University of the Southwest (USW)
Private nonprofit four-year university in Hobbs, NM that costs an average of $17,550 a year after financial aid and graduates 19% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$17,550
Acceptance rate
Open
Graduation rate
19%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$47,669
Private nonprofitTown (remote)346 undergraduates
Cost of USW
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $28,504 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $17,582 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $8,100 |
| Average net price after aid | $17,550 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $14,695 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $15,862 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $16,776 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $18,989 |
| $110,001+ | $20,890 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships. Get your own estimate with USW's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | Open admission (everyone admitted) |
|---|
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 19% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 55% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $40,718 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $47,669 |
| Rank in New Mexico (earnings) | 4th of 10 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $15,989 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $182 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 57% |
| Students with federal loans | 62% |
Majors and programs at USW
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (23)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 25 | $32,600 | $15,878 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 4 | — | — |
| Biology | 5 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 11 | — | — |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other | 1 | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | — | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 1 | — | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 9 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | — | — | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 2 | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 3 | — | — |
| History | — | — | — |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | — | — | — |
| International Business | 1 | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 27 | — | $13,000 |
| Marketing | 3 | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | — | — | — |
| Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries | — | — | — |
| Psychology | 9 | — | — |
| Religion/Religious Studies | 5 | — | — |
| Social Sciences | — | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | 3 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 19 | — | — |
Certificate programs (2)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education | 4 | — | — |
| Religion/Religious Studies | — | — | — |
Master's degree programs (28)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | 34 | $59,705 | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 85 | $58,902 | $34,166 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 32 | $57,416 | $44,782 |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 53 | $56,741 | $20,500 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 23 | $52,487 | — |
| Biology | 55 | $50,659 | $26,392 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 5 | — | — |
| Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education | — | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 15 | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 10 | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 2 | — | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 1 | — | — |
| Criminology | 3 | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 7 | — | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 4 | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 7 | — | — |
| Homeland Security | — | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 12 | — | — |
| International Business | 1 | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 1 | — | — |
| Marketing | 5 | — | — |
| Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies | 24 | — | — |
| Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries | — | — | — |
| Psychology | 12 | — | — |
| Public Administration | 3 | — | — |
| Religion/Religious Studies | 2 | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | 30 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 1 | — | — |
Doctoral degree programs (9)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 20 | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 2 | — | — |
| Education | 1 | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 4 | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | — | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 1 | — | — |
| Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries | — | — | — |
| Religion/Religious Studies | — | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | 1 | — | — |
Similar colleges in New Mexico
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development | Santa Fe | $11,199 | 97% | $26,385 |
| St. John's College | Santa Fe | $22,480 | 53% | $45,537 |
| Brookline College-Albuquerque | Albuquerque | $35,895 | — | $37,804 |
| New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology | Socorro | $20,862 | 44% | $71,723 |
| New Mexico Highlands University | Las Vegas | $18,315 | — | $48,104 |
| Western New Mexico University | Silver City | $6,328 | — | $41,452 |
| Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus | Portales | $5,238 | 92% | $44,198 |
| New Mexico State University-Main Campus | Las Cruces | $6,313 | 89% | $43,922 |
About USW
| Type | Private nonprofit four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Hobbs, NM |
| Setting | Town (remote) |
| Undergraduates | 346 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 21 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Higher Learning Commission |
| Website | usw.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
How much does USW cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $28,504 a year (tuition and fees: $17,582). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $17,550 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $14,695.
How much do USW graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $47,669 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 4th of 10 similar colleges in New Mexico. The best-paid bachelor's program is sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness ($32,600 a year after graduation).
What is USW's graduation rate?
19% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 55% of first-year students return for a second year.