Southwestern College - KS

Yes, SC is online, offering approximately two dozen online degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. It also offers several online certificates and certification prep courses. Almost half of undergrads and three-quarters of SC’s graduate students participate exclusively in distance education, according to NCES data (as cited above). 

Degrees at SC are accelerated so students can finish faster. There are eight sessions per year, and classes last six weeks. SC also has a generous transfer policy, which can save time and money. Therefore, distance learners with transfer credits who attend full-time may be able to finish a bachelor’s degree in two years and a master’s degree in as few as 18 months. 

No, SC is a four-year institution with degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels.

SC holds OnlineU's top spot for Best Online Colleges in Kansas. We also rank it #2 for Best Online Christian Colleges, #11 for Best Business Management Degrees Online, and #14 for Best Online Business Degrees. 

Additionally, SC has a favorable institutional accreditation status, which speaks well of how it manages its finances and the high quality academic programming it offers. SC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Some of SC’s degrees are also programmatically accredited as well. For example, its education programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and the Kansas Department of Education.  

To provide the most trustworthy results, OnlineU only includes accredited online institutions on its site. 

SC supports military service members, veterans, and their families. It participates in the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Principles of Excellence and Yellow Ribbon programs. SC accepts 64 credit hours from the CCAF, DANTES, ACE-evaluated training, and the Joint Services Transcript. These students may transfer in a total of 94 credits. Active duty military members and their spouses may also be eligible for discounted undergraduate tuition, scholarships, and grants. Veterans can use their GI Bill benefits to help pay for school.

SC is also known for its support of all students. This includes robust student resources that can be accessed remotely. These resources include tech support, the library, academic success coaching, tutoring, textbook purchasing, career services, and educational writing assistance.

According to College Scorecard data, as linked above, SC’s bachelor’s degrees in human resources management, accounting, criminal justice, and health and medical administrative services provide the highest earnings. Graduates earn median annual salaries of approximately $60,600, $59,300, $51,200, and $47,300, accordingly. 

Additionally, OnlineU's proprietary Salary Score ranks colleges by how much their alumni earn compared to graduates with the same degree nationwide. WSU has a bachelor's Salary Score of 80 and 21 for its master's degrees, which is out of a total of 100. SC's bachelor’s degree in criminal justice has a near-perfect salary score of 99, and its bachelor’s degree in business administration has a score of 96.

It’s moderately difficult to get into SC. College Scorecard data shows that it accepts 69% of applicants. While it considers entrance exams and accepts SAT and ACT scores, they are not required. Admitted students who submit scores have combined SAT scores between 930 and 1100 and ACT scores between 16 and 22. Submitting entrance exam scores may be required to be considered for merit scholarships. It’s unclear if GRE or GMAT scores are required for graduate program enrollment.

When picking a college, knowing this information helps you choose schools that consider your academic background and where you have the highest chances of acceptance. 

It's unclear what GPA you need to get into SC. However, the higher your GPA is, the better your chances of getting in. When preparing to apply to college, an enrollment or admissions advisor can help determine if your GPA is competitive enough to be considered.

Although individual degree programs may have additional requirements, SC's admission requirements for first-year distance learners generally include the following materials:

• An application 
• A $25 application fee
• Official high school transcripts or GED
• Official college transcripts, if transferring credits
• Official military transcripts, if applicable
• SAT/ACT score if you want them to be considered

Graduate school applicants must submit the following:

• An application 
• A $25 application fee
• Official college transcripts showing bachelor’s degree completion
• Official military transcripts, if applicable
• A college application essay
• Two letters of recommendation

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