Where Deep Roots Feed Bold Futures
For nearly two centuries, Southwestern University has stood proudly as one of the nation’s oldest and finest liberal arts institutions. When its founders gathered the stones in 1840 to lay the foundation of the first root college, they were inspired not by the simple structures they were building, but by what they symbolized: the promise of a better tomorrow, fulfilled through a liberal arts education that blends the wisdom of the ages, the knowledge of the present, and the ideals of the future.
Southwestern continues this tradition through a blend of the arts, sciences, languages, and humanities, inspiring students to create unique pathways to life passions and fulfilling careers. Like those who came before them, today’s Southwestern students are equipped to adapt to an ever-changing world, applying creative and critical minds to the opportunities and challenges of the 21st century.
Where Ideas Take Shape in the Real World
Southwestern students learn how to adapt, create, collaborate, and view issues from multiple perspectives, preparing for opportunities and careers that have yet to be invented.
Paideia is an ancient Greek concept that describes a well-rounded education. At Southwestern, Paideia is an interdisciplinary approach to education, making connections across disciplines and inspiring students to creatively combine the arts, sciences, humanities, and languages in ways that help them build a more cohesive and comprehensive sense of their world.
- Inquiry-Based Learning encourages a more active classroom with fewer lectures and more hands-on engagement. Students take ownership of their learning while improving their retention of knowledge and skills.
- Innovative Curriculum where no two educational paths look exactly the same. Each student’s experience is personalized, allowing the freedom to explore interests and cultivate passions while developing a deep and meaningful understanding of a chosen major.
- Creative Expression thrives at Southwestern, one of only a handful of undergraduate liberal arts universities that support a separate school of fine arts. Students work closely with award-winning faculty in art history, music, studio art, and theater and have many opportunities to display their work and perform in a variety of settings, including international competitions.
- Small class sizes at Southwestern University mean you won’t find 300-seat classrooms. Instead, you’ll study in intimate settings with a student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1. This environment fosters active learning, encouraging you to engage deeply, discuss passionately, and debate thoughtfully.
- Our nationally recognized faculty are experts in their fields, but they also serve as caring mentors. They’ll work alongside you, offering invaluable advice, guidance, and real-world experience. These close mentoring relationships are integral to a Southwestern education, helping you carve out a distinctive path to success.
Life-Changing Experiences
Immersive experiences are a hallmark of the Southwestern Experience. Students take a Paideia approach to a variety of learning experiences both on and off campus, making meaningful connections that will inform life and career choices.
Undergraduate Research
Students apply classroom learning to real-time research, closely collaborating with top faculty in making original contributions to their fields of study. Students hone their problem-solving skills while learning how new knowledge is created and promoted.
Internships
Through experiences in a variety of career settings, students apply classroom learning to the working world, honing their interests and passions while gaining a better understanding of career options and opportunities.
Study Abroad
Southwestern offers hundreds of study abroad opportunities, including faculty-led programs, exchange programs, and programs hosted by third-party providers. Students of all majors can study abroad for a summer, a semester, or a year and earn academic credit while immersing themselves in another culture.
Community-Engaged Learning
Through community-engaged learning, students apply their knowledge to address a community need, issue, or problem. Whether volunteering in a dual-language classroom at an elementary school, assisting adults with functional disabilities at a vocational center, or helping a group with habitat restoration, students help nonprofits and other service organizations build capacity while learning more about what it means to contribute to community and societal needs.
- More than 73 percent of Southwestern students participate in an internship, field experience, student teaching, or a clinical placement.
- Nearly 55 percent hold a formal leadership role in a student organization.
- One-third of Southwestern students collaborate with a faculty member on a research project.
Where the World is At Your Doorstep
Southwestern’s location in the Austin metro offers the best of two worlds—a campus situated in an idyllic and historic college town where students immediately feel at home, yet minutes away from a world destination city renowned for its booming tech and creative industries, live music, iconic festivals, and famous BBQ.
Georgetown’s historic city center is within walking distance of campus, providing convenient dining and shopping options for students. Featuring Victorian architecture and unique stores, the charming town square is both a popular tourist attraction and a cultural and entertainment destination with regular events, festivals, and celebrations. Although Georgetown is the fastest-growing city in the U.S., it continues to offer a friendly and laid-back vibe.
From the popular Blue Hole swimming hole to the expansive Garey Park, Georgetown offers a variety of recreational opportunities and miles of natural trails. For those wanting to get a little farther out of town, the surrounding Texas Hill Country is full of natural beauty and wonder, from crystal-clear rivers to rugged hills thickly forested in live oaks, pecans, and other native species.
#1
fastest growing city in the nation (Georgetown, Texas)
75,420
Total population of Georgetown
6,000+
Businesses that call Georgetown home
40+
Parks throughout Georgetown
16+
Miles of hike and bike trails
Austin is a global destination for tech companies and the creative economy, providing students with unparalleled access to internships, research opportunities, and jobs. Tech giants in our “Silicon Hills” include Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Google, Samsung, HP, IBM, Oracle, and Tesla.
Seeing Green
It’s not only the Academic Mall that’s green here; our philosophy and even some of our buildings are, too—the Wilhelmina Cullen Welcome Center and the Prothro Center for Lifelong Learning are both LEED certified, and we will seek LEED certification on two new multi-use residential buildings now under construction. Southwestern was the second university in Texas to sign the Talloires Declaration, a formal commitment to sustainability in higher education, and in 2009 we also signed the College and University Presidents Climate Commitment.
- Southwestern was the first university in Texas to change to 100% wind energy.
- Named one of the top 50 Green Colleges.
- Water used in landscaping and on athletic fields has been recycled since 1972.
- Certified by the national Xerces Society as a Bee Campus USA.
- Recognized by Tree Campus Higher Education (National Arbor Day Foundation).
Where Campus Life is Boundless
The beautiful Southwestern campus encompasses more than 700 acres, making it bigger in area than Disneyland. But it is also easy to get around campus on one of our signature Pirate Bikes.
Outdoor Adventure
Southwestern Outdoor Adventure provides opportunities to explore nature and develop outdoor skills in a fun and safe environment. You will have the chance to hike, backpack, camp, rock climb, cave, mountain bike, kayak, and paddle board throughout Texas and beyond! The SU Outdoor Adventure Program offers day trips as well as multi-day adventures for the Fall and Spring semesters.
Athletics (Go, Pirates!)
Southwestern student-athletes, about one-third of the student body, compete in NCAA Division III basketball, cross-country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, and track and field for men and women; men’s baseball and football; and women’s softball and volleyball. Our teams are members of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) with Austin College, Centenary College, Colorado College, University of Dallas, Johnson & Wales, St. Thomas, Schreiner University, Texas Lutheran University, and Trinity University. Our football team is an affiliate member of the Southern Athletic Conference (SAA), competing with Birmingham–Southern College, Centre College, Hendrix College, Millsaps College, Oglethorpe University, Rhodes College, Sewanee: The University of the South, Trinity University, and NCAA Division III independent Berry College.
Greek Life
Southwestern is home to six national sororities and four national fraternities. Founded on the principles of academic achievement, leadership, community service, and life-long friendships, our Greek community has nearly 500 members—approximately one-third of the university’s student population.
Community
Students come to Southwestern for many reasons, but all of them will tell you about the warm welcome they receive when they come to campus, and how quickly it feels like a home away from home. We asked graduating students to tell us the best things about their experience at SU. Here is what some had to say:
- “The ability to gain a wide variety of in depth experience that is only possible because of the intimate institution that truly prioritizes their students.”
- “Getting to know my professors personally, the beautiful campus, being able to pursue my own interests in classes and out.”
- “The atmosphere created by the intimate community which made me capable of not only meeting my best friends but feeling a part of something bigger.”
- “Too many good points to talk about but joining all the organizations that I did helped me to grow into the person I am and meet inspiring people who helped me to become a leader.”
- “It doesn’t matter your background, status, position, purpose at Southwestern, or anything else, as the sense of community is very strong, and the personal friendships and relationships that can be formed feel unlimited.”
- “One of the best things about Southwestern is faculty. Coupled with the small faculty to student ratio in classes, I got the chance to connect with my professors. I have learned so much from them, in and out of the classroom. I appreciate their dedication and support for students that I personally believe go above and beyond compared to other schools.”
- “As I explored schools outside of Southwestern for research and graduate programs, I recognized that my SU experience helped me to clearly stand out, and that was in part to the time and help my professors gave me.”
700
The number of acres that make up the Southwestern campus, making it bigger than Disneyland.
10+
Outdoor adventure trips each academic year
60+
Student organizations
37%
Of students are student-athletes
10
National sororities and fraternities
Where Today’s Education Meets Tomorrow’s Careers
At Southwestern, students learn to think critically and creatively, preparing them for any job—including those that have yet to be invented. Rather than training students for a single career, Southwestern equips students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in any industry, including fast-growing fields such as technology, data science, medicine, and alternative energy.
95%
Of the class of 2023 were employed or in graduate school within 10 months of graduation
90%
Of students who graduate from SU do so in four years
71 Sumners Scholars
23 Fulbright Scholars
18 Kemper Scholars
41 Gilman Scholars
Graduate and Professional Schools Attended by Alumni
Law School
Duke University
Emory University
Harvard Law School
Northeastern University
University of Southern California
University of Texas
Medical School
Baylor University
University of Texas Health Science Center
University of Texas Medical Branch
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Washington University
Graduate School
Columbia University
Dartmouth College
Rice University
University of California, Berkeley
University of Chicago
University of Pennsylvania
Where We are Building a Better Tomorrow
The Tradition Continues
Southwestern is growing within and beyond its historic campus, revitalizing existing buildings and constructing new facilities that will connect to a remarkable new project: a planned mixed-use community that celebrates Southwestern’s liberal arts culture. It will be a place of opportunity, learning, innovation, and leadership, a national model for how the liberal arts can drive and foster business innovation, cultural enrichment, and sustainable development.
$120 Million
In building projects over the next five years
560+
Acres of land adjacent to campus to be developed into a sustainable liberal arts community
Silicon Hills
In the heart of one of the hottest tech economies in the country.
Countless
Opportunities to expand and enhance the student experience