As a transfer student at Southwestern, you’ll have the unique opportunity to join our ranks and further your education in an environment that places a high value on exploration, innovation, and experiences. Your unique perspective and ideas will be valued during class discussions, collaborative research, or other projects.
Within these transfer pages you will find a wealth of great information to help you make that determination. Transferring to Southwestern is as easy as 1, 2, 3!
1. Let’s Start With a Conversation
At Southwestern, it’s all about personal attention. So, before you get too far down the road, you are encouraged to set up a quick Q&A with Scott Sandoval, Director of Transfer Recruitment. You can talk about where you’re coming from, your intended major, any extenuating circumstances, what you’re looking for in a new school, the steps involved in the admission process, and get answers to all your initial questions.
Schedule your 30-minute Q&A appointment or reach out by phone/text at 512.863.1198 or by email if you have a quick question. I look forward to hearing from you!
2. Application Requirements & General Information
Requirements
Students submitting a transfer application must complete a minimum of 12 credits prior to semester of entry (this excludes dual credit, concurrent enrollment, AP or IB exam credit, early college, and courses taken the summer immediately after high school graduation). Southwestern evaluates all candidates using multiple factors to help reach admission decisions. Beyond the admission application, Southwestern requires a written essay, official high school and college transcripts, and a College Conduct Report. International students have additional requirements which can be found here. Instructor evaluations, a personal statement, copies of SAT or ACT score results, and a personal interview are optional.
Please note, Southwestern requires full-time enrollment and offers a traditional learning environment; evening, weekend, or online courses are not offered.
Recommended GPA
While we have no GPA minimums, successful candidates generally earn a 3.0 GPA or better in full-time, college-level work. Developmental courses will not be considered when calculating a GPA.
Credit Evaluation
Once admitted, the Office of the Registrar will complete an official external transfer credit evaluation. Students will receive this information before they are required to submit an enrollment deposit. A minimum of 64 total credits (two years) and 60% of your major must be completed at Southwestern in order to earn a degree. Southwestern accepts a grade of C- or better on all transferable, non-developmental coursework. Online coursework is generally reviewed on a course-by-course basis for transferability. Students needing assistance with coursework selection prior to transferring should contact the Admission Office for guidance.
Housing Policy
Students who have had less than four full-time semesters or less than 48 combined hours in college* will be required to live in University residence halls (if space is available) and must purchase a meal plan from the University’s food service provider, if applicable. Military veterans and students who are 22 years of age or older, married, or have children are exempt from this housing policy. Students who wish to appeal the stated policy based on extenuating circumstances are asked to submit a housing exemption form for committee review.
* This excludes dual credit, concurrent enrollment, AP or IB exam credit, early college, and courses taken the summer immediately after high school graduation.
Partner Institutions
Southwestern has developed specific academic and scholarship associations with community colleges that regularly enroll transfer students at our institution. These partnerships include: Austin Community College, Central Texas College, Collin College, North Central Texas College, Tarrant County College, and Temple College.
Articulation Agreements
Southwestern has articulation agreements with the following community colleges: Austin Community College District, Collin County Community College District, Tarrant County College, and Temple College.
3. Next Steps After Your Offer of Admission
You’re In! And now that you’ve been admitted, there are a few things you should consider prior to enrolling. If you need help navigating this next step, we encourage you to reach out to Scott Sandoval, Director of Transfer Recruitment.