Southwestern University
Georgetown, Texas · Private Nonprofit · 43.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 54/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Southwestern University scores 54 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale - a selective liberal arts college in Georgetown, TX with 1,440 enrolled students and a $53,813 sticker tuition discounted to a $29,224 net price. The score reflects an 11.7-year payback period, an 18.7% earnings premium, a 0.602 debt-to-earnings ratio, a 72.8% completion rate, and an 80.8% repayment rate at 3 years - the repayment rate at 7 years reaches 90.5%, suggesting that graduates who borrow ultimately service their debt successfully over time. Average 6-year earnings of $41,500 are modest for a $29,224 net price; the median 10-year figure of $56,878 indicates modest long-term growth. Business Administration and Management is the largest graded program by confirmed graduate count (89 grads, $47,056 year-one, $71,342 at year four, grade C+). Biology earns the strongest program grade at B+ (26 grads, $62,928 at year four, $21,250 median debt). Psychology (43 grads, $30,373 year-one, D) and International Relations (28 grads, $34,415 year-one, D) are among the lower-performing programs.
Southwestern University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $53,813/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $53,813/yr |
| Average net price | $29,224/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $116,896 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $56,878 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $41,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 72.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,440 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $53,813/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $29,224/year, or roughly $116,896 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $22,478/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $36,332/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,000, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($41,500) and comes to 0.60, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $22,478 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $19,096 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $28,175 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $30,387 |
| $110,001+ | $36,332 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $22,478 per year at Southwestern and the 30001-48000 bracket pays $19,096 - the lower-middle bracket actually pays less than the lowest bracket, a reversal that likely reflects specific aid award patterns or a small-cohort data anomaly. For low-income students who can access Southwestern at $19,000-$22,000 per year, the combination of a small campus, Austin-area location, and strong biology and pre-professional advising may be worthwhile for specific career paths. The 11.7-year payback at median earnings is a significant commitment for families with limited financial reserves. Completion at 72.8% is solid but means roughly 1 in 4 enrolled students does not finish.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $28,175 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $30,387. The step from lower-middle to middle-income is a jump of approximately $9,000 per year - the aid schedule is less favorable for middle-income families than for the lowest bracket.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $36,332 per year at Southwestern - a four-year total near $145,000. At $41,500 average 6-year earnings, the payback on $145,000 in total cost is approximately 13-15 years. The 90.5% repayment rate at 7 years suggests that full-pay graduates are managing their credential investment, but the long payback period is real.
Earnings by Major
Top 8 most popular majors at Southwestern University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management | $71,342 | C+ |
| Psychology | $50,426 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $48,338 | C+ |
| International Relations | $61,935 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $59,372 | D |
| Biology | $62,928 | B+ |
| Education, General | $52,035 | - |
| English Language and Literature | $25,060 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Business Administration and Management
Business Administration is Southwestern's largest confirmed-graduate program at 89 graduates: $47,056 year-one, $71,342 at year four, grade C+ on $25,475 median debt. The four-year trajectory to $71,342 shows solid progression. At a $29,224 net price, the C+ grade reflects a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.541 - graduates owe slightly more than 6 months of annual earnings.
Biology
Biology earns Southwestern's strongest program grade at B+: 26 confirmed graduates, $62,928 at year four, debt-to-earnings 0.338 on $21,250 median debt. Year-one earnings are not reported, preventing a full grade profile. The year-four figure of $62,928 likely reflects biology graduates who have entered graduate or professional school pipelines - medical school, veterinary programs, or research roles - in Austin and nationally. The B+ grade and favorable debt ratio reflect Southwestern's pre-health and pre-professional advising infrastructure and the lower median debt of $21,250 relative to most programs. Biology is the program where Southwestern's liberal arts research focus produces measurable financial benefit.
Psychology
Psychology produces 43 confirmed graduates at $30,373 year-one and $50,426 at year four, grade D on $26,000 median debt. Year-one earnings of $30,373 in the Austin metro - where cost of living has risen sharply in recent years - present meaningful financial constraints against $26,000 in median debt. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.856 means graduates owe more than 10 months of annual pre-tax income at graduation. The D grade reflects a structural problem with psychology as a terminal bachelor's degree, amplified by Southwestern's private school cost structure. Psychology students at Southwestern who are heading toward graduate clinical or counseling programs face an additional 2-4 years of graduate debt on top of the undergraduate obligation.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 75.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 80.8% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 86.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 90.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Southwestern University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 43.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 550-630 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 580-670 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 26-30 |
| Enrollment | 1,440 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 25.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,920 |
Southwestern's admission rate is 43.1%. Southwestern is test-flexible and evaluates applicants holistically, placing emphasis on intellectual curiosity, community involvement, and fit with the liberal arts mission.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwestern University (this school) | 54 | $29,224 | $56,878 |
| St. Francis College | 57 | $18,129 | $58,099 |
| Southern Nazarene University | 55 | $22,084 | $54,951 |
| Abilene Christian University | 51 | $26,182 | $55,736 |
| University of Lynchburg | 49 | $22,235 | $56,380 |
| Arlington Baptist University | 14 | $24,906 | $44,644 |
Who Thrives Here
Southwestern University admits 43.1% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 550-630 Math and 580-670 Reading; ACT composite 26-30. With 1,440 enrolled students and a 25.3% Pell grant rate, Southwestern serves a broadly mixed-income Texas student body in Georgetown, just north of Austin. The institution is a small, residential, Methodist-affiliated liberal arts college that emphasizes undergraduate research, close faculty mentorship, and community engagement. Students who attend Southwestern are typically choosing the intimate liberal arts environment over larger Texas universities - the value proposition includes class sizes, undergraduate research opportunities, and the cultural life of the Austin metro. Southwestern's ROI score reflects the structural challenge of most small private liberal arts colleges: a $29,224 net price with $41,500 average 6-year earnings requires a long time horizon to recover.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Southwestern University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $29,224 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $56,878 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 11.7 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What it has going for it: its 72.8% graduation rate. What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost.
Median debt of $25,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $41,500 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Southwestern University: Common Questions
Is Southwestern University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Southwestern University scores 54/100 on our ROI scale. At $29,224 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $56,878 ten years after entry, so it takes about 11.7 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Southwestern University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $29,224 a year, or roughly $116,896 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Southwestern University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $56,878 ten years after enrolling, roughly $15,078 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Southwestern University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 11.7 years for Southwestern University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Southwestern University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,000, against average earnings of $41,500 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Southwestern University?
The six-year graduation rate is 72.8%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.