Southwestern Adventist University

Private · Moderately Selective · TX

Photo: Greencrownsociety (CC BY-SA 4.0)

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationTX · South

SettingRural

Undergrads570

Student:faculty12:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate27.3%

6-yr grad rate52.3%

Drop-out rate27.3%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$25k

Out-of-state tuition$25k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity81%

Gender diversity56.3%

International5.3%

IdentitySeventh Day Adventists

Overview

Southwestern Adventist University is a Seventh-day Adventist university in Keene, Texas, south of Fort Worth. Its academic programs sit inside a campus culture organized around Adventist faith and practice, including observance of a Saturday Sabbath, and it draws students from Adventist families across the region and beyond.

Academics

Nursing, education, and business are the strongest programs, alongside religion and theology reflecting the school's denominational identity. Class sizes are small, and Adventist teaching is integrated into general education requirements, not confined to religion courses.

Campus & student life

Because Sabbath observance runs from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown, the campus schedule — classes, exams, dining, and events — is built around it, giving the week a different rhythm than at most colleges. Adventist norms around diet and lifestyle are part of daily campus life.

Worth knowing

Students who are not Adventist can and do attend, but should expect Sabbath-based scheduling and a genuinely faith-integrated campus culture rather than a secular school with an optional religious program layered on top.

swau.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate78.4%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 910–1200 · ACT 17–25

Test policyoptional

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying