Southwest Baptist University

Southwest Baptist University's published cost of attendance is $40,301. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $21,978, middle-income families pay around $19,633, and higher-income families pay approximately $23,857.

Azimuth ranks Southwest Baptist University #621 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.

Southwest Baptist University uses need-based financial aid to close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. Most students receive need-based scholarships or grants as part of their aid package.

Families apply for aid using the FAFSA, and the university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs to support enrollment across income levels. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,957, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $17,747; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.

For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $54,286, median federal debt of $20,957 projects to a monthly payment of about $237 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of Southwest Baptist University earn median 4-year earnings of $54,286, placing Southwest Baptist University in the 13.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Southwest Baptist University in the 59.0 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Azimuth ranks Southwest Baptist University #982 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern centers on health-related fields, which form the institution's dominant program family.

Nursing is the largest program with 63 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $78,525, performing at 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. The Kinesiology program graduates 28 students with median 4-year earnings of $58,770, while Psychology, General delivers median 4-year earnings of $43,058 for 26 graduates.

These health-focused pathways align with stable, in-demand career trajectories that support consistent long-term financial outcomes for Southwest Baptist graduates.

Southwest Baptist University's program mix is anchored in health professions and applied sciences, reflecting the institution's mission as a faith-based regional university. Nursing is the largest program with 63 graduates, followed by Kinesiology with 28 graduates, Psychology, General with 26 graduates, Business Administration with 25 graduates, and Teacher Education with 22 graduates.

Across 18 programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, serving roughly 308 students annually. The highest-earning programs at Southwest Baptist University cluster in health and clinical fields.

Nursing graduates earn median earnings of $78,525 four years after enrollment, while Computer Science graduates earn $62,016. Kinesiology delivers median earnings of $58,770, and Business Administration reaches $56,182.

These outcomes reflect the institution's concentration in Health professions, where demand for qualified graduates remains strong in regional and national labor markets. Several of Southwest Baptist University's programs represent grad-school-dependent pathways where four-year earnings reflect the early stages of careers that typically require advanced credentials.

This is particularly true for programs in nursing, biology, and health sciences, where many graduates continue to graduate or professional school. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how the institution's dominant program families align with labor-market demand and wage trajectories in the health professions sector.