Southeastern University

In the 2027 U.S. News ranking, Southeastern University placed at 382, showing a downward trajectory compared to its position of 331 in 2023. Gaining admission is relatively selective when evaluated against its institutional peer group. In 2025, the university posted an acceptance rate of 53%, which is higher than 15% of peer schools among similarly ranked private comprehensive universities. At the same time, the university demonstrates an unusually strong capacity to convert acceptances into enrollments. Its yield rate reached 48.6% that same year, standing higher than 96% of peer schools in the comparison group. For prospective applicants, this combination indicates that while Southeastern University is positioned in the lower tiers of national university rankings, its admissions office turns away more applicants than most peer institutions. Furthermore, nearly half of those admitted choose to attend, meaning competition for open seats is supported by an applicant base that commits to enrolling at a far higher rate than is typical for comparable private institutions.

Southeastern University operates under a policy where test scores are not considered, meaning the university is test-blind and standardized scores are not used in evaluation even if submitted. Prospective students therefore see their applications reviewed entirely on other academic criteria rather than standardized exam performance. In earlier years before this policy took full hold, test submission rates among enrolled undergraduates saw steep decreases. In 2014, 59% of enrolled students submitted SAT scores, but this figure dropped to 4% by 2022. ACT submission rates followed a comparable trajectory across the same span, declining from 49% in 2014 down to 24% in 2022. Because testing metrics have no bearing on the admissions review, candidates evaluating the institution can expect evaluation to focus on high school coursework, overall academic preparation, and other standard application credentials rather than SAT or ACT results.

Undergraduate degree completions at Southeastern University are moderately concentrated in ministerial and human services fields. In 2025, the top three bachelor's programs accounted for 41.2% of all undergraduate degrees, led by Divinity and Ministry with 248 graduates, followed by general psychology and organizational leadership. The university's largest undergraduate programs do not hold strong national standing; for example, undergraduate psychology stood at rank 529 in the 2027 U.S. News rankings, and undergraduate nursing was ranked 648. International students represent a very small share of undergraduates across these primary fields, with nearly no international graduates in ministry and nursing. In terms of financial returns, earnings vary significantly by discipline. According to 2023 earnings data, bachelor's degree recipients in registered nursing earned median first-year earnings of $77,374, outpacing fields such as business administration and communications. For prospective students, the academic profile shows that Southeastern University primarily serves students pursuing religious service and healthcare careers, where career outcomes diverge sharply between specialized clinical tracks and broader ministry programs.

Southeastern University enrolled 11,510 total students in 2025 across all educational programs. Undergraduate study includes traditional first-year students, continuing students, and transfers, alongside a substantial group categorized under other programs. Within the incoming freshman class, White students represent the largest single ethnic group, followed by Hispanic and Black students. Asian students and international students comprise small proportions of the campus community. Among the incoming first-year class, there were 29 international students, representing 2.5% of the cohort, alongside 26 Asian students. In the graduate school, international students have a larger footprint, while Asian student enrollment remains modest across all levels. Women account for the majority of the student population across every division, making up nearly six in ten students. For prospective applicants, the university presents an undergraduate environment grounded heavily in domestic students, with modest international and Asian representation.

The age profile at Southeastern University shows a distinct separation between the undergraduate student body and the graduate school. In 2025, undergraduates included a large group under age 18, who accounted for 40.6% of the undergraduate population, while students aged 18 to 19 made up 23.1%. In contrast, graduate programs serve a distinctly older population. Students aged 40 to 49 formed the largest graduate age group at 23.9%, followed by individuals in their twenties and fifties. This distribution indicates that undergraduate student life involves a high proportion of very young learners, while graduate study caters primarily to mid-career adult professionals balancing advanced education with life experience.

International enrollment at Southeastern University has expanded over the past decade, though foreign students continue to represent a modest share of the overall population. At the undergraduate level, international students reached 7.6% of the student body in 2025. This share is higher than 90% of peer schools among 30 similarly ranked private comprehensive universities, reflecting significant growth from single-digit enrollments in earlier years. In the graduate school, international students comprised 10.5% of enrollment in 2025. Among graduating students, international degree earners are concentrated in select fields of study. At the master's level, international students earned 32.3% of the degrees awarded in Business Administration and Management, as well as a substantial share of degrees in exercise science. In contrast, bachelor's completions among international students remain minimal in ministry and nursing. For prospective international applicants, the university's graduate business curriculum represents the primary academic focal point with notable international classmate representation.

Students exploring higher education options near Southeastern University will find several prominent public and private institutions within central Florida. Located just 30.3 kilometers away is University of South Florida, a National University ranked 100 in the 2027 U.S. News rankings. About 58.9 kilometers from campus sits University of Central Florida, which holds rank 121 among National Universities. For those interested in private science and engineering programs, Florida Institute of Technology is situated 79 kilometers away and ranks 236 in the same national category. Additionally, University of Florida lies 114.7 kilometers away, holding the 34th position among National Universities. These neighboring institutions provide prospective applicants with alternatives ranging from large public research universities to private technical institutions within reasonable driving distance of Lakeland.

Campus safety data at Southeastern University shows that reported infractions consist primarily of substance policy enforcement rather than serious violent crime. In 2025, the school recorded a crime rate of 3.8 per 1,000 students, representing a slight decline from previous years. Across the three-year period from 2023 to 2025, institutional disciplinary referrals made up the largest share of campus incidents, totaling 44 drug disciplinary violations and 36 alcohol disciplinary violations. Property crimes occurred in moderate numbers over those same years, led by 35 reported incidents of theft. Legal arrests for weapons or drugs were less frequent across the reporting timeframe, and violent offenses remained rare. For prospective students and families, campus security figures reflect an environment characterized primarily by internal code-of-conduct enforcement and typical campus theft concerns, with overall weighted incident rates remaining stable in recent years.