Southwest Baptist University

With 3 social work graduates in the latest year, Southwest Baptist University runs a small BSW cohort — #563 among 587 programs nationally by size. Worth asking the department how often required practice courses run, since smaller programs sometimes offer them only once a year.

49.3% of students complete their degree, close to the 50.4% median across BSW colleges nationally. Students who finish take a median of 5 years to do it. Unusually, part-time students complete at a higher rate here (54.4%) than full-time students (44.2%) — often a sign of a program built around people already working in the field. Transfer students actually outperform first-time entrants here (60.0% vs 50.3%), which is a good signal if you are coming from a community college.

The average student pays $21,336 a year after grants and scholarships — $3,115 above the $18,221 median across the 18 BSW colleges in Missouri. 44.0% of first-time students receive Pell Grants, a high share that usually reflects a student body with substantial financial need — and a financial aid office practiced at handling it. Net price is the number that matters when comparing programs, not sticker tuition — and because most social work roles are with government or nonprofit employers, graduates are typically eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.