Southwestern University

Southwestern University presents a selective admissions profile relative to its peers, though its drawing power remains moderate. In the 2027 U.S. News Best National Liberal Arts Colleges ranking, the university stood at 91. In 2025, the overall acceptance rate was 43.1%, which is higher than only 7% of 29 peer private liberal arts colleges with similar rankings, where the peer median reached 70.8%. The school enrolled 374 new students that cycle. Its yield rate stood at 13.8%, meaning only a small fraction of admitted applicants chose to enroll. For families navigating college choices, these figures indicate that Southwestern turns away a substantial portion of candidates compared to similarly ranked schools, but admitted students often hold multiple options and do not overwhelmingly commit.

Applicants to Southwestern University encounter moderate academic expectations, pairing solid classroom performance with mid-range standardized test scores. For the 2025 entering class, the median composite SAT score was 1210, which was higher than 23% of peer private liberal arts colleges. On the ACT, composite scores for enrolled students typically spanned from 26 to 30. High school transcript performance is equally important in admissions evaluations. During the 2023–2024 academic cycle, incoming freshmen arrived with strong grades concentrated near the top of their high school classes, including a notable segment holding unweighted maximum marks. Standardized test reporting has become selective, as only a minority of enrolled students submitted SAT results and an even smaller share provided ACT records. For prospective students, these standards indicate that consistent classroom achievement is vital for admission, while test scores aligning with these typical ranges demonstrate solid preparation for the college curriculum.

Southwestern University concentrates a significant share of its students in a small group of practical disciplines, though none of these programs appear on national major ranking lists. In 2025, the top three bachelor's majors accounted for 43.9% of all graduating seniors. The largest major was Business/Commerce, General, which graduated 74 students, followed by psychology and exercise science. Because the college holds no ranked majors, the largest programs reflect student demand rather than published ranking recognition. Early career compensation varies substantially across disciplines. According to 2023 earnings data gathered after graduation, median earnings were highest in Computer and Information Sciences, General at $94,043, whereas majors like psychology and education saw lower starting figures. International graduates represented a tiny fraction of degree earners, numbering just a few students across the entire graduating class. For applicants, these trends indicate that career earnings depend heavily on the specific academic discipline chosen rather than broad institutional reputation.

Southwestern University enrolls a primarily domestic undergraduate student body, with international and Asian students forming small segments of each class. In 2025, total undergraduate enrollment reached 1440 students. Among new freshmen, international students numbered 12, representing 3.2% of the cohort. Asian students also totaled 12 entering freshmen, making up an identical 3.2% share of that group. Continuing undergraduate cohorts and transfer groups similarly record limited representation, with small numbers of overseas and Asian classmates enrolled across campus. White and Hispanic students comprise the largest racial groups within the student population. For prospective applicants and families evaluating campus demographics, these metrics show that international and Asian student groups are modest in size. Families seeking an institution with larger representations from these specific communities can use these cohort numbers to determine whether the college matches their preferences.

The undergraduate community at Southwestern University is composed almost entirely of traditional college-age peers. In 2025, students aged 18 to 19 totaled 644, representing 44.7% of the 1,440 undergraduates on campus. Students aged 20 to 21 made up another 43% of the undergraduate population, while older undergraduates aged 22 to 24 accounted for 8.5%. Because the university enrolls no graduate students, campus life and extracurricular activities are naturally organized around the needs of emerging young adults progressing directly through a four-year residential college experience.

Southwestern University maintains a small international presence that is focused entirely on undergraduate education. In 2025, the college enrolled 32 undergraduate international students, representing 2.2% of the undergraduate student body. Among 30 peer private liberal arts colleges, this international share is higher than 23% of peer institutions. Because Southwestern has no graduate division, all international students are bachelor's candidates. Among bachelor's degree recipients in 2025, international students made up 1.3% of all graduates, concentrating in Business/Commerce, General, where they accounted for 1.4% of degree recipients. Prospective international applicants should note that the international student network on campus is small and closely focused on business studies.

Applicants evaluating Southwestern University have several other higher education options within driving distance across central and south Texas. Located about 25 kilometers away, The University of Texas at Austin is a large national university ranked 34 in the 2027 rankings. Approximately 71 kilometers from Georgetown, Baylor University is another national university, holding rank 90. Further east, Texas A&M University-College Station sits 79 kilometers away with a 2027 ranking of 59. For applicants specifically seeking another private liberal arts institution in the region, Trinity University is located 94.5 kilometers away in San Antonio, ranked 38 on the 2027 liberal arts college list.

Campus safety records at Southwestern University are primarily characterized by campus disciplinary actions rather than violent offenses. In 2025, Forward Pathway's weighted crime rate was 16.1 per 1,000 students. Across the three-year span from 2023 to 2025, the largest category totals were substance-related disciplinary referrals, including 32 alcohol-related referrals and 24 drug-related referrals. Other recorded incidents during those years were less frequent, including 11 stalking incidents alongside smaller counts of dating violence, sexual harassment, and theft. These figures show that infractions handled through internal disciplinary channels form the majority of safety reports on campus.