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Georgetown , TX
Southwestern University is a private liberal arts college located in Georgetown, Texas. Established in 1840, it is the oldest university in the state and has a strong reputation for academic excellence and student engagement. With an average undergraduate enrollment of around 1,500 students, Southwestern provides a small, close-knit community where students receive personalized attention from dedicated faculty members.
Southwestern University offers a wide range of undergraduate programs across various disciplines, including the arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and business. The university follows a rigorous curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking, communication skills, and interdisciplinary perspectives. Students have numerous opportunities to engage in hands-on research, internships, study abroad programs, and community service projects, all of which enhance their academic and personal growth.
Apart from academics, Southwestern University also offers a vibrant campus life with a variety of clubs, organizations, and extracurricular activities. The university's location in the heart of the Texas Hill Country allows students to explore the great outdoors through recreational activities like hiking, biking, and swimming, and the nearby city of Austin offers a wealth of cultural, social, and entertainment opportunities. Southwestern is known for its commitment to holistic education and prides itself on producing graduates who are well-rounded, intellectually curious, and equipped to take on global challenges.
Southwestern University is a private four-year college located in Georgetown, TX. This educational institution operates on a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 43%. The freshman retention rate at Southwestern University is 81% and the six-year graduation rate is 73%.
For transfer students, the application deadline is July 1.
Here are some latest data on important things to consider about Southwestern University.
Quick Facts
1,440
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$56,219
Tuition
11:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
73%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to learn as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the institution in order to maximize your chances of being accepted. Here are the most important facts you have to know about admission at Southwestern University.
According to the newest data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 2,718 in 2025. Southwestern University has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores for the candidates who choose to submit them. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is very difficult to get into. Having a long tradition of academic success and a dedication to encouraging intellectual curiosity, Southwestern University offers a unique educational experience.
Test Scores
44% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 13% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 8% of the enrolled students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 51% between 1,200 and 1,399 and 41% between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 36, 55 between 24-29 and 9 in the range between 18-23.
The average ACT score for all the accepted students in 2025 was 28 and the average GPA was 3.53. Therefore, the chances are that you'll need a GPA higher than the average for acceptance, and the same goes for your ACT score.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 626 for the enrolled first-year students, while the average SAT Math score was 594. If you plan on applying as a transfer student, the application deadline is July 1.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Southwestern University was 81%, demonstrating the exceptional quality of the educational experience at this institution.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This rate shows how many students complete their degrees in a certain number of years. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 73%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by learning more about its student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school enrolled 1,440 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 12% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 1,440, 32 of which were international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 55.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 646 male and 777 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 47 Asian students and 82 Afro-American students in 2025. 426 undergraduates at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 64 identified with more than one race. The school also had 1 student who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 4 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 45 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before submitting an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into account. Here are some data on the expenses that most students at this school have.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about Southwestern University estimated tuition price.
Tuition fees per academic year for full-time domestic students were $56,219 in 2025. Southwestern University is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students reached $525 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to consider the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The approximate expense of books and supplies for a full-time student of this school is $1,250.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. What do colleges and universities typically charge for room and board?
In 2025, the price of room and board at Southwestern University was $16,787 per academic year. If you only needed a room on the campus, it cost $9,624 for the 2025 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $13,168.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 56,219 |
| Room and Board | $ 16,787 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,250 |
| Total Expense | $ 74,256 |
Financial Aid
Obtaining some financial help in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be vital for finishing your studies. If you wish to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Southwestern University, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent records show that 224 freshmen received some sort of financial help. Students of this school received an average of $49,824 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
There were 789 students who received need-based financial aid of any kind. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need amounted to 793. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution stood at $2,746,315, and state $1,520,442. The students of Southwestern University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $27,976,068, and external in the amount of $1,903,806.
$28,410
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 768 students overall (including freshmen) at Southwestern University in 2025. 220 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $17,479,500. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $503,195 USD.
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
The Common Application for Transfer (Common App for transfer)
Majors
Faculty
11:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
In 2025, this ratio at Southwestern University was 11:1. That means that there were 11 times more students than teachers at this school. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 158. This number included 66 men and 92 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at Southwestern University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Check out some info about social life at Southwestern University.
Its campus is 700 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Engaging with a variety of student organizations can enrich your educational experience and make it more rewarding.
According to recently gathered data, there are 75 open-membership organizations at Southwestern University. This number includes sororities and fraternities. At this school, 33% of male students are members of social organizations, while that percentage is 31 for female students. The student organization that has the biggest membership is SU Singers, followed by Men's IFC and Woman's Panhalloic. Other popular organizations at Southwestern University are Coalition for Diversity & Social Justice and Cat Partners.
If you're interested in acting, you have the option to join a drama club. You have a talent for media and communication? Southwestern University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Southwestern University, there are many amenities that make life on campus comfortable and safe.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a 24-hour security patrol. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Women's Center are available to the students of Southwestern University.
All in all, campus life at Southwestern University is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Southwestern University.
Career Counselling
At Southwestern University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Southwestern University is located in Georgetown, TX.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Southwestern University is 56,219 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Southwestern University is 43%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Southwestern University is 81%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.