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Georgetown, TX · Private · 1,440 undergraduates · urban

Southwestern University

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Paideia is Southwestern’s defining academic model, explicitly teaching students to make connections among disciplines and experiences.

Campus image / Publicly hosted campus image

Institutional profile

Well established Solid in student experience, and solid in academic standing.
Academic Solid Affordability Emerging Career Steady Mobility Steady Experience Solid
Academic standing Solid
Affordability Emerging
Career outcomes Steady
Mobility Steady
Student experience Solid
Admission
39.1% admitted

6,585 applicants in the reported year

Price by income
Varies across five income ranges

Compare recent average annual costs by household income

Completion
73.1%

$56,878 median earnings 10 years after enrollment

What sets Southwestern University apart

Academic design

All students encounter Paideia, an interdisciplinary framework that links courses, majors and experiences such as research, internships, intercultural learning and community engagement. Majors culminate in work that asks students to connect ideas across their education.

Campus pattern

The campus is in Georgetown, a fast-growing small city north of Austin. Student life has a traditional residential-college rhythm while the Austin region expands internship and cultural options.

Defining feature

Paideia is Southwestern’s defining academic model, explicitly teaching students to make connections among disciplines and experiences.

Can I get in?

39.1% admitted

Start with academic preparation, then show why this particular academic and campus environment fits you.

Recent applicant pool

6,585

About 39 in every 100 applicants were admitted.

Admission rate 39.1%
Entering class

Academic range

SAT middle 50%1170–1340
10601460
ACT middle 50%24–30
2034

Of admitted students, 40% submitted an SAT, and 14% submitted an ACT. The ACT range comes from a small share of admitted students and does not describe the full class.

Entered with a 4.0 GPA11%

In the season card

Where your GPA sits in the entering class

The full entering-class GPA distribution for Southwestern University, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.

See where I land

In the season card

What Southwestern University weighs when it reads a file

See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.

  • Course rigor  
  • GPA  
  • Test scores  
  • Essay  
  • Recommendations  
  • Extracurriculars  
  • Demonstrated interest  
See what counts here

What moves the application

The evidence that separates a strong file

01

Show preparation for this curriculum

All students encounter Paideia, an interdisciplinary framework that links courses, majors and experiences such as research, internships, intercultural learning and community engagement. Majors culminate in work that asks students to connect ideas across their education.

02

Make the fit specific

Paideia is Southwestern’s defining academic model, explicitly teaching students to make connections among disciplines and experiences.

03

Account for the tradeoff

Keep academic direction and school-specific choices coherent across the application.

How to apply

Rounds, route, and required materials

Build the calendar around the earliest realistic application round and make the school-specific case concrete.

Early DecisionNov 3
Early ActionDec 1
Regular DecisionFeb 2
Fee and waiverNo application fee

Check eligibility for a fee waiver

Can I afford it?

Compare annual cost by household income.

Start with the average net price for your income range, then set that estimate beside your other realistic options.

Published annual cost$80,900
Average annual cost after aid$29,000
Affordability profileEmerging

In the season card

Average annual cost by household income at Southwestern University

Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.

  • $0–30k 
  • $30–48k 
  • $48–75k 
  • $75–110k 
  • $110k+ 
Open the price by income

Is it worth it?

Completion, debt, and earnings

Paideia is Southwestern’s defining academic model, explicitly teaching students to make connections among disciplines and experiences.

Complete within 8 years73.1%

Degree completion across the reported entering cohort

Return after year one81.9%

First-year students who return for year two

Median federal debtWhat students owe on the way out

And what that comes to against what they earn.

Median earnings$56,878

Reported 10 years after enrollment

Academic portfolio

Largest bachelor’s fields

How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.

Business/Commerce, General

Recent graduates89
Median earnings$71,342

Psychology, General

Recent graduates43
Median earnings$50,426

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness

Recent graduates40
Median earnings$48,338

Communication and Media Studies

Recent graduates28
Median earnings$59,372

Political Science and Government

Recent graduates28
Median earnings$61,935

What is campus life like?

Southwestern University beyond the classroom

The campus is in Georgetown, a fast-growing small city north of Austin. Student life has a traditional residential-college rhythm while the Austin region expands internship and cultural options.

Academics

A defining academic feature

All students encounter Paideia, an interdisciplinary framework that links courses, majors and experiences such as research, internships, intercultural learning and community engagement. Majors culminate in work that asks students to connect ideas across their education.

Campus setting

What shapes an ordinary week

The campus is in Georgetown, a fast-growing small city north of Austin. Student life has a traditional residential-college rhythm while the Austin region expands internship and cultural options.

Distinctive edge

What changes the experience

Paideia is Southwestern’s defining academic model, explicitly teaching students to make connections among disciplines and experiences.

1,440 undergraduatesSouthwesturban setting97% of first-year students live on campus