Reviews

I have been able to learn quite a bit in the past year that I have attended here. The wonderful thing about SBU is that the faculty care about you learning about life, and not just their subjects.

I absolutely love it at SBU!! Both students and staff are wonderful and tons of fun! There is a higher concentration of warm, friendly and caring people here, than I have ever seen anywhere else. It's summer vacation right now, and I have never missed being in school so much in my entire life because it's so wonderful there!

For a private college, SBU offers great programs for a relatively small price, which is why it has been named in America’s 100 Best College Buys® and schools with Americas Best College Scholarships®. I personally think SBU is still fairly expensive, at $22,000 per year for tuition, fees, room and board; however, if you bear in mind that it is a private school, this is a very affordable price.

Be ready to study, but also to have the time of your life! Don't be afraid to make new friends, because the friendships I've made here have been very deep, and have developed quickly.

Being a Christian college, SBU is a wonderful school for students wishing to deepen their relationships with God, and see how everything they learned in church applies to real life. If you are interested in missions or ministry, this is also and excellent school for you!
SBU is not limited to only Christian students, however. It also has excellent programs in education, business and accounting, and biology and physical therapy.

As a double major I began taking the maximum load possible my second semester of freshman year. One of my majors is Graphic Design and the other is General Music. Both require a rather large number of pre-requisites and I was kind of overwhelmed by the road ahead of me. To tell you the truth, it still seems overwhelming at times because I'm only one year into school and about to start my second and two majors can really take it out of you. I'm even taking summer courses so that I can try to complete both degree programs within four years. But every single teacher I have there is understanding of what I'm trying to accomplish. Every single class I have taken here has been informative and relevant to the degree program to which it applied and up to date! I ended the year with a 3.7 GPA and I know that the knowledge I gained from the year will carry over into the next three years and inevitably into my career!

Part of Southwest Baptist University's credo is that they are caring. This is a completely true statement. I am a rather shy person at first and I always felt welcome every time I came to visit before school started last year. The students waved to me. The ambassadors were warm and friendly. Several times, doors were opened for me by gentlemanly students here. The teachers make you feel comfortable and are very engaging. Yes it is a small school and yes it is in a tiny community, but the education and the social experiences you have here are worth it! I'm making memories and gaining to knowledge to last a life time! I love the chapel services. I love the Thursday night worship service in the tiny chapel in the middle of campus. Assassins week was a blast! And all of the student faculty (RA's, etc.) really make an effort to make you feel like you're a part of a family. By the way, they have an amazing city park in Bolivar. Seriously, it's gorgeous in summer and they decorate it up really well in the winter. You are going to enjoy it a lot.

Southwest Baptist University is a private university and therefore the price to go there looks steeper than your average state school. Coming in as a freshman last fall, the price tag was a whopping $23,000. But amazingly, the cost of my education was far less than that of some of my friends at state schools! SBU has fantastic scholarship programs. The scholarships you get for your high school academics alone make a huge dent. On top of that, I had a church matching scholarship, a dependent of minister scholarship, and music scholarship for both flute and voice. By the time it was all said and done, I only had a couple thousand more to come up with on my own. I'm so glad I was able to come here! I'm getting a great education and having a wonderful college experience and its very affordable too!

I only have a few tips for prospective students:
1) Bring rain boots and a large umbrella. You wouldn't believe how much it rains in the spring. I thought I was living in Seattle there for a while!
2) You may want to allot some money for you to buy staple food items to keep in your dorm room. SBU does a pretty good job with their food at Mellars (the cafeteria) but it is cafeteria food and you get bored with it after a while. Don't rely on the wide variety of fast food restaurants that are conveniently nearby. Make use of the kitchen available in every dorm.
3) Get to know your professors outside of class. They are wonderful people and have lots of things to teach you within and outside of the classroom walls.
4) You don't need to bring your whole closet with you the first day. You've got time to go home and get the things you discover you still need before the weather becomes too dramatic to handle. I learned this the hard way.
5) Don't date anyone the first couple of months. This is the time to make friends.
6) Bring a bike/longboard/skateboard/rollerskates(?) because there will be mornings you run late.
7) Keep your grades up. You don't want to lose your scholarships.
8) Second semester is tougher than first semester in every single way possible.
9) Call whoever helped you make it to college, at least once a week that first semester. They REALLY want to hear how you are.
10) You are about to get a whole ton of freedom with your time. Don't abuse it. Don't sleep in until 2pm (missing your first three classes). Don't be stupid.

This school is great for all types. There's something here for everyone. There's a friend here for everyone. It's a small school so you get that community feel without having to know every single person on the campus. Everyone fits in somewhere and some people fit in everywhere. It's wonderful! I love the atmosphere. I'm sure you will too.

It is a great place to meet new people and connect with the community.
The courses are challenging but will help you in the long run.
They have a variety of majors offered.

If you attend, get connected and don't be afraid to get out of your comfort zone.

It is challenging but I guarantee anyone could pass it as long as they applied themselves

Dorms are a little out of date, but they are not to bad.

Food is also not to bad. It could be a lot better, but it is a school. School lunches anywhere are normally not the best.

There is a lot of things to do for fun. There are clubs, intramural sports, University sports, and many other events on campus weekly.

It is a little pricey but the degree you earn will be put to good use.

We have spirit chapel where each dorm puts together a skit and acts it out. All of them are usually hilarious.

Great for any kind of student that loves God, and wants to have a good time while in college.

If you can think of a club, they probably have it or can make it.

Campus security always on the lookout and constantly walking and driving the perimeter and throughout the campus.

It is truly a Christ-centered, caring, academic community.
It is a beautiful campus, always striving to be better.
Professors truly care about you as a person.

Come to as many visit days as you can.
Participate in Bearcat Days.
Come to at least one home basketball game.

Professors expect a lot out of their students academically, but it is worth it.

The dorms are great, as long as you get to know the people on your hall and get involved with dorm activities and such.

The food is only decent, but there are always a lot of choices in the cafeteria.

There is usually always something going on around campus, whether it's a game of sand volleyball or disc golf, or something put on by the student association. As long as you stay informed, there will always be fun things to do! Also, taking road trips to Springfield with your friends is fun!

It is pretty expensive, but you really can't put a price on the quality of community you get. Being surrounded by college-age Christians is truly a blessing, and having professors that pray before class and who are willing to pray for you as a student is priceless.

Bed races.

outgoing, not so outgoing, artsy, musical, computer smart, science/math people, business people, Bible people...ANYONE!

There are so many options, you are bound to find something that tickles your fancy.

non-existent.

Top notch. I accidentally ran a stop sign once and got a ticket about five seconds later. They're on top of their game.

I recently completed my first semester at SBU. The instructors take an interest in your learning, they don't act like teaching is just a job. I would recommend SBU to anyone looking to further his education.

Like any college or school, you have to study to get good grades.

SBU's curriculum is challenging, you earn what you put forth.

I personally do not know, I live local. Dorm rooms are offered though to those in need.

Unknown, I live local and not on campus.

Many things that one is accustomed to in larger cities.

I am really glad I chose SBU. Class sizes are smaller and instructors are hands on.

I go to the affiliate campus in Springfield so unsure what the main campus has to offer.

SNA- Student Nurses Association at the Springfield Campus. Bolivar has many more clubs and activities.

Unknown, possibly at the main campus in Bolivar.

I know their is security at both campus's.

There are many academic opportunities at Southwest Baptist. Specifically, I want to talk about the Dutile Honors Program, which has provided me personally with many opportunities. As part of the honors program, I have to upgrade a certain amount of my general education courses into an honors version. For example, instead of taking Introduction to Economics, I will be taking Honors Economics. These honors courses are not designed to be filled with busywork to make them seem more difficult. Rather, they encourage us to think critically about the subject.

I really enjoy SBU, and the dorm life is great. While we do not have fraternities and sororities, people in each dorm building become very close. I have made some very good friendships with other girls who live in my hall. One thing that we do together as a dorm is we have dorm activities such as joining a coffee house night or watching a movie. Each year at Homecoming, we show off our dorm pride by participating in the dorm competitions. My favorite of the dorm competitions is the Bed Races. That is an event in which each dorm building has a representative team. The team pushes one of its members on a wheeled bed as quickly as they can. The winning team gets points, and the team with the most points after all of the Homecoming events are over gets bragging rights and a prize.

SBU is a private Christian school. It has quality academics paired with fun activities, Christian development, and nice dorms. That being said, its sticker price is going to a bit higher than an in-state public school. However, it offers many types of merit scholarships, both for freshmen and transfer students. These scholarships can bring down the expected cost. Even if you are not sure about paying for the school’s cost, apply anyway and see how the scholarships come out.

Be excited about starting college because it is a wonderful time of transition and personal growth. Don’t sweat the small things before you get there. On the more practical side, if you are living in a dorm, you might want to invest in some under-the-bed storage units. Those really come in handy.

SBU is good for Christian students who want to be grown spiritually and academically. The school will challenge them as it prepares them for their career. However, it’s not only Christians that come here because the school is welcome for anyone to come.

As a biology/pre-med major at SBU, I have been taught by excellent professors both in my field of study as well as the general education courses I have taken. I have learned life lessons as well as a great deal of knowledge from my classes.

The faculty and students are very friendly and encouraging. I have been able to excel in my studies due to their willingness to help and genuine concern for the success of their students.

SBU is a private school, and therefore can be very expensive. However, the financial aid has been very generous and the scholarships requirements have recently been changed to allow more students to become eligible.

Take advantage of SBU's events for prospective students, namely Bearcat Days and Fall Visitation. This will give you an opportunity to meet with faculty and determine if the atmosphere fits your particular needs and preferences.

Because SBU is a Christian institution, students of that faith may feel most comfortable there. Also, there are many opportunities for those who would like to major in Biblical studies or similar disciplines. However, SBU is a great school for those interested in other fields of study as each department has excellent professors.

Southwest Baptist University - Mercy School of Nursing in Springfield, MO has been a wonderful learning experience with very dedicated instructors. The nursing program is very organized with hands on training and valuable life-skills. The program has given me an opportunity to grow both scholastically but also personally in my journey.

Be organized. Utilize your resources including study groups with peers and you tube videos. Don't give up your dream just strive harder.

Nursing school is not easy. It is basically a 24/7 job but the divedends are priceless.

Workout and eat healthy to keep immune system up. I can't afford to miss a day of school or a day of studying. Enjoy the breaks when you get them.

Southwest Baptist is reasonable priced as far as schools go. There are opportunities for tuition reimbursement, scholarships, and grants.

Dedicated to becoming exceptional nurses.

There is the Fellowship Of Nursing and Student Nurses Association.

Fairly good being a very small school.

Southwest Baptist University is a great place to get an education. So far in my two years at SBU I have learned so much and have been challenged by every single one of my professors. I believe this university is preparing me to be a better person and future educator.

If you are a prospective student I would definitely suggest going to see the university. As soon as I saw the campus, met some of my professors and adviser, I knew it was the place I wanted to be.

Academics at SBU can be tough at times. There is an attendance policy and because of that you are expected to show up (outside of sickness or emergency) and take the class seriously.

Dorm life at SBU is great! There are quiet hours which really help for studying. The atmosphere in the lobby is always fantastic and throughout the year we do dorm traditions that are always a blast.

Like any school the cafeteria is a place that can be cherished and criticized all at the same time. I've had other schools food and have thought to myself that Meller's Dining Hall was a great place to eat in comparison. There are the good days and bad days but all of the staff at the cafeteria care about the students and are continually making changes to better the food they are providing.

Bolivar is a great little town to live in. Although it sucks at first you soon realize that there is a lot to do around the area. There are lakes, bike trails, parks, etc. And the best part, Springfield is close by!

The experience at SBU is unlike that of a public university and because of that the price is different. SBU does give a hefty amount of scholarship funding and financial aid. I believe the cost is worth it!

One of my favorite traditions is homecoming and Christmas week. SBU goes all out for both of these! It is a week jam packed with activities and fun.

SBU is a great place for students who are looking towards academics and getting a great education. There are rules to follow but because of those rules we as students are able to stay focused on our goals and not get caught up distractions.

There is always an activity going on at SBU. You can literally be involved in any of the clubs without question! SBU is really focused on making a difference in the community and the world. One of my favorite things about SBU is the mission trips that are available to students.

Campus Safety is so important at SBU. The town of Bolivar itself is one of the safest places in Missouri. SBU has campus security who are continually out patrolling the area and making sure that the students are safe.

According to their numbers, 95% of SBU seniors pass the MFAT exam (about business)

These are some of the places to live: Beasley, Landen, Leslie, Maupin, Memorial, Meyer, Plaster, Woody/Gott, and Casebolt Apartments (for upperclassmen). They encourage students not to stay locked up in their dorm rooms, but to get involved.

There are 20, 15, 10 meal plans. The 20 meal plan includes $50 bearcat bonus bucks.