This school appears in our ranking 20 Most Affordable MBA Online Programs at Small Colleges 2018.
Located in Hobbs, New Mexico, the University of the Southwest was established in the early 1960s as a Baptist educational institution. Eventually, the school would become a private, interdenominational school adhering to the tenets of the Christian faith. The university focuses on career-oriented education for its undergraduate and graduate degree programs. There are just over 1,000 students attending the school, which was once a two-year college until it was upgraded to a four-year school. There are more than fifty undergraduate programs and around fifteen graduate programs available to students. Those programs are housed under three schools that include the School of Arts and Science, the School of Business & Professional Studies, and the School of Education.
Some of the athletic teams that play at the University of the Southwest include baseball, basketball, cross country, soccer, and track & field. Students at the university began competing in intercollegiate sports in 1994 as the Mustangs, and teams participate in the Red River Athletic Conference. The university also allows students to participate in student-led organizations on campus in the areas of academic honors, professionalism, civics, and the ministry. There is also an intramural sports program that students may participate in with staff and faculty member participation. The university also hosts a popular lecture series that features speakers from many walks of life who speak as distinguished lecturers.
University of the Southwest Accreditation Details
The University of the Southwest has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1980. The most recent reaccreditation occurred in 2013. The university is also approved to operate by the New Mexico Public Education Department. The University of the Southwest belongs to several collegiate organizations like the American Association of Presidents of Independent Colleges & Universities, the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, and the Association of Governing Boards of Universities & Colleges. The university is also part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, National Association of Colleges & Universities, and the National Association of Independent Colleges & Universities.
University of the Southwest Application Requirements
Admission to the University of the Southwest requires that students graduate in the top fifty percent of their high school class, achieve a minimum 940 on the SAT composite, an 18 on the ACT composite, and have a minimum GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. Students who do not meet these minimum conditions may apply for reconsideration of their application. The official application must be accompanied by official high school transcripts and standardized test scores. Students applying as first-time freshmen will submit their high school transcripts, and students applying for graduate study will submit their college transcripts. Students who have taken advanced placement tests may submit evidence of those classes, but the university doesn't require the submission as a condition of acceptance.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Full-time undergraduate tuition at the University of the Southwest is $16,00 for the year for 12 to 18 credits and $552 per credit for every unit over 18. Online undergraduate tuition is $449 per credit hour. For graduate students, the university charges $599 per credit hour. Doctoral students pay $799 per credit hour. Other fees a student may need to pay include a Directed Study Fee, Schedule Change Fee, Graduation Fee, Diploma Replacement Fee, or Graduation Fee. Students who choose to live on campus will pay between $2,150 and $3,270 for a residence hall each semester and between $1,845 and $1,960 for a meal plan each semester.
Students who attend the University of the Southwest are eligible for federal student aid when they submit their FAFSA by the deadline. Students will receive a report via email that will act as a confirmation of the student's application for financial aid. The school may request income information from the student's parents to complete the student's financial aid offer, but graduate students will not need to submit parental income information. Not only can students qualify for federal student aid, but they may also be able to earn scholarships through academic achievement or grants through federal, state, institutional, and private entities.
Online Degrees Available
The University of the Southwest offers several online graduate degree programs in the areas of business, counseling, education, and exercise science. Online programs at the University of the Southwest can accommodate students with limited schedules and full-time work commitments who can't attend classes at traditional times. The university's online programs are designed to mimic the on-campus degree options but offer students the convenience of study at the student's personal pace. The Master of Business Administration at the University of the Southwest is available in several concentrations, and students who wish to further their careers may wish to investigate this online graduate degree option.
Available focuses within the Master of Business Administration program include Accounting, Healthcare Administration, Law Enforcement & Corrections, Public Administration, Sport Management & Recreation, Strategic Management, Self Design, Marketing, Human Resource Management, and Finance. In most cases, Master of Business Administration degrees at the University of the Southwest require that students complete 36 credit hours, and the degrees are available entirely online. For example, students interested in becoming CPAs may want to enroll in the Master of Business Administration in Accounting, which may be completed in as little as 12 months. Accounting related classes a student will take in the program include Accounting & Auditing, Small Business Accounting, and Organizational Design and Strategy, which is a capstone course. Students will also take several business courses that are similar or identical to the other Master of Business Administration program tracks at the university and include Leadership, Business Analytics & Econometrics, Strategic Resource Allocation & Planning, and Financial Management.
Another area available for study at the graduate level at the University of the Southwest is counseling, and the school offers three Master of Science in Education in Counseling that includes Mental Health, Special Education, and School Counselor. One of the benefits of the online programs in counseling at the University of the Southwest is that students are able to create their own, custom schedule that can help students with limited time complete their degrees on time. Students who live outside the state of New Mexico are encouraged to contact their home state's department of education to ensure the university's degree meets the requirements for certification and licensure. Students interested in any of the online programs at the University of the Southwest may request information directly from the school.