University of the Southwest Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
University of the Southwest is a private research university in Hobbs, New Mexico, enrolling about 346 students. University of the Southwest awards degrees and certificates tracked in federal College Scorecard and IPEDS reporting. Published tuition for full-time study is about $16,670 per year before aid; net price varies by family income. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $45,389 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $16,670
- 2024 Average Net Price: $16,927 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 346 92.8% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 16.98%
- Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
- First-Generation Students: 46.9%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition decrease of 3.1% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 0.8% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 100.0%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 385
- Room & Board: $8,100 annual estimate
University of the Southwest: what the data shows
Common questions about University of the Southwest, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is University of the Southwest?
University of the Southwest is located in Hobbs, NM (ZIP 88240).
NCES locale classification: Town remote.
Is University of the Southwest public or private?
University of the Southwest is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does University of the Southwest cost?
Published tuition: $16,670.
Average net price after aid: $16,927.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $15,384 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $14,090 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $15,943 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $20,077 |
| $110,001+ | $21,985 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $66,680.
How big is University of the Southwest?
Total enrollment: 346 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 385 students.
Graduate enrollment: 784 students.
About 93% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at University of the Southwest?
150%-time completion rate: 16.98%.
First-year retention: 55.1%.
What do graduates of University of the Southwest earn?
Median earnings: $36,600 six years after entry; $45,389 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $21,303.
55.19% of students receive Pell grants.
What is University of the Southwest known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services (46 completions)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General (30 completions)
- Curriculum and Instruction (24 completions)
- Mental Health Counseling/Counselor (24 completions)
- Educational Assessment, Testing, and Measurement (22 completions)
- Exercise Science and Kinesiology (20 completions)
- General Studies (15 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (13 completions)
- Special Education and Teaching, General (12 completions)
- Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other (10 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is University of the Southwest a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 16.98%; median earnings $45,389 at 10 years; net price $16,927. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$16,670
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at University of the Southwest was $16,670.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$16,927
2024 Value
In 2024 University of the Southwest had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $16,927.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$67,708 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$16,927 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$66,680 4-Year Tuition
$8,100 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$24,770 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$99,080 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for University of the Southwest.
Financial Aid by Income Level
55.19% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
64.09% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at University of the Southwest was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for University of the Southwest in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $14,280 | $14,280 | $15,522 |
| 2014 | $14,616 | $14,616 | $14,024 |
| 2015 | $14,616 | $14,616 | $18,883 |
| 2016 | $15,456 | $15,456 | $19,725 |
| 2017 | $16,200 | $16,200 | $15,761 |
| 2018 | $16,200 | $16,200 | $16,748 |
| 2019 | $16,200 | $16,200 | $20,850 |
| 2020 | $16,200 | $16,200 | $17,336 |
| 2021 | $16,200 | $16,200 | $18,189 |
| 2022 | $17,200 | $17,200 | $19,808 |
| 2023 | $16,670 | $16,670 | $19,969 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
University of the Southwest reported total enrollment of about 346 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 53% male and 47% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Hispanic or Latino (64.7%), White (16.2%), and Race/ethnicity unknown (8.1%). About 55.19% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 46.9% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
92.8% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at University of the Southwest in 2024 is 346 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 385 students. Graduate enrollment is about 784 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
55.1%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is Hispanic or Latino at 64.7%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
13.21% 100% Completion Time
16.98% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 13.21% of students graduating from University of the Southwest completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services: 22% male / 78% female
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 27% male / 73% female
- Curriculum and Instruction: 21% male / 79% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for University of the Southwest.
Return on Investment
$21,303 Median Student Debt
$45,389 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
46.93% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
570.36% Return on Investment
4.7 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for University of the Southwest.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 35 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services: 46 completions
2. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 30 completions
3. Curriculum and Instruction: 24 completions
4. Mental Health Counseling/Counselor: 24 completions
5. Educational Assessment, Testing, and Measurement: 22 completions
6. Exercise Science and Kinesiology: 20 completions
7. General Studies: 15 completions
8. Business Administration and Management, General: 13 completions
9. Special Education and Teaching, General: 12 completions
Most popular programs at University of the Southwest.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for University of the Southwest graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for University of the Southwest from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 100.0%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $3,737
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $4,066
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
University of the Southwest is a private non-profit institution located in Hobbs, NM, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services, Biology/Biological Sciences, General, Curriculum and Instruction. Enrollment is approximately 346 students. Student body composition includes Hispanic or Latino (64.7%), White (16.2%), Race/ethnicity unknown (8.1%). The 150%-time completion rate is 16.98%. Approximately 55.19% of students receive Pell Grants. About 46.9% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
Location
Hobbs, NM 88240
Region: Southwest
Insights and Analysis
Graduation Rate Considerations: The 16.98% graduation rate at University of the Southwest falls below the national average. Prospective students should carefully consider factors such as academic preparation, support services, and career outcomes when evaluating this institution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is University of the Southwest located?
University of the Southwest is located in Hobbs, NM.
How much does University of the Southwest cost?
Reported tuition is $16,670 and average net price is $16,927 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $8,100 annually.
What is the student body demographics at University of the Southwest?
University of the Southwest reports undergraduate enrollment of about 385 students, Hispanic or Latino (64.7%), White (16.2%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend University of the Southwest?
About 46.9% of students at University of the Southwest are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of University of the Southwest earn?
Median earnings are $36,600 six years after entry and $45,389 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at University of the Southwest?
The 150%-time completion rate is 17.0% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do University of the Southwest students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $21,303.
Is University of the Southwest public or private?
University of the Southwest is a private nonprofit institution located in Hobbs, NM.
Is University of the Southwest an HBCU?
No. University of the Southwest is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is University of the Southwest a tribal college?
No. University of the Southwest is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is University of the Southwest a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—University of the Southwest reports 64.7% Hispanic enrollment share.
Is University of the Southwest religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for University of the Southwest in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- New Mexico college costs
- New Mexico colleges by ROI
- Southwest regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in New Mexico
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.