
Reported undergraduate completion figures warrant careful interpretation. The 2024-25 institutional data lists a four-year graduation rate of 13% and a six-year rate of 21%; it also lists an overall graduation measure of 28%. These measures should not be treated as interchangeable because their reporting definitions and student groups can differ.
A reported first-year retention rate of 83% describes a different outcome: whether students continued their studies, not whether they graduated. Seminary students in master's or doctoral programs are not necessarily represented by undergraduate first-time-student graduation measures. Applicants comparing programs should ask for completion information specific to their intended degree and study pattern.
Pay after Southwestern depends heavily on the occupation a student enters, where they work, and whether a position is full-time. Ministry, nonprofit, educational, and other roles associated with its programs do not share a single salary scale.
For a practical comparison, students can identify likely jobs for their intended degree, examine pay ranges in the location where they hope to work, and compare those ranges with the time and expense of the program. Salary alone would not capture part-time service, additional training, or the nonfinancial reasons some students pursue ministry education.
BACHELOR’S Degree
Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies
MASTER’S Degree
Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies
DOCTOR’S Degree
Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies
Data last updated on November 2, 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.