University of the Southwest

www.usw.edu

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2023 Undergraduate Tuition

$16,470

3.12% growth from 2022

2023 Average Net Price

$20,438

After Financial Aid

2020 Default Rate

on Student Loans

2019 Acceptance Rate

45.4%

282 Applicants

2023 Enrolled Students

1,034

49% Full-Time

2023 Graduation Rate

26.7%

24 Graduates

About

University of the Southwest is a higher education institution located in Lea County, NM. In 2023, the most popular Masters Degree concentrations at University of the Southwest were School Counseling & Guidance Services (39 degrees awarded), Curriculum & Instruction (29 degrees), and General Biological Sciences (28 degrees).

In 2023, 290 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at University of the Southwest. 71.7% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 28.3% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (136 degrees), 1.55 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (88 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at University of the Southwest is $16,470, which is $−8,105 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,575).

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at University of the Southwest was 0%, corresponding to 0 out of the 360 total borrowers.

Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs Masters Colleges and Universities

Costs

In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at University of the Southwest is $16,470, which is $8,105 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,575).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $20,438.

In 2023, 92% of undergraduate students attending University of the Southwest received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 63% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$16,470

2023 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2023, the cost of tuition at University of the Southwest was $16,470. The cost of tuition at University of the Southwest is $−8,105 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,575).

This chart compares the tuition costs of University of the Southwest (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$20,438

2023 Value

0.463%

1 Year Growth

In 2023 University of the Southwest had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $20,438. Between 2022 and 2023, the average net price of University of the Southwest grew by 0.463%.

This chart compares the average net price of University of the Southwest (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$12,465

Room and Board

The average yearly cost of room and board at University of the Southwest was of $12,465 in 2023. The cost of room and board did not change between 2022 and 2023.

This chart compares the average student costs at University of the Southwest (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

92%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

63%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

92% of undergraduate students at University of the Southwest received financial aid through grants or loans in 2023. This represents a decline of 8% with respect to 2022, when 100% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at University of the Southwest (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

2020 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at University of the Southwest was 0%, which represents 0 out of the 360 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

University of the Southwest received 282 undergraduate applications in 2019, which represents a 5.22% annual growth. Out of those 282 applicants, 128 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 45.4% acceptance rate.

There were 1,034 students enrolled at University of the Southwest in 2023. 12% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

University of the Southwest has an overall enrollment yield of 69.5%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

45.4%

Acceptance Rate in 2019

128

Accepted Out of 282

In 2019, the undergraduate acceptance rate of University of the Southwest was 45.4% (128 admissions from 282 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2018, which was 44.8%. Between 2018 and 2019, the number of applicants grew by 5.22%, while admissions grew by 6.67%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of University of the Southwest (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

12%

Submission Percentage (2016)

Scores Submitted (2016)

12% of enrolled first-time students at University of the Southwest in 2016 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

University of the Southwest had a total enrollment of 1,034 students in 2023. The full-time enrollment at University of the Southwest is 507 students and the part-time enrollment is 527. This means that 49% of students enrolled at University of the Southwest are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at University of the Southwest, both undergraduate and graduate, is 41% White, 36.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Black or African American, 1.64% American Indian or Alaska Native, 1.55% Asian, 1.26% Two or More Races, and 0.387% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at University of the Southwest in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly Hispanic or Latino Male (31.9%), followed by Hispanic or Latino Female (27.9%) and White Male (12.2%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (37.5%), followed by Hispanic or Latino Female (19.2%) and White Male (14.2%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

49%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at University of the Southwest in 2023, both undergraduate and graduate, is 1,034 students. The full-time enrollment at University of the Southwest is 507 and the part-time enrollment is 527. This means that 49% of students enrolled at University of the Southwest are enrolled full-time compared with 68.2% at similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at University of the Southwest (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

53%

2023 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. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at University of the Southwest was 53%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Masters Colleges and Universities (74%), University of the Southwest had a retention rate lower than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at University of the Southwest (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2023)

White
424 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
375 enrolled students
Black or African American
149 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at University of the Southwest is 41% White, 36.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Black or African American, 1.64% American Indian or Alaska Native, 1.55% Asian, 1.26% Two or More Races, and 0.387% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Masters Colleges and Universities is 50.1% White, 17.7% Hispanic or Latino, and 13.4% Black or African American.

Graduates

In 2023, 126 more women than men received degrees from University of the Southwest. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at University of the Southwest is white (136 degrees awarded). There were 1.55 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (88 degrees).

The most common Masters Degree concentration at University of the Southwest is School Counseling & Guidance Services (39 degrees awarded), followed by Curriculum & Instruction (29 degrees) and General Biological Sciences (28 degrees).

In 2023, the most specialized majors across all degree types at University of the Southwest, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Education (118 degrees awarded), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (26 degrees), and Biology (30 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Elementary & middle school teachers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at University of the Southwest are Elementary & middle school teachers (1,771,684 people), Accountants & auditors (1,073,941 people), Other managers (967,027 people), Secondary school teachers (632,693 people), and Financial managers (564,410 people).

The most specialized majors at University of the Southwest in 2023 are Education (118 degrees awarded), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (26 degrees), Biology (30 degrees), Psychology (17 degrees), and Business (45 degrees) (as of 2023).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at University of the Southwest are Surgeons, Cardiovascular technologists and technicians, Physicians, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, and Photographic process workers & processing machine operators

The most specialized majors at University of the Southwest are Education (118 degrees awarded), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (26 degrees), Biology (30 degrees), Psychology (17 degrees), and Business (45 degrees) (as of 2023).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at University of the Southwest are Elementary & secondary schools (2,872,928 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (609,523 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (517,527 people), Justice, public order, & safety activities (391,509 people), and Offices of physicians (226,445 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by University of the Southwest.

Most Common (2023)

School Counseling & Guidance Services
39 degrees awarded
Curriculum & Instruction
29 degrees awarded
General Biological Sciences
28 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common masters degree concentration at University of the Southwest was School Counseling & Guidance Services with 39 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from masters degree programs at University of the Southwest according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2023

208

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2023

In 2023, 82 degrees were awarded to men at University of the Southwest, which is 0.394 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (208).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at University of the Southwest by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2023, 12 degrees were awarded to men at University of the Southwest in Kinesiology & Exercise Science, which is 1.33 times more than the 9 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2023, 32 degrees were awarded to men at University of the Southwest in School Counseling & Guidance Services, which is 4.57 times more than the 7 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

100% Completion Time

150% Completion Time

In 2023, 7% of students graduating from University of the Southwest completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 9% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 9% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Masters Colleges and Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

White Female

Highest Graduation Rate (41.7%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2023 at University of the Southwest is Female and White (41.7% graduation rate). Across all Masters Colleges and Universities, Non-resident Alien Male students have the highest graduation rate (65.7%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2023)

White
136 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
88 degrees awarded
Black or African American
34 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at University of the Southwest is white (136 degrees awarded). There were 1.55 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (88 degrees).

5.52% of degree recipients (16 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2023)

White Female
107 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Female
56 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Male
32 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at University of the Southwest is white female (107 degrees awarded). There were 1.91 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino female (56 degrees).

Operations

University of the Southwest has an endowment valued at nearly $12.8M, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 1.88M (14.7%) compared to the 5.72% average return (2.84M on 49.7M) across all Masters Colleges and Universities.

In 2023, University of the Southwest had a total salary expenditure of 12.2M. University of the Southwest employs 13 Assistant professors, 6 Associate professors and 5 Professors. Most academics at University of the Southwest are Female Assistant professor (10), Male Associate professor (4), and Male Professor (4).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at University of the Southwest are: Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services, with 14 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media, with 9 employees, and Management with 8 employees.

Endowment

$12.8M

2023 Endowment

0.648%

decline from 2022

University of the Southwest has an endowment valued at about $12.8M, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The endowment of University of the Southwest declined 0.648% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $37M lower than than the median endowment of Masters Colleges and Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at University of the Southwest (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs Carnegie Classification grouping.

Salary Expenditure

$5.43M

2023 Salaries

8.76%

decline from 2022

In 2023, University of the Southwest paid a median of $5.43M in salaries, which represents 44.4% of their overall expenditure ($12.2M) and a 8.76% decline from the previous year. This is compared to a 2.27% decline between 2021 and 2022, and a 10.5% growth between 2020 and 2021.

The median for similar Masters Colleges and Universities is 36.1M (39.6% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$1.1M

Instructional Salaries

Number of Employees

In 2023, University of the Southwest paid a total of $1.1M to 25 employees working as instructors, which represents 20.3% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $1.12M (2.97%) for similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

Occupations by Share

Assistant professor

Most Common Instructor

13 Employees

Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

14 Employees

In 2023, the most common positions for instructional staff at University of the Southwest were Assistant professor with 13 employees, Associate professor with 6 employees, and Professor with 5 employees.

In 2023, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at University of the Southwest were Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services with 14 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 9 employees, and Management with 8 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2023)

Female Assistant professor
Male Associate professor
Male Professor

In 2023, the most common demographic for instructional staff at University of the Southwest was Female Assistant professor with 10 employees, Male Associate professor with 4 employees, and Male Professor with 4 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at University of the Southwest.

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