University of the Southwest
Hobbs, NM 88240
About University of the Southwest
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 findings
- University of the Southwest charges about 0.6× the national private non-profit median tuition ($16,670).
- Versus the New Mexico median, sticker tuition is about 7.3×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 16.98%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $45,389.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at University of the Southwest is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 570% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of the Southwest | $16,670 | $16,927 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| New Mexico (state median) | $2,289 | $5,908 | 30 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,600 | $14,971 | 1,517 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is University of the Southwest really?
Key findings
- University of the Southwest charges about 0.6× the national private non-profit median tuition ($16,670).
- Versus the New Mexico median, sticker tuition is about 7.3×.
University of the Southwest tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $16,670
Finding University of the Southwest charges about 0.6× the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $16,670. That is about 0.6× the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the New Mexico median ($2,289), sticker tuition is about 7.3×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 40% above.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at University of the Southwest versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at University of the Southwest versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at University of the Southwest is $16,927.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $16,927 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $11,018 above the New Mexico median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $1,956 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At University of the Southwest, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
University of the Southwest: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for University of the Southwest—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$16,670
Avg. net price
$16,927
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $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. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What University of the Southwest is known for
Top program completions
- Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services46
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General30
- Curriculum and Instruction24
- Mental Health Counseling/Counselor24
- Educational Assessment, Testing, and Measurement22
See earnings & programs for more.
Is University of the Southwest a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
University of the Southwest is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for University of the Southwest.
Campus
Location
Hobbs, NM
City / state
- ZIP
- 88240
- NCES locale
- Town remote
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is 13% above the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Southwest
- Carnegie
- Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
Size
Enrollment
346
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 385
- Graduate
- 784
- Full-time share
- 93%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$21,303
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 55.19%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for University of the Southwest.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
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.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Admissions funnel data is not available for this institution.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
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
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
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
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
University of the Southwest graduates earn a median of $45,389 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of University of the Southwest.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $45,389. Median federal loan debt: $21,303. Average net price used in cost models: $16,927.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway University of the Southwest graduates report median earnings of $45,389 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for University of the Southwest.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (35 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at University of the Southwest.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for University of the Southwest graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for University of the Southwest—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$12.8M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- New Mexico median near the median ($12.4M)
- Southwest median 0.55× the median ($23.2M)
- U.S. median 0.48× the median ($26.4M)
- New Mexico median 2.5× the median ($6,968)
- Southwest median 1.7× the median ($10,113)
- U.S. median 1.4× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 100.0%
- New Mexico median 48.6 pp above median (51.4%)
- Southwest median 40.3 pp above median (59.7%)
- U.S. median 42.0 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $3,737
- New Mexico median 0.52× the median ($7,218)
- Southwest median 0.53× the median ($7,078)
- U.S. median 0.49× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $4,066
- New Mexico median 0.41× the median ($9,936)
- Southwest median 0.71× the median ($5,699)
- U.S. median 0.56× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
University of the Southwest at a glance
University of the Southwest
University of the Southwest is a private non-profit institution in Hobbs, NM, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance ServicesBiology/Biological Sciences, GeneralCurriculum and Instruction
- Largest enrollment groups
- Hispanic or Latino64.7%White or Caucasian16.2%Race/ethnicity unknown8.1%
Schools near University of the Southwest
Other campuses in Hobbs, NM when available, plus nearby institutions in New Mexico.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade D) within New Mexico, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is University of the Southwest located?
University of the Southwest is located in Hobbs, NM.
What is University of the Southwest's tuition?
University of the Southwest tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $16,670 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $16,927 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
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 explains University of the Southwest's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($16,927), completion (17.0% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($45,389). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
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.
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
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 Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.