Southwest Baptist University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Bolivar, Missouri. It enrolls 1,341 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.
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.
Fair
54/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes31
Value20
Affordability51
Selectivity46
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 68.4%, Southwest Baptist University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
68.4%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
810 – 1210
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
17 – 26
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 Southwest Baptist University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
28.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Southwest Baptist 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 $21,677 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$21,677
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
36%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
50%
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
$30,566
Room & Board (on-campus)
$9,776
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,010
Books & Supplies
$980
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,573
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,765
Total Cost of Attendance
$40,301
Application fee: $30 (one-time, due at submission)
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
$21,978
$30,001 – $48,000
$17,947
$48,001 – $75,000
$19,633
$75,001 – $110,000
$22,016
Over $110,000
$23,857
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.
$3,42810%percentile
$5,73925%percentile
$20,957Medianpercentile
$25,02075%percentile
$34,12590%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 $14,990
↓ $5,967
No Pell $12,000
↓ $8,957
Dependent students $12,829
↓ $8,128
Independent students $17,466
↓ $3,491
Female students $14,250
↓ $6,707
Male students $12,000
↓ $8,957
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,444, less than completers ($20,957), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
51% of full-time students who enrolled at Southwest Baptist University graduate within six years, and 66% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
51%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
66%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Southwest Baptist University earn a median of $43,112 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$43,112
Earning > $25K
72%
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
$32,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$46,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$33,300
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$37,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$42,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $14,400, about 31% 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 ↑
14.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 84% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Southwest Baptist University is home to 1,341 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 35% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,341
Part-Time
21%
First-Generation
35%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 73.5%985
Black 6.6%88
Other 5.1%69
Hispanic 2.2%30
International 1.2%16
Asian 1.1%15
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Southwest Baptist University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantBolivar, Missouri
Housing
Mostly residential873 beds on campus
Adult Learners
17%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Southwest Baptist University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
41 distinct programs across
18 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 Southwest Baptist University is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$68M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$49,393
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
103 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
28
27%
$59,161
Associate Professors
21
20%
$45,497
Assistant Professors
26
25%
$46,340
Instructors
28
27%
$45,271
Pros & Cons of Southwest Baptist University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Southwest Baptist University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, Southwest Baptist University is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Southwest Baptist University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Southwest Baptist University.
Is Southwest Baptist University hard to get into?
Admissions at Southwest Baptist University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 68.4%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Southwest Baptist University?
Southwest Baptist University has an acceptance rate of 68.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Southwest Baptist University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Southwest Baptist University scored between 810 and 1210 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 Southwest Baptist University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Southwest Baptist University scored between 17 and 26 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Southwest Baptist University cost?
The average net price after aid at Southwest Baptist University is $21,677 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Southwest Baptist University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $43,112 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $21,677 per year. That's roughly 2.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Southwest Baptist University known for?
Southwest Baptist University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Rehabilitation, Education, General. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Southwest Baptist University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Southwest Baptist University are $43,112, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Southwest Baptist University accredited?
Yes. Southwest Baptist University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Southwest Baptist University?
Southwest Baptist University enrolls 1,341 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Southwest Baptist University?
Southwest Baptist University graduates 51% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Southwest Baptist University a public or private college?
Southwest Baptist University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Southwest Baptist University located?
Southwest Baptist University is located in Bolivar, Missouri.
What programs does Southwest Baptist University offer?
Southwest Baptist University offers 41 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Rehabilitation, Education, General.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Southwest Baptist University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Southwest Baptist University is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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