McPherson College vs. Southwest Baptist University

Should I go to McPherson College or Southwest Baptist University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if McPherson College or Southwest Baptist University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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McPherson College vs. Southwest Baptist University comparison
McPherson College Southwest Baptist University College 3 College 4
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Overview

McPherson College Southwest Baptist University
Location McPherson, KS Bolivar, MO
Setting Remote Town Distant Town
Enrollment 822 2,386
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #1028
Religious Affiliation Church of Brethren Southern Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mcpherson.edu sbuniv.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

McPherson College Southwest Baptist University
Tuition (In State) $32,494 $25,990
Tuition (Out of State) $32,494 $25,990
Room & Board $9,918 $8,290
Avg Net Price $25,065 $18,926
Avg Grant Aid $21,916 $18,146
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 97%

Admission

McPherson College Southwest Baptist University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,445 881
Admitted 952 877
Acceptance Rate 65.9% 99.5%
Enrolled % 26.3% 32.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.33 3.55
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/23 19/25
SAT Range 908/1120 928/1148
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

McPherson College Southwest Baptist University
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Engineering Technology (16%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (15%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Health Professions (39%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (6%)

Outcomes

McPherson College Southwest Baptist University
Graduation Rate 46% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,200 $36,700
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $21,087
Median Loan Payment $268 $218

Diversity

McPherson College Southwest Baptist University
% Men 67% 37%
% Women 33% 63%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 70% 83%
% Black 10% 5%
% Hispanic 12% 2%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 1%
% International 4% 0%
% Unknown Race 0% 6%

Students

McPherson College Southwest Baptist University
% In-State 31% 59%
% Out-of-State 62% 25%

Campus

McPherson College Southwest Baptist University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Southwest Baptist University is larger than than McPherson College based on total student enrollment (2,386 students vs. 822 students)

McPherson College vs. Southwest Baptist University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, McPherson College or Southwest Baptist University?

  • McPherson College is 25% more expensive to attend than Southwest Baptist University for in-state tuition ($32,494.00 vs. $25,990.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 25% higher at McPherson College than Southwest Baptist University ($32,494.00 vs. $25,990.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southwest Baptist University than McPherson College ($18,926 vs. $25,065)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwest Baptist University are 19.6% lower than costs at McPherson College ($8,290 vs. $9,918)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at McPherson College than Southwest Baptist University (100% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by McPherson College students is 20.8% larger than aid received Southwest Baptist University ($21,916 vs. $18,146)

McPherson College vs. Southwest Baptist University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, McPherson College or Southwest Baptist University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Southwest Baptist University or McPherson College .

  • The average SAT score at Southwest Baptist University (1058) is 118 points higher than at McPherson College (940)
  • Incoming Southwest Baptist University students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at McPherson College (20)
  • Accepted freshman Southwest Baptist University students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at McPherson College (3.33)
  • Southwest Baptist University has a higher acceptance rate (99.5%) than McPherson College (65.9%)

McPherson College vs. Southwest Baptist University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, McPherson College or Southwest Baptist University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Southwest Baptist University and McPherson College.

  • The graduation rate at Southwest Baptist University is higher than McPherson College (48% vs. 46%)
  • Graduates from McPherson College earn on average $7,500 more per year than Southwest Baptist University graduates after ten years. ($44,200 vs. $36,700)
  • Southwest Baptist University students graduate with a $4,913 lower median federal student loan debt than McPherson College graduates. ($21,087 vs. $26,000)
  • Southwest Baptist University graduates are paying $50 less per month on federal student loans than McPherson College graduates. ($218 vs. $268)
  • More McPherson College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwest Baptist University students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 63%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/