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Southwestern Adventist University

#585 in US ranking Keene, TX
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Programs:
4 years or more

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Cost

Cost / year
$36,410
Tuition & fees
$26,120
Avg. aid
$10,685
Receiving aid
100%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
78%
SAT range
910–1200
ACT range
17–25

Outcomes

Graduation rate
52%
Median salary
$62,815
1 yr after graduation

What is the history of Southwestern Adventist University?

Southwestern Adventist University is a private Seventh-day Adventist institution in Keene, Texas, with roots in a school established there in 1893. It began as Keene Industrial Academy, reflecting an educational model that combined academic study with practical work.

The institution later became a college and eventually adopted its current university name. Its history helps explain two features that remain relevant to applicants: its connection to the Seventh-day Adventist Church and its emphasis on combining professional preparation with a religious educational setting.

What are the faculties and departments at Southwestern Adventist University?

Southwestern Adventist University offers undergraduate programs across the arts, sciences, education, business, religion, and health professions. Its academic offerings include nursing, business, computer science, biology, communication, education, psychology, music, and theology-related study.

Applicants should examine the requirements of a specific major, not just the university's general admission requirements. Nursing and teacher-preparation pathways, for example, may involve separate progression standards, supervised experiences, or steps toward professional licensure. A degree's availability does not by itself establish that every required course is offered every term.

The university's relatively small enrollment can make course scheduling especially important for transfer students and those pursuing a tightly sequenced major. An academic adviser can map remaining requirements against expected course offerings before a student commits to an enrollment date.

What is the location of Southwestern Adventist University?

Southwestern Adventist University is in Keene, a small city in Johnson County within the broader Dallas-Fort Worth region. Its setting is different from that of a downtown university: students should plan around a smaller surrounding community and the travel involved in reaching regional jobs, clinical sites, or entertainment.

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is a useful regional airport for students traveling longer distances. Students who expect to commute or attend off-campus placements should check actual travel times rather than assume that a Dallas-Fort Worth-area address means a short trip. First-year students are permitted to park a car on campus, subject to applicable campus parking rules.

What is the mission and vision of Southwestern Adventist University?

Southwestern Adventist University's educational purpose is grounded in its Seventh-day Adventist affiliation. Its stated approach connects academic learning, service, faith, and preparation for work and life.

That affiliation is part of the student experience, not simply a historical detail. Prospective students should review the current catalog and student handbook for expectations concerning worship, conduct, and campus life. Students need not infer that every person on campus has the same beliefs, but they should expect the institution's religious identity to shape its programming and policies.

Southwestern Adventist University Profile - Basic Information

Name of the institution

Southwestern Adventist University

Level of institution

Four or more years

Control of institution

Private

Setting type

Town: Fringe

Institutional Category

Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or above

Institution size category

Under 1,000

Religious affiliation

Protestant (Seventh-day Adventists)

School type

Comprehensive higher education institution

Main student body

Coeducational

Calendar system

Semesters

Foundation year

1894

Southwestern Adventist University Accreditation

Southwestern Adventist University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.

Southwestern Adventist University Programs and Degrees

iconCertificate of less than 1 year
iconAssociate's degree
iconBachelor's degree
iconMaster's degree

Data last updated on November 5, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.

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