SAGU history

The third, which was operated as Southern Bible College in connection with the Richey Evangelistic Temple, began in 1931 at Goose Creek, Texas (now Baytown), in 1931.

The first, known as Southwestern Bible School, was established in 1927 in Enid, Oklahoma, under the leadership of the Reverend P. C. Nelson. It was started by Reverend J. T. Little in Trinity Tabernacle and moved to Houston in 1933.

The Bible school division of Shield of Faith Bible Institute was moved to Fort Worth in 1935.

In 1940, a merger resulted in Southern Bible Institute, moving to Fort Worth.

The school in Enid merged with South Central in 1941, at which time the name was changed to Southwestern Bible Institute.

SAGU has occupied its lovely 70-acre campus since 1943.

During the 1944–45 term, a junior college curriculum was added to the school's program.

Several districts of the Assemblies of God joined together in ownership of the school in 1954: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, North Texas, Oklahoma, South Texas and West Texas.

In 1963, the upper two years of the college were renamed Southwestern College of the Bible.

In 1968, the separation of the divisions of the college was made more complete, and the Junior College was designated Southwestern Junior College of the Assemblies of God.

In 1969, the Rocky Mountain District, composed of Colorado and Utah, was admitted to the Region.

The Mississippi District was then added to the Region in 1979.

In 1980, the Rocky Mountain District voted to withdraw from the Southwestern Region and to remain neutral.

Southwestern Assemblies of God University was founded in 1927. It first offered distance learning courses in 1983.

In 1984 the School of Distance Education was established providing new educational opportunities for remote learning.

In December 1994, the Board of Regents unanimously approved the name change to Southwestern Assemblies of God University and authorized the institution to develop graduate programs.

The graduate school went operational in 1996 and with this change, Southwestern more accurately reflected its purpose and mission as a university of theological and professional studies, anchored to Holy Scripture.

In fall 2003, there were 510 students enrolled in distance learning courses.

In 2004, the University restructured its academic organization to recognize two colleges under the University umbrella: the College of Bible and Church Ministries, and the College of Arts and Professions.

In 2013 the University adjusted its college identities again, dividing into the College of Bible and Church Ministries, the College of Business and Education, and the College of Music and Communication Arts.

In 2015 SAGU was granted an exception to Title IX allowing it to discriminate against LGBT students for religious reasons.

In 2016 the organization Campus Pride ranked the college among the worst schools in Texas for LGBT students.

The first earned doctorate was awarded in 2019.