The test is designed to reflect candidates’ analytical thinking and provides a consistent admission requirement by which to assess applicants.

Each applicant needs to take the MAT or GRE regardless of experience or education.

SWU must receive your score before you can be considered for admission. We recommend completing the test at least 3 weeks prior to the admission deadline in order to ensure a timely receipt of your scores. Testing centers offer a variety of dates to take the exam. Please check with your local testing center to find a date that is convenient for you.

SWU requires a minimum score of 350 and cannot be more than 5 years old.

SWU wants to ensure that the score is an accurate representation of the student. Pearson Assessments also only keeps MAT scores on file for five years from the testing date.

You can find the equivalency table here (PDF).

The MAT website provides a study guide as well as practice tests that should help prepare you for the test.

The cost of the MAT differs depending on the test location, generally ranging from $75-$100.

You must register for the MAT by calling your local testing center.

The MAT consists of 120 partial analogies and allows 60 minutes for completion.

The MAT can be taken at any supported testing center.

If you have not taken the test yet, you can choose for your scores to be sent to SWU at the time of testing. If you have already taken your test, you can order an official MAT transcript to be sent to SWU. You can send the transcript to the following address:

Southern Wesleyan University
Online Admissions
PO Box 1020
Central, SC 29630

• Submission of a completed application
• $25 application fee
• An earned master degree in education or related field from an institution that is fully accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or a comparable degree from an international institution with a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4-point scale. Masters in related field must be approved by the School of Education Graduate Review Committee.
• Be in good standing at all previous institutions of higher learning. Students who, for academic or disciplinary reasons, are not eligible to register in the college or university last attended will not be admitted for graduate study.
• A score on a nationally standardized graduate admissions test, the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). Test scores must be no more than five years old. The requirements are a minimum MAT score of 350. An equivalent Graduate Record Exam score will be accepted. MAT FAQs below.
• Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended

• Submission of two professional references with one of the references from current supervisor
• Resume
• One page letter to the School of Education Graduate Admissions Committee explaining why this particular degree would be important to the applicant’s career.
• International transcripts must be evaluated by an approved agency. American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers can do this evaluation, and National Association of Credential Evaluation Services provides a list of approved agencies. From the NACES list, Southern Wesleyan recommends using World Education Services or Josef Silny.
• Applicants for whom English is a second language must meet the official TOEFL score of at least 550 (paper test), 213 (computer test), or demonstrate equivalent evidence of proficiency in English, such as an overall band score of 6.0 or higher on the IELTS test.

If you have any questions regarding admission requirements for your degree program, please contact an admissions representative at 877-644-5557 or .

Southern Wesleyan does not advise students on what will or will not be accepted by their state departments of education. Students are encouraged to contact their state department of education to ensure the degree offered by Southern Wesleyan University meets state requirements. Additionally, Southern Wesleyan cannot determine credentials for individuals desiring to teach at the collegiate level as this varies by accreditor and is based on each individual's collegiate credit history.

Commencement ceremonies are held on SWU’s campus twice a year in May and December. Online graduates who complete their degree program of study at the conclusion of the summer semester will have their degrees conferred at the December graduation. Letters of completion are available to graduates who wish to confirm to their employers that they have completed their degree program upon request through the Office of Academic Records ( ). We look forward to celebrating with you soon!