description, before finishing remaining work online. If you're pursuing a hybrid track while living far from Wake Forest, NC, build travel logistics and cost for these recurring weekend visits into your degree-completion planning from the start, rather than assuming "hybrid" means fully remote.
Expert Insight:
Because "Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary" and "The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary" are easily confused SBC institutions with very similar branding, any admissions detail - essay formats, specific scholarship names, or specific degree program lists - should be double-checked against sebts.edu directly before being presented as fact about Southeastern specifically.
SEBTS Profile
Full Name
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS)
City
Wake Forest
State
North Carolina
ZIP Code
27587-1889
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a SEBTS Degree Worth It?
Whether SEBTS is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals. Here's the data to weigh it against.
How much does a degree from SEBTS Cost?
The sticker price is $20,909/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is typically much lower.
18.3% of students receive a Pell Grant and % take federal loans at SEBTS. File your FAFSA early and list SEBTS as a choice to be considered for both.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, AL | 1055 | 21 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| University of Northern Colorado | Greeley, CO | 1077 | 22 |
| Western Connecticut State University | Danbury, CT | 1044 | 24 |
| Baptist University of Florida | Graceville, FL | 1045 | 20 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| 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 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery, AL | 1148 | 23 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO | 1140 | 25 |
| Western Colorado University | Gunnison, CO | 1130 | 25 |
Degree Programs at SEBTS
Bachelor Degree Programs
Masters Degree Programs
Doctoral Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About SEBTS Admissions
At about $20,909 a year, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is on the more affordable end.
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary's Pell Grant rate of 18.3% sits below the national average. Merit-based aid is worth checking regardless of income.
At 76.6%, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
A strong SAT score matters at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary — aim above 1090, ideally within the 920–1230 range admitted students typically fall in.
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary follows Rolling Admissions. Applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
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.
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