
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
Acceptance rate
74.6%
2025
Peer median 70.9%
Tuition per year
$11,318
$18,441 with room and board
Peer median $43,496
Undergraduates
957
Student-faculty ratio 9:1
Peer median 12 : 1
Graduation rate
19.2%
4-year; 6-year rate 53.8%
Peer median 55.3%
“Peers” are all 219 private national universities, the same comparison used in this page's data notes.
About
Judson College at Southeastern is a private nonprofit four-year institution located in the town of Wake Forest, North Carolina. Affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, the institution focuses on Christian higher education, preparing students for ministry, leadership, and service within churches and faith-based organizations. Its campus setting in the Research Triangle region allows students to pursue their studies in a quiet, close-knit community while remaining within easy reach of the state's major metropolitan centers. Within the US News Best Colleges rankings, the college is evaluated among national institutions, though it holds an unranked position in the 2027 edition. With its dedicated religious mission, the college primarily attracts undergraduates and graduate students who are committed to theological study, pastoral ministry, and community outreach.
Judson College at Southeastern provides an exceptionally low-cost degree path compared to other private institutions, but completion timelines can be prolonged. Undergraduate tuition stood at $11,318 in 2025, higher than just 4% of all private research universities. While institutional expenses remain modest, student progression shows a distinct pattern. The four-year graduation rate was 19.2% in 2025, whereas the six-year graduation rate reached 53.8%, demonstrating that many students take additional time to finish their degrees. Cross-estimates from 2024 suggest tuition revenue was 63.9% of list price tuition. This percentage is a school-wide estimate that can reflect financial aid and graduate tuition waivers; it is not what any individual pays, and international students should not use it to estimate their own cost. Families must weigh the low initial sticker price against the reality that bachelor's degrees often extend beyond four years.
This collegeRanked colleges nearby
- Setting
- Suburb of a large city
- Nearest major city
- Raleigh, about 15 mi
- Nearest international airport
- Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), about 15 mi
- Also known as
- SEBTS
- Academic calendar
- Semester
- Religious affiliation
- Southern Baptist
- President
- Daniel Akin (President)
- Phone
- 9197612100
- Address
- 120 S. Wingate Street, Wake Forest, NC 27587-1889
Rankings & Admission
Peer median 70.9% · all 219 private national universities
Acceptance rate by gender, 2025
In 2020: men 92.6%, women 92.2%.
Best #296, lowest #395, latest #395 over the last ten years.
Data insights
Admission to Judson College at Southeastern is fairly accessible, with an acceptance rate that is higher than 55% of peer schools among all private research universities. In 2025, the college admitted 74.6% of applicants. However, those who are accepted display a very strong inclination to attend. The school recorded a 78.7% yield rate in 2025, which is higher than 97% of peer institutions. In the US News rankings, the college has been moving downward in recent years, falling from 331 in 2023 to 395 in 2026. For applicants, this combination suggests that securing an offer of admission is relatively achievable, but the incoming class consists of students who are distinctly committed to enrolling. Those considering the institution should weigh its high conversion of admitted students against its declining position in national rankings when evaluating their application plans.
Test Scores
2025 admitted students, 25th–75th percentile · 27% submitted SAT, 20% submitted ACT · SAT/ACT optional: considered if submitted
Data insights
Judson College at Southeastern operates under an admissions test policy that is optional, with test scores considered if submitted. For the 2025 entering class, 27% of enrolled students submitted SAT scores. The college reported a median SAT score of 1110 in 2025, which is higher than 17% of peer private comprehensive universities, indicating a testing profile that sits below the peer median. Among enrolled students who provided scores in 2025, the middle range of composite ACT scores fell between 21 and 24. Together, these figures point to a relatively accessible academic threshold for applicants compared to many private universities. Prospective applicants can look to these baseline scores to evaluate their academic fit and understand the profile of recent cohorts, recognizing that testing represents only one component considered during the admissions process.
How Hard Is It to Get In
about 7 in 10
201 applicants in 2025, 74.6% admitted
150 admitted 51 not admitted Yield 78.7%
Degrees & Majors
Graduates in 2025 (first major)
U.S. studentsInternational
Popular graduate programs
- Divinity/Ministry · Master's196 (0% international)
- Christian Studies · Master's57 (0% international)
- Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling · Master's22 (0% international)
- Theology/Theological Studies · Master's21 (0% international)
- Missions/Missionary Studies · Master's13 (0% international)
- Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries, Other · Master's12 (0% international)
Data insights
Academic programming at Judson College at Southeastern is heavily concentrated in ministerial preparation and religious training rather than broad secular disciplines. In 2025, the college conferred 51 bachelor's degrees and 359 master's degrees, reflecting a student population oriented toward advanced pastoral studies. Undergraduate degrees are tightly focused, with the top three majors accounting for 66.7% of all bachelor's recipients. Divinity/Ministry represents the single largest undergraduate field with 22 graduates, followed by pastoral counseling and missions. The institution does not hold major-specific rankings on national evaluation lists, so its largest programs derive their prominence from institutional mission rather than external rank. In addition, international students comprised zero percent of graduates across all levels in 2025, and bachelor's earnings figures from 2023 show no reported program earnings. Students evaluating this institution should recognize that academic options are closely specialized for vocational ministry and theological vocations.
All majors, graduates and earnings IPEDS · College Scorecard
*Depends on whether majors have graduates in 2025 or not, Yes / No
**Move mouse on can check deitaled graudates number, click for major detailed information
***Due to privacy policy, graduate salaries are not shown for some majors that has few gradautes
| Major | Graduate Salary | Associate | Under | Master | Doctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bible/Biblical Studies. | - | ||||
| Missions/Missionary Studies. | - | ||||
| Religious Education. | - | ||||
| Worship Ministry. | - | ||||
| Theology/Theological Studies. | $55,425-$118,656 | ||||
| Divinity/Ministry. | $55,425-$118,656 | ||||
| Pre-Theology/Pre-Ministerial Studies. | $55,425-$118,656 | ||||
| Youth Ministry. | - | ||||
| Women's Ministry. | - | ||||
| Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries, Other. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Associate | Under | Master | Doctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philosophy and Religious Studies, General. | - | ||||
| Ethics. | - | ||||
| Christian Studies. | $58,678 |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Associate | Under | Master | Doctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Associate | Under | Master | Doctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organizational Leadership. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Associate | Under | Master | Doctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Associate | Under | Master | Doctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary Education and Teaching. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Associate | Under | Master | Doctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ancient Near Eastern and Biblical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Associate | Under | Master | Doctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| History, General. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Associate | Under | Master | Doctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Studies. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Associate | Under | Master | Doctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language and Literature, General. | - |
Students
3,220 students in 2025 · Undergraduate men to women 54:46 · Freshman retention 84.6%
- Continuing undergraduates 378
- First-year undergraduates 87
- Graduate students 2,263
- Transfers and others 492
Undergraduate race and ethnicity (957)
Age distribution
Bachelor's
Graduate students
Data insights
The student body at Judson College at Southeastern is heavily weighted toward graduate education, with White students comprising the clear majority across all academic divisions. Asian students account for a small share of campus enrollment, including 2 undergraduate freshmen, who represent 1.7% of that entering cohort, and 119 graduate students, who form 5.3% of the graduate population. International representation is minimal across the entire institution, limited to 1 continuing undergraduate and 3 graduate students. Black and Hispanic students also form modest proportions of the student body, while continuing and transfer undergraduates make up the remainder of the collegiate community. This demographic composition reflects an institution centered primarily on domestic adult learners and specialized theological preparation.
The age structure at Judson College at Southeastern reveals a sharp divide between its undergraduate and graduate populations. In 2025, undergraduates under age 18 formed the single largest undergraduate cohort at 37.4%, followed by traditional college-age students. This high proportion of minors points to a sizable dual-enrollment presence among undergraduate learners. In contrast, the graduate division consists entirely of mature adults, where students aged 25 to 29 represent the largest segment at 24.6%, followed closely by learners in their thirties and forties. Consequently, daily campus life does not center on a traditional four-year residential experience, but rather bridges secondary school students taking college coursework with working adults completing theological degrees.
International Students
International share over the last 10 years · gray line: median of all 219 private national universities
1 in 2025 · 0.2% in 2016
3 in 2025 · 4.4% in 2016
Data insights
International student enrollment at Judson College at Southeastern is exceptionally small and has declined substantially over time. In 2025, the college enrolled just 1 international undergraduate, accounting for 0.1% of the undergraduate student body, a proportion higher than only 4% of peer institutions among all private research universities. At the graduate level, international numbers experienced a steep drop from earlier years, leaving just 3 international graduate students enrolled in 2025. Among degree recipients in 2025, international students comprised zero percent of graduates across the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral tiers. Even within the school's primary disciplines, including Divinity/Ministry and Christian Studies, international graduates were entirely absent. Prospective international applicants should understand that the campus does not maintain an active international cohort, serving almost exclusively domestic students.
Cost
2025 cost per year
$18,441
- Undergraduate tuition
- $11,318
- Room and board
- $7,123
- Graduate tuition
- $6,516
Peer median tuition + room and board $57,550 · all 219 private national universities
Tuition rose 39% from 2016 to 2025; room and board rose 75%.
Finances · fiscal year 2024
Revenue$39.3M
Expenses$35.8M
Average faculty salary · 2025 (9-month equivalent)
Dark gray ticks: median pay for the same rank at all 219 private national universities
Campus Life
Athletics and varsity athletes NCAA · EADA
No athlete data available for 2025.
No athlete data available for 2024.
No athlete data available for 2023.
Nearby & Safety
Ranked colleges nearby
-
North Carolina State University at RaleighRaleigh · 16.3 mi
U.S. News #73
-
Duke UniversityDurham · 23.7 mi
U.S. News #8
-
University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill · 30.4 mi
U.S. News #27
-
Elon UniversityElon · 55.9 mi
U.S. News #100
-
East Carolina UniversityGreenville · 69.2 mi
U.S. News #202
-
North Carolina A&T State UniversityGreensboro · 70.7 mi
U.S. News #219
-
University of North Carolina at GreensboroGreensboro · 72.6 mi
U.S. News #208
-
Wake Forest UniversityWinston-Salem · 99.1 mi
U.S. News #34
-
University of RichmondUniversity of Richmond · 122.7 mi
Liberal Arts #21
Data insights
Applicants exploring colleges near Judson College at Southeastern have several prominent institutions within easy reach. Located 16.3 kilometers away in Raleigh, North Carolina State University at Raleigh is ranked 73 among National Universities in the 2027 US News Best Colleges rankings. Just 23.7 kilometers from campus in Durham is Duke University, which holds a rank of 8 among National Universities. A short drive further brings students to Chapel Hill, where the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is located 30.4 kilometers away and ranked 27 among National Universities. Additionally, Elon University, situated 55.9 kilometers away, is ranked 100 among National Universities.
Peer median 5.6 · all 219 private national universities
Incidents, 2023–2025
From the Clery Act campus safety reports schools file, covering on-campus, non-campus and public property.
Data insights
Campus safety records at Judson College at Southeastern show low overall activity, with incidents concentrated primarily in minor property offenses. The school's crime rate per 1,000 students stood at 0.6 in 2025, rising slightly from 0.4 in 2016. Across the three-year period from 2023 to 2025, property-related offenses and conduct matters made up the bulk of documented reports. In total over those years, the campus recorded 5 thefts and 4 motor vehicle thefts, alongside occasional stalking reports and minor disciplinary referrals. Serious violent crimes remained absent from campus logs during this timeframe. For prospective students and their families, these figures reflect a quiet environment where campus-related offenses are rare, though standard precautions regarding personal belongings and parked vehicles are always advisable.
References and Data Sources
- Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Official Website
- USNews Best Colleges Ranking
- USNews Bset Global Universities Ranking
- THE World University Ranking
- QS World University Ranking
- ARWU World University Ranking
- US Department of Education College Scorecard
- National Center for Education Statistics
- Forward Pathway US College Ranking Database
Data from IPEDS (U.S. Department of Education), U.S. News, THE, QS, ARWU and Clery Act campus safety reports. Data insights are written by the Forward Pathway data team from public data.