The average acceptance rate at SBTS over the past 10 years is 74.94%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 55.87%. Compared to the previous year, it became much more competitive to gain admission to SBTS in 2025.
The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 67.42%, and the 2025 yield is 55.92%. Overall, the yield has decreased by 23.98% from 2015 to 2025.
The number of SBTS applicants increased by 109.34% (316 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 13.94% overall.
The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 55.87%, showing a decreasing selectivity trend. This suggests that SBTS is admitting a higher proportion of applicants, which may indicate either an increase in application quality or a strategic enrollment decision by the institution.
The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 55.92%. The declining yield trend suggests that a lower percentage of admitted students are choosing to enroll at SBTS. This pattern may reflect increased competition from peer institutions, changing student demographics, or shifts in institutional enrollment strategy.
For the 2025 admission cycle, SBTS received approximately 605 applications, admitted 338 students, and enrolled 189 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that SBTS is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.
SBTS 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at SBTS over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 74.94%, while the most recent rate stands at 55.87%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.
For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 55.87%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 74.00% and for women is 76.16%.
The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at SBTS have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 39.17% | 37.05% | 42.04% |
| 2016-17 | 99.62% 60.45% |
99.37% 62.32% |
100.00% 57.96% |
| 2017-18 | 78.11% -21.51% |
77.63% -21.74% |
78.76% -21.24% |
| 2018-19 | 67.30% -10.81% |
65.70% -11.93% |
69.72% -9.04% |
| 2019-20 | 68.00% 0.70% |
68.87% 3.18% |
67.11% -2.60% |
| 2020-21 | 77.26% 9.26% |
71.51% 2.64% |
83.04% 15.93% |
| 2021-22 | 80.00% 2.74% |
82.18% 10.67% |
77.78% -5.26% |
| 2022-23 | 87.23% 7.23% |
85.38% 3.20% |
89.74% 11.97% |
| 2023-24 | 96.89% 9.66% |
96.51% 11.13% |
97.44% 7.69% |
| 2024-25 | 55.87% -41.02% |
55.78% -40.73% |
55.98% -41.45% |
| Average | 74.94% | 74.00% | 76.16% |
SBTS has demonstrated a decline in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has decreased from 73.56% in 2015 to 55.92% in 2025, representing a 23.98% decrease. The 10-year average yield stands at 67.42%, reflecting weakening enrollment performance.
The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at SBTS from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has decreased by 23.98% over this period.
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 73.56% | 72.57% | 74.74% |
| 2016-17 | 57.09% -16.47% |
59.24% -13.33% |
53.85% -20.89% |
| 2017-18 | 67.15% 10.06% |
68.64% 9.41% |
65.17% 11.32% |
| 2018-19 | 94.81% 27.66% |
94.69% 26.05% |
94.95% 29.78% |
| 2019-20 | 70.59% -24.22% |
73.08% -21.61% |
68.00% -26.95% |
| 2020-21 | 66.42% -4.17% |
73.98% 0.91% |
59.86% -8.14% |
| 2021-22 | 67.96% 1.54% |
71.08% -2.90% |
63.03% 3.17% |
| 2022-23 | 58.26% -9.70% |
58.56% -12.52% |
57.86% -5.17% |
| 2023-24 | 62.50% 4.24% |
62.05% 3.48% |
63.16% 5.30% |
| 2024-25 | 55.92% -6.58% |
55.44% -6.61% |
56.55% -6.61% |
| Average | 67.42% | 68.93% | 65.72% |
Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 363, the average number of admitted is 258, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 171.
The number of SBTS applicants increased by 109.34% (316 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 13.94% overall.
The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary from 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 531 | 208 | 153 |
| 2016-17 | 262 -50.66% |
261 25.48% |
149 -2.61% |
| 2017-18 | 265 1.15% |
207 -20.69% |
139 -6.71% |
| 2018-19 | 315 18.87% |
212 2.42% |
201 44.60% |
| 2019-20 | 300 -4.76% |
204 -3.77% |
144 -28.36% |
| 2020-21 | 343 14.33% |
265 29.90% |
176 22.22% |
| 2021-22 | 355 3.50% |
284 7.17% |
193 9.66% |
| 2022-23 | 368 3.66% |
321 13.03% |
187 -3.11% |
| 2023-24 | 289 -21.47% |
280 -12.77% |
175 -6.42% |
| 2024-25 | 605 109.34% |
338 20.71% |
189 8.00% |
| Average | 363 | 258 | 171 |
The following table compares The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary' acceptance rate to similar schools.
| 2024 | 2025 | Change % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary | 96.89% | 55.87% | -42.34% |
| University of the Cumberlands | 98.81% | 71.39% | 38.41% |
| Campbellsville University | 79.74% | 98.33% | -18.91% |
| Lindsey Wilson University | - | - | - |
| Bellarmine University | 86.11% | 93.59% | -7.99% |
| Frontier Nursing University | - | - | - |
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