D
Below Average
Score: 44/100
Overall (traditional)
D
Outcome Rating
38/100 · earnings-weighted

University of the Southwest

4-Year Private Non-Profit
📍 Hobbs, New Mexico 88240
ℹ️
Rating Context: ⚠️ Limited Data Available. Some metrics for this institution are incomplete or unavailable, which may affect the overall grade. Consider researching this school directly for the most current information.

Suggested Focus: For this type of institution, we recommend prioritizing the Outcomes Score (C) which measures graduation and job placement rates — the most relevant metrics for career programs.
Graduation Rate: 27%
Outcomes
C
49/100
Affordability
C
45/100
Resources
C
50/100
Experience
C+
60/100
Prestige
F
18/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

1,034
Total Enrollment
27%
Graduation Rate
53%
Retention Rate
21.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
N/A
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Avg Net Price

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at University of the Southwest, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$45,389
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$36,600
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$21,303
Median debt at graduation
17%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
55.2%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 47% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 39th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (NM wage index 0.75). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at University of the Southwest

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$40,282$47,402+0%#368 of 680#109$23,000
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness—$38,080-30%#604 of 610#574$22,250

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The University of the Southwest Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $201,691
  • Avg rent near campus: $1,307/mo — vs ~$444/mo campus room rate
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 88240 (5.1% cap, Hobbs)

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Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $16,470 $16,470
Room $4,000
Board $4,000
Total Cost (On-Campus) $27,670 $27,670

Financial Aid

98%
Receive Any Aid
52%
Receive Pell Grants
62%
Take Out Loans
N/A
Avg Net Price

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services 46 grads/yr Biology/Biological Sciences, General 30 grads/yr Mental Health Counseling/Counselor 24 grads/yr Curriculum and Instruction 24 grads/yr Educational Assessment, Testing, and Measurement 22 grads/yr Exercise Science and Kinesiology 20 grads/yr General Studies 15 grads/yr Business Administration and Management, General 13 grads/yr Special Education and Teaching, General 12 grads/yr Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other 10 grads/yr Psychology, General 9 grads/yr Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies, Other 8 grads/yr Corrections 6 grads/yr Performance and Sport Psychology 6 grads/yr Human Resources Management and Services, Other 5 grads/yr Education, General 5 grads/yr Educational Leadership and Administration, General 5 grads/yr Elementary Education and Teaching 4 grads/yr Marketing/Marketing Management, General 4 grads/yr Religion/Religious Studies 4 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from University of the Southwest's top programs commonly pursue.

Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
$65k/yr 376,300 jobs
Natural sciences managers
$161k/yr 104,300 jobs
Biological scientists, all other
$93k/yr 63,700 jobs
Life scientists, all other
$88k/yr 7,800 jobs
Biological science teachers, postsecondary
$83k/yr 66,000 jobs
Forensic science technicians
$67k/yr 20,700 jobs
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
$65k/yr 1,094,500 jobs
Biological technicians
$52k/yr 82,700 jobs

Student Demographics

1,034
Total Students
65%
Women
87%
Traditional Age (18-24)

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 41%
Hispanic 36%
Black 14%
Asian 2%
Two or More 1%

🏠 Living Arrangements

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 4%
Hybrid (Some Online) 24%
Fully Online 72%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 87%
25-64 (Adult) 12%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at University of the Southwest?
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution. Many schools with open enrollment or specialized programs do not report traditional acceptance rates.
How much does it cost to attend University of the Southwest?
Tuition at University of the Southwest is $16,470 for in-state students and $16,470 for out-of-state students .
What is the graduation rate at University of the Southwest?
The graduation rate at University of the Southwest is 27%. This graduation rate is low, which may reflect the institution's student population, program types, or other factors worth investigating.
Is University of the Southwest a good school?
University of the Southwest has a Repit College Score of 44/100 (Grade: D). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (C): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (C): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (C): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (C+): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (F): Reputation and recognition
Note: As a smaller institution, we recommend focusing on the Outcomes score when evaluating this school.
How many students attend University of the Southwest?
University of the Southwest has a total enrollment of 1,034 students. Most students (87%) are traditional college-age (18-24).

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🎓 Similar Colleges to University of the Southwest

Compare with other 4-Year private non-profit institutions of similar size.

C+
St. John's College
Santa Fe, NM · 447 students
C
Brookline College-Albuquerque
Albuquerque, NM · 492 students
D
Southwestern College
Santa Fe, NM · 249 students
C
Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine
Las Cruces, NM · 687 students
C
Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development
Santa Fe, NM · 831 students
C+
New Mexico Highlands University
Las Vegas, NM · 2,814 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology