Admissions
As a Christian institution providing higher education in the liberal arts and selected professional areas, Southwestern Adventist University welcomes applications from students who will share the vision, values, and ideals of the university, and whose desire for a successful education experience will enable them to commit to the total program of learning, development and service. The university is committed to equality and does not consider race, gender, age, disability, color, or national and ethnic origin in determining qualifications for admissions.
Admission is granted to applicants who meet admissions requirements and who will uphold the standards of the university in accordance to the Christian principles as taught by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Students are advised that admission is contingent upon the integrity of the information submitted to the University. Discovery of false information could be grounds for withdrawal of the offer of admission or for immediate dismissal. Dismissal would result in forfeiture of all charges paid and academic credits earned.
To receive priority processing and scholarship consideration, applications should be submitted by March 1 for the fall semester and November 1 for the spring semester. Application deadline is August 1. Transcript: submit one of the following Test Scores: one of the following Southwestern encourages the TEA Recommended High School Program of 26 credits, which will increase a student's opportunities for success. Applicants taking Advanced Placement classes should consult the AP examination program in the Academic section of this Bulletin regarding scores necessary for college credit.
Students who do not meet one of the two minimum admission requirements (GPA or SAT/ACT) must participate in Summer Bridge. Learning takes place in a three-week session prior to the beginning of the freshman year and provides developmental learning support in the areas of math, reading, and writing. At the end of the session, student progress is assessed and students are placed accordingly in math and English. Summer Bridge includes one (1) credit which will apply toward the requirements for a degree. Session cost is $400 which includes course instruction, housing, meals, books, field trips and weekend events.
To receive priority processing and scholarship consideration, submit applications by March 1 for fall semester and November 1 for spring semester. Application deadline is August 1.
Academic credit earned from regionally accredited colleges and universities will be accepted as transfer credit subject to the following guidelines: Transfer students who have not completed the general education mathematics requirement and/or the freshman composition requirement prior to enrollment at the University should submit the ACT or SAT for English prior to registering for classes. Required test scores for ENGL 121 can be any of the following: SAT ERW of 480, or ACT English of 17. Applicants who do not meet the published requirements may be considered for admission on academic probation. A letter of intent to succeed along with two references need to be submitted to the Office of Admissions for consideration by the Admissions Committee.
Completed application deadline is August 1.August 6
Notification of admission status
October 15
$200 Nursing deposit to reserve your place in the January class
November 5
Registration opens for spring classes
November 15
Be at registration Step 6 to avoid being dropped from the program.
November 15
Deadline to upload documents to CastleBranch:
December 15
Submit BLUE card from the Texas Board of Nursing to CastleBranch
January 3
Nursing Orientation for all new nursing majors - Required
January 4
Step 7 of registration completed
January 7
Classes begin
The application deadline is May 1 for fall semester and October 1 for spring semester. Student must be fully admitted by June 1 for fall semester and November 1 for spring semester to allow sufficient time for the student to obtain an I-20 and obtain a student visa. In addition to meeting the freshman or transfer acceptance requirements, an international student must submit official copies of all education documents validated by school or national officials. These should be in the original language, accompanied by a certified English translation. Students for whom English is not their native language must submit any of the following tests with the minimum score listed: or
All students needing an I-20 must meet the following: *If a student is not granted a visa and does not enroll, these funds will be returned minus the processing fee and any transaction fees. Current immigration laws allow an international student with an F-1 Visa to work on campus up to 20 hours per week during the semester and up to 40 hours per week during vacations provided that the student is registered for the subsequent academic semester. While there are many campus jobs available, Southwestern does not guarantee student employment. Major medical insurance coverage must be purchased through Southwestern at registration. If a student is already insured through the SDA system, he/she must provide documentation of equivalent insurance coverage. No insurance coverage refunds will be made after the second week of classes. International students should not leave their homeland until they have the following:
Prospective students can apply at no cost online at www.swau.edu/apply or request an application packet from the Enrollment Services Office at enroll@swau.edu.
New students who are accepted need to submit a $50.00 Commitment Deposit in order to reserve their place in the entering class. This allows access to student Portal and gives priority processing for financial aid. Priority deadline is May 1 for fall semester and November 1 for spring semester. Commitment deposits are applied to the student's account and are non-refundable if the student does not enroll.
Special permission to register is extended to a variety of students wishing to take classes at the University. Academic transcripts are not required. Tuition and fee charges for these students are provided in the financial section of this Bulletin. Non-degree students desiring to change to degree status must apply and meet all regular admission requirements. Audit. Students who plan only to audit a class must submit a Special Student Admission Application and a request for registration. Individual Distance Learning (IDL). Students taking on-line courses who do not wish to enroll for a degree program must submit an application and a request for registration. Dual Credit/Dual Enrollment. The University has several programs available to high school students to take University courses on-line, on-campus, or at a Union academy. Students interested in these programs should contact the Office of Admissions and submit an application and a request for registration. Teacher Certification. Individuals who need specific courses for certification must submit an application and a request for registration. Students interested in certification should consult the Department of Education section in this Bulletin. Transient. Students enrolled at another college or university who wish to take a course must submit an application and a guest letter from their college or university.
Students seeking readmission after being unenrolled for one year must reapply and submit official transcripts from any subsequent college or university to the Office of Admissions. Returning students will be readmitted provided there are no academic sanctions, disciplinary actions, or financial holds restricting enrollment. Students who are readmitted after two or more semesters of non-attendance must meet the degree requirements of the Bulletin in effect at the time of readmission.
Southwestern Adventist University offers four-year graduates of any accredited college or university, including Southwestern, the opportunity to take additional undergraduate classes, to complete another undergraduate degree or to apply for graduate studies. Admission policies will apply to these students as follows. The tuition discount for post-baccalaureate students is 50% of full tuition cost.