Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
University of the Southwest is a private regional university located in Hobbs, New Mexico. University of the Southwest has an open admissions policy.
Return on educational investment at University of the Southwest is in the bottom 50% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $43,241 10 years after enrolling, 2nd in New Mexico, and in the bottom 50% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, University of the Southwest bachelor students earn 16% less than the national average.
University of the Southwest’s median net annual cost of $17,336 and average years to graduate of 4.6 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 2 programs at University of the Southwest sorted by number of graduates - Education, Criminal Justice - are shown below.
Annual net cost
$17,336
Average years to graduate
4.6
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 4 graduate programs at University of the Southwest - Student Counseling, Health & Fitness, Mental & Social Health Services, Business Administration - are shown below.
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.6 years. 42% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at University of the Southwest is 5% lower than the state average, and 16% below the average for all regional universities in the country.
At University of the Southwest, Pell Grant recipients represent 57% of the measured graduating class, 22% higher than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at University of the Southwest graduates within 4.5 years.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
University of the Southwest’s economic mobility score of 17.82 is calculated by adjusting the 5.34 economic score of lower-income students by the 57% pell grant recipients within the student body. University of the Southwest’s EMS of 17.82 ranks in the top 50% nationally. Please note that the economic mobility score considers only students that have graduated.
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 50%
The average Title IV recipient at University of the Southwest pays $17,336 a year, $11,594 less than the $28,930 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $17,336
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At University of the Southwest, 96% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $17,336 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 62% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $5,891. This is 8% more than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,421
Pell grants
$5,277
State grants
$2,500
Institutional grants
$6,601
Full time
76%
83%
Female
48%
59%
First time
42%
59%
In-state
43%
68%
1st generation
47%
35%
White
25%
52%
Black
14%
14%
Hispanic
50%
15%
Asian
1%
5%
American Indian
4%
1.6%
Pacific Islander
1%
0.3%
Other
6%
12%