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Southwest Baptist University
Most applicants get into Southwest Baptist University — 68.4% were admitted — so the real questions are cost, fit and outcomes, covered below.
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Southwest Baptist University anchors the college town of Bolivar, MO, where the private campus and town largely share a footprint. The school maintains its Southern Baptist affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, where graduates median $78,525 four years out. Faculty pay averages $72,864 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 1,341 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 64.8% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 960 and 1200 — near the MO middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Southwest Baptist University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
You can apply to Southwest Baptist University without scores. Among admitted students who did submit, the middle half landed between 960 and 1200; applicants below that range often simply apply without them.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 500 | 530 | 600 |
| SAT Math | 460 | 510 | 600 |
| ACT Composite | 18 | 21 | 24 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Southwest Baptist University received 1,057 applications and admitted 1,054 (99.7%), with 270 enrolling.
How Southwest Baptist University compares
| Southwest Baptist University | Missouri median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 68.4% | 72.6% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $30,566 | $20,293 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $43,112 | $47,885 | $53,781 |
Ten years out, Southwest Baptist University's median earnings are $43,112 — below the Missouri benchmark of $47,885. Weigh that against the $30,566 price above; the by-major table shows majors drive much of this gap.
Cost, size & completion
Southwest Baptist University lists tuition at $30,566 for everyone — private schools don't do residency pricing. Southwest Baptist University's sticker and net price can differ sharply after aid; treat $30,566 as the ceiling, not the bill.
With 1,341 undergraduates, Southwest Baptist University is small enough that class size and faculty access are structural, not marketing claims.
55.3% graduate within six years. Roughly 45% don't — ask a Southwest Baptist University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Southwest Baptist University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $78,525 |
| Computer Science | $62,016 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $58,770 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $56,182 |
| Psychology, General | $43,058 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $41,618 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $36,697 |
Median earnings for these 7 Southwest Baptist University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $43,112 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 36 additional Southwest Baptist University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Southwest Baptist University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 960–1200 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 68.4% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Southwest Baptist University's acceptance rate?
99.7% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 1,054 admitted from 1,057 applicants.
How much does Southwest Baptist University cost?
At Southwest Baptist University, published tuition is $30,566 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Southwest Baptist University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Southwest Baptist University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $43,112 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Missouri
- Saint Louis University — 75% admitted
- Stephens College — 77.2% admitted
- Southeast Missouri State University — 73.5% admitted
- Rockhurst University — 69.6% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.