It is very difficult to get into Southwestern University. The acceptance rate at Southwestern University is 45%. Last year, 5,557 students applied to Southwestern University and 2,489 were admitted.
If you are planning on applying to Southwestern University, the deadline for Fall 2024 admissions is 2/1 and there is no application fee, which means it is free to apply.
Students who apply to Southwestern University for fall semester should hear back from Southwestern University by April 1.
Here is an overiew of some of Southwestern University's admissions stats.
Southwestern University 2023 | Admissions Statistics |
---|---|
Mean Unweighted GPA | 3.5 |
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class | 25.5% |
Mean SAT Score | 1241 |
Admissions Test Policy | Test Optional |
Applicants Who Submit SATs | 43% |
Applicants Who Submit ACTs | 17% |
Waitlist | Yes |
These are the application deadlines for Southwestern University.
Application Type | Offered | Application Deadline | Notification Deadline |
---|---|---|---|
Early Decision I | Yes | November 1 | December 1 |
Early Decision II | – | – | – |
Early Action | Yes | December 1 | March 1 |
Regular Decision | Yes | 2 1 | April 1 |
Southwestern University offers early decision and also offers early action. Early decision is binding, meaning you must attend if you are admitted, while early action allows you to apply early without committing.
🗓️ Early Decision I applications are due by November 1 EDI applicants should receive a decision by December 1.
🗓️ The Early Action deadline is December 1. Southwestern University will release EA admissions decisions no later than March 1.
The early decision acceptance rate at Southwestern University is 34%, compared to an overall acceptance rate of 45%.
Southwestern University accepts around 62% of early action applicants and 45% all applicants for all deadlines. Last year, Southwestern University admitted 22 of the 64 students who applied early decision. Last year, Southwestern University admitted 1,283 of the 2,61 who applied early action.
Some students apply to college early to help their chances of acceptance. When you apply early, your application is considered before all the regular decision applicants apply. Applying early may increase your chance of admission, since it demonstrates your interest in a school.
➡️ Find a list of some selective colleges that accept significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.
Southwestern University is a very difficult school to get into. Southwestern University evaluates applicants carefully based on multiple criteria to decide who to admit, and who to deny or waitlist.
In 2022, Southwestern University accepted 45% of students, approximately 2,489 of the 5,557 students who applied.
Schools that are very difficult to get into, like Southwestern University, accept fewer than 60% of all applicants. At least 50% of all admitted students have GPAs in the top 10% of their high school class and scored over 1230 on the SAT and over 26 on the ACT.
It is very difficult to be admitted as a transfer student.
In 2022, Southwestern University waitlisted 90 students and 16 accepted a place on the waitlist. Of those, 9 eventually got off the waitlist.
Colleges consider a range of factors when determining who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college determines which factors are they consider most important when choose which applicants to admit, and which to deny. When assembling your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and apply to colleges that prioritize the admissions factors where you shine.
Wondering what factors are considered by Southwestern University during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.
Admissions Factor | Level |
---|---|
Class Rank | Very Important |
Application Essay | Very Important |
Recommendation(s) | Very Important |
Standardized Test Scores | Very Important |
Academic GPA | Very Important |
Rigor of Secondary School Record | Very Important |
Alumni/ae Relations | Important |
Character/Personal Qualities | Important |
Extracurricular Activities | Important |
Geographical Residence | Important |
Interview | Important |
Racial/Ethnic Status | Important |
State Residency | Important |
Talent/Ability | Important |
Volunteer Work | Important |
First Generation | Important |
Religious Affiliation/Commitment | Considered |
Work Experience | Considered |
Level of Applicant's Interest | Considered |
Make sure to check with Southwestern University for more information on admission factors.
To apply to Southwestern University, all applicants must submit the following items. Double check with Southwestern University's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.
Area | Required | Recommended | Required for Some | Details (If Any) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Interview | – | √ | – | – |
Letter(s) of Recommendation | 1 | – | – | – |
Written Essay or Personal Statement | √ | – | – | – |
Other Requirements | √ | – | – | counselor recommendation |
Transcript of High School Record | √ | – | – | – |
Students admitted to Southwestern University have an average unweighted GPA of 3.5.
Out of all students that were admitted, 57.6% submitted a class rank. At Southwestern University 25.5% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 62.2% were in the top 25% and 88.2% were in the top 50%.
At Southwestern University, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.
GPA | Percent of Students |
---|---|
4.0 GPA | 9.2% |
3.75 and 3.99 | 25.9% |
3.50 and 3.74 | 23.6% |
3.25 and 3.49 | 18.4% |
3.00 and 3.24 | 13.5% |
2.50 and 2.9 | 9.2% |
2.00 and 2.49 | 0.2% |
This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.
Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to Southwestern University directly.
About GPAs
Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that reflects your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.
An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.
Southwestern University has a test optional admissions policy. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.
In 2022, 43% of Southwestern University's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 17% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.
To be competitive with other Southwestern University applicants, you should aim to earn between 1140 and 1320 (or higher!) on the SAT. At Southwestern University 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1320 and 25% of scored lower than 1140, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.The mean composite SAT score for a Southwestern University student is 1241.
On the SAT Math Section, 25% of Southwestern University students scored 670 or higher and 75% of students scored 570 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of Southwestern University students scored 640 or higher, and 75% scored a 570 or higher.
To be most competitive at Southwestern University, you should strive to earn between 24 and 30 on the ACT.
An ACT score of 30 means you fall in the 75th percentile for Southwestern University's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 30, and three out of four students scored lower than 30 on the ACT.
A 24 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for Southwestern University students. Only one out of every four students scored below 24.
For transfer students, it is very difficult to get admitted to Southwestern University.
For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is July 1. Applicants should hear back by July 15.
Transfer students can enroll in Southwestern University during the following terms:
• Fall Term
• Winter Term
• Spring Term
• Winter Term
• Summer Term
Can I defer my acceptance to Southwestern University?
✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to Southwestern University.
Does Southwestern University accept transfer credits?
✅ Southwestern University accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions. Southwestern University accepts:
• CLEP subject tests • DSST/DANTES
Does Southwestern University accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?
✅ Southwestern University accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits.
Do I have to submit test scores to Southwestern University?
❌ No, Southwestern University is test optional, so it's up to you if you want to submit test scores or not. If you have higher than average scores, you may want to send them. If you scored lower than a school's average, you it might make sense to leave them out of your application.
What is Southwestern University's acceptance rate?
✅ Southwestern University has an acceptance rate of 45%.
What is the early decision acceptance rate at Southwestern University?
✅ Southwestern University's early decision acceptance rate was 34% in 2021.
What is the early action acceptance rate at Southwestern University?
✅ The early action acceptance rate at Southwestern University was 62% in 2021.
To learn more about Southwestern University, choose from the options below:
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Admission Difficulty
How hard is it to get into Southwestern University? Southwestern University is a very selective institution. The Southwestern University acceptance rate is 45%. This means that the institution accepts 44 out of every 100 applicants.
First-Year Applications are Due
Transfer Applications are Due
The deadline for Fall first-year applications to Southwestern University is Feb 1.
The deadline for Fall transfer applications to Southwestern University is Jul 1.
Check the school website for more information about deadlines for specific programs or special admissions programs
Composite SAT Range
Math SAT Range
Reading SAT Range
SAT Score
Estimated Chance
1320 and Above
1140 to 1320
1140 and Less
The median SAT score for Southwestern University students is 1241. Applicants with SAT scores of 1320 and above have a good chance of being admitted to Southwestern University, while applicants with SAT scores between 1140 to 1320 have an average chance of admittance, and prospective students with an SAT score below 1140 have a low chance of being offered a spot at Southwestern University.
Avg. High School GPA (non-weighted)
At Southwestern University, the average unweighted high-school GPA for admitted students is 3.5. This is the average, which means that some applicants submit GPAs lower than this and some applicants submit GPAs above this level. If your GPA falls below the average, strong test scores or other qualifications may help you make you a more competitive applicant.
Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved
Total Enrollment
Campus Setting
Acceptance Rate
Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline
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