Rate this HBCU Day 55: Southwestern Christian College

[DrBanneker]

We last profiled the formidable Jackson State University which received an average score of 7.9.

See the updated leaderboard here

Today we cover another small HBCU in the Christian tradition, Southwestern Christian College. Founded in affiliation with the Churches of Christ in 1948, it was designed to train Black clergy for the Churches of Christ (a nationally integrated congregation) and was founded by G.P. Bowser, a theologian and preacher in the church who originally trained at the defunct AME theological school Roger Williams College.

Southwestern Christian College (SWCC) is formally a junior college that primarily offers Associate Degrees in liberal arts as well as bachelors degrees in Biblical studies. It survived a brush with death and closure in 2013 but is currently still open and has around 100 students each year. For a small school it actually has a sizable athletic program with mens and womens basketball, volleyball, and track. One alum (see below) became an Olympic gold medallist.

Founder G.P. Bowser



Founded: 1948

City, State: Terrell, TX

Type: 4-year, primarily associate's, Private not-for-profit (Churches of Christ affiliated)

Nickname: Rams

Enrollment and percent Black enrollment: 92 (all undergraduate), 95% Black

Part-time student percentage: 12%

First Generation Student Percentage: 39%

Percentage of students from households under $30k/over $100k: 63% / N/A

Out of State Percentage: 38% (Florida, Oklahoma, and Illinois are the top states)

Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 15:1

Admissions Acceptance Rate: Open enrollment

4-yr/6-yr graduation rates: 11% / N/A

Transfer out rate: N/A

Male/Female percentages (Female:Male Ratio): 62% male/ 38% female (0.61:1)

Tuition: $12k

Median Federal Debt After Graduation: N/A

Median Parent PLUS Loans After Graduation: N/A

Median Earning 10-Years after 10 years from freshman year: $26k

Median Earnings for specific majors after 3 years after graduation:
N/A

Top Majors by Degrees:
Associates Degree, Biblical Studies

Endowment: N/A

Alumni Engagement: N/A

Athletic Conference: National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) (Div 1)

Mascot: Rams

Notable Alumni:

Molefi Kete Asante - noted Afrocentric scholar, founding editor of the Journal of Black Studies

Note: Asante did not graduate from SWCC but transferred Oklahoma Christian College where he got his B.A.; however he notes a Nigerian student we met at SWCC was what first inspired him to study and visit Africa.

Michael Mathieu - Olympic gold medal winning Bahamian sprinter; went to SWCC on a track scholarship

Main Campus

Gymnasium

SWCC Choir

Miss SWCC

@ab.aspectus @Originalman @#1 pick @Ziggiy @SupaVillain @Tug life @Idaeo @get these nets @MostReal @Bryan Danielson @Rollie Forbes @Sonic Boom of the South @staticshock @Charlie Hustle @BigAggieLean. @Optimus Prime @How Sway? @DropTopDoc @Johnny seawolf

 

[DropTopDoc]

That track team got a couple winners

Man it’s got to be wild trying to keep an almost exclusively Bible school open, but more power to them

 

[staticshock]

Mane you teaching me HBCUs I didn’t even know existed


Don’t know anything about this particular school but I wish nothing but the best for them

 

[get these nets]

Great profile. Had never heard of the school.
An academic giant and Gold medal winner being tied to such a tiny school means they're punching above their weight class.

Was surprised that they field full sports teams with 100 students. Look at the size of the basketball team roster. I count 35+ guys. A third of the school is on the team.
I figure that they are a feeder program for D1 sports programs in the state. Their Olympic medalist went on to run for Texas Tech.
I'm guessing the out of state students are in states where Churches of Christ denomination has a strong presence, and they recruit children of congregants.

 

[DrBanneker]

Look at the size of the basketball team roster. I count 35+ guys. A third of the school is on the team.

You're right, I didn't catch that

 

[DrBanneker]

I'm guessing the out of state students are in states where Churches of Christ denomination has a strong presence, and they recruit children of congregants.

Likely. In Molefi Asante's bio, it mentions he attended SWCC first because he went to a Churches of Christ affiliated boarding school in Tennessee for HS.

 

[AggiePride336.]

92 students, and the school has a men/women’s basketball team, track and field, choir, etc. Pretty cool and unique.

Never knew this school existed. Learning about HBCUs I didn’t know existed

 

[Charlie Hustle]

Great find OP. Thanks for shedding some light on lesser known HCBU's