Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Keene, Texas
55.5% Acceptance Rate
Southwestern Adventist University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
55.5%Acceptance Rate
3.3Avg GPA
1031Avg SAT
21Avg ACT
$35,804Annual Cost
$52,946Grad Salary
38.9%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
55.5%
Avg GPA
3.3
Avg SAT
1031
Avg ACT
21
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
910–1200
ACT Middle 50%
17–25
Need-Based Aid
38.9% receive Pell
Southwestern Adventist University Southwestern Adventist University, founded in 1893 in Keene, Texas, is a private institution affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The 150-acre campus offers undergraduate programs with particular strengths in nursing, biology, and theology. SWAU maintains a 10:1 student-faculty ratio and is known for its strong pre-health professions programs. Campus landmarks include the Chan Shun Centennial Library and the newly renovated Mabee Center. The university's athletic teams, the Knights, compete in NAIA sports.
SWAU takes pride in its Adventist heritage and commitment to whole-person education. Campus life includes weekly chapel services, vegetarian dining options, and student organizations focused on service. The university's location provides internship opportunities in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Recent initiatives include expanded programs in health sciences and computer science. SWAU's combination of academic quality, Seventh-day Adventist values, and small community creates a distinctive educational environment.
Southwestern Adventist University Acceptance Rate
Southwestern Adventist University takes a broad view of applicants, admitting about 55.5% each year.
What Southwestern Adventist University 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 — 55.5% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.30 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.10 – 3.29
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.85
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Southwestern Adventist University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Southwestern Adventist University 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
Southwestern Adventist University 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 (Priority: 2026/03/01) 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.
Southwestern Adventist University GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Southwestern Adventist University is 3.3. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.00–3.3 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.50–3.70.Southwestern Adventist University GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Admission here leans heavily on holistic review.
Recommended Strategy: Leans on context, such as leadership, personal circumstances, or a standout talent.
This range is a rough map. Where you land determines what else needs to carry weight in your application.:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.30 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.10 – 3.29
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.90 – 3.09
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.89
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Written essay required for all first-year applicants; SAT/ACT considered but not required (test-optional); $25 application fee; August 1 fall deadline; rolling admissions; founded 1893; Seventh-day Adventist affiliation; SACSCOC accredited.
- SACSCOC Warning status (June 2023, for student achievement, outcomes, and full-time faculty employment non-compliance) was lifted July 2025 - institution is currently in full accreditation standing.
- Located in Keene, TX (pop. ~6,440) - largest Adventist community in the Southwestern Union; most local businesses closed on Saturdays (Adventist Sabbath); 30 miles south of Fort Worth via DFW metro.
- Acceptance rate approximately 55?56% (IPEDS-sourced; edurank reports 78% - discrepancy noted); 12:1 student-faculty ratio; 100% of students receive aid; net price ~$20,466; six-year graduation rate ~42%; USCAA/NCCAA athletics (not NCAA/NAIA).
- Rigor Over Raw Number: Course rigor is read alongside the number itself. A 3.8 with a demanding schedule can beat a 4.0 without one.
- Trajectory Matters: Grades that climb toward graduation tend to matter more than a flat average. The trajectory tells its own story.
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 Southwestern Adventist University
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Southwestern Adventist University'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
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Southwestern Adventist University Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Southwestern Adventist University. Landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into Southwestern Adventist University Without SAT or ACT?
Southwestern Adventist University considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Southwestern Adventist University Average SAT Score: 1031
Admitted students at Southwestern Adventist University average a 1031 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1031 — Accessible
A 1031 average means even a modest SAT score can strengthen your application.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1200 SAT or 25 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Southwestern Adventist University allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 910? A retake is worth it at Southwestern Adventist University. 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 | 518 | 445 | 590 |
| SAT Reading | 538 | 465 | 610 |
| SAT Composite | 1031 | 910 | 1200 |
A score under 910 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1200+ 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 1050
Can I get into Southwestern Adventist University with a 1200 SAT?
At 1200, your SAT is squarely in Southwestern Adventist University'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.
Southwestern Adventist University ACT Requirements
Southwestern Adventist University's admitted students average an ACT of 21.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 21 — Less Competitive
An average of 21 leaves room above it for a competitive application.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 19 | 15 | 23 |
| ACT English | 22 | 17 | 26 |
| ACT Composite | 21 | 17 | 25 |
Can I get into Southwestern Adventist University with a 25 ACT?
At 25, you're in the top quarter of Southwestern Adventist University'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, and 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, Southwestern Adventist University weighs your transcript rigor, activities, recommendations, and essays just as heavily. The ACT opens the door, and the rest of your file decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Southwestern Adventist University
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Southwestern Adventist University is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.
Write the Required Essay With Mission Alignment, Not Generic Faith Language
Southwestern Adventist requires a written personal essay from all first-year applicants - a specific gate that many comparable faith-based schools have dropped or made optional. The essay is your primary opportunity to show that you understand what SWAU's Adventist identity means in practice, not just in name: a community where Sabbath (Saturday) observance is structural, where Adventist health principles shape campus life (the university is historically connected to the broader Adventist health and vegetarian tradition), and where the integration of faith and vocation is the curriculum's explicit framework. Generic "I want to serve others" language reads as low-effort here. Connect your specific academic or vocational goal to the Adventist mission of wholistic service - physical, spiritual, mental, and social.
Understand That Keene Is a Seventh-day Adventist Town
SWAU is located in Keene, Texas - one of the largest Adventist communities in the Southwestern United States, in a town whose businesses, including most retail, are closed on Saturdays in observance of the Adventist Sabbath. This is not a campus-only policy - it is the character of the surrounding community. For students who are not Adventist, this is a significant lifestyle context to understand before applying. For Adventist students from across the Southwestern Union Conference (Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico), the Keene community is a familiar and welcoming home base. The DFW metro - 30 miles north - provides access to clinical placements, internships, and professional networks that the small-town setting alone would not support.
Know the Accreditation Status Has Been Resolved
In June 2023, SWAU was placed on Warning status by SACSCOC - its regional accreditor - for significant non-compliance in student achievement, student outcomes, and employment of full-time faculty. That Warning status was lifted in July 2025, meaning the institution is now fully in good standing with its accreditor. Students who encountered older search results or College Navigator data reflecting the Warning flag should know it is cleared. Verifying accreditation status is still a best practice - ask SWAU's admissions office for the current accreditation letter if a student has concerns - but the active Warning is no longer a factor for students enrolling in 2025?26 or later.
Use the DFW Proximity as a Clinical and Internship Asset
Keene's location 30 miles south of Fort Worth means SWAU students in nursing, education, and business have access to the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan economy - one of the fastest-growing healthcare and corporate markets in the South. Clinical placements for nursing students reach into DFW hospital systems. Business and education students can access internships and practicum placements in the metro. For a small university on a 150-acre campus in a town of 6,000, this geographic access is a genuine differentiator that many rural faith-based universities can't offer. Students who proactively build professional relationships in DFW during their undergraduate years consistently report stronger post-graduation placement than those who treat the Keene community as their only professional context.
Expert Insight:
SWAU's acceptance rate varies dramatically across aggregators - BigFuture reports 55%, Sallie 56%, while edurank reports 78%. The 55?56% figure from IPEDS-sourced tools is most defensible. The more meaningful data point is the six-year graduation rate of approximately 42% (BigFuture) - a figure that warrants a direct conversation with admissions about academic support, major-specific completion rates, and what retention looks like after sophomore year. 100% of students receive some form of aid, and the net price (~$20,466) is competitive for a private faith-based university, but graduation outcomes tell a more complete story than sticker price.
Southwestern Adventist University Profile
Full Name
Southwestern Adventist University
City
Keene
State
Texas
ZIP Code
76059
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a Southwestern Adventist University Degree Worth It?
At $35,804/year against a $52,946 median graduate salary, Southwestern Adventist University is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation. The numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $57,400, and graduates see a 3.88% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from Southwestern Adventist University Cost?
Listed tuition runs $35,804/year at Southwestern Adventist University. Factor in Pell and federal grant aid, and most students land typically much lower.
At Southwestern Adventist University, 38.9% receive a Pell Grant and 56% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Southwestern Adventist University on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Southwestern Adventist University Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Southwestern Adventist University graduates report a median income of $52,946, about 30% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Southwestern Adventist University. 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 |
| University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton | Morrilton, AR | 1020 | 20 |
| Williams Baptist University | Walnut Ridge, AR | 1018 | 19 |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver | Denver, CO | 1014 | 20 |
| Colorado State University Pueblo | Pueblo, CO | 1005 | 22 |
| University of Bridgeport | Bridgeport, CT | 985 | NA |
| Delaware State University | Dover, DE | 984 | 24 |
| Trinity Baptist College | Jacksonville, FL | 1007 | 20 |
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | Tifton, GA | 994 | 19 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Southwestern Adventist University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Baptist College | Conway, AR | 1022 | 20 |
| Thomas University | Thomasville, GA | 1037 | 21 |
| Valdosta State University | Valdosta, GA | 1037 | 20 |
| University of Hawaii at Hilo | Hilo, HI | 1025 | 19 |
| Greenville University | Greenville, IL | 1034 | 19 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Southwestern Adventist University. 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 |
| 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 |
Degree Programs at Southwestern Adventist University
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Southwestern Adventist University Admissions
Southwestern Adventist University graduates earn a moderate median salary of $52,946/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at Southwestern Adventist University is moderate, around $35,804/year; many students supplement with aid.
38.9% of Southwestern Adventist University students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income, and filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.
Southwestern Adventist University's acceptance rate is 55.5%, comparatively higher than most selective universities. Admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Southwestern Adventist University students is 3.3, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Southwestern Adventist University. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 2.9 or below makes admission tougher at Southwestern Adventist University, but strong test scores, activities, and essays, plus AP/IB coursework, can still keep you in contention.
Southwestern Adventist University weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1031, and within the 910–1200 range, keeps you competitive.
Southwestern Adventist University follows Rolling Admissions. Applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before Priority: 2026/03/01. That's Southwestern Adventist University's scholarship priority date.
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.