University of the Southwest is a private university in Hobbs, New Mexico, with roots in the College of the Southwest. It adopted its university name as its academic offerings expanded beyond undergraduate study.
That history helps explain the institution's present mix of campus-based undergraduate programs and graduate study. Applicants comparing older catalogs or academic records should be aware that references to the College of the Southwest may refer to the same institution under its former name.
University of the Southwest offers undergraduate and graduate study across education, business, the arts and sciences, and professional fields. Its offerings include teacher education, business administration, criminal justice, psychology, and religion-related study.
Students should compare programs by credential and delivery format, not just subject name. A bachelor's program, a graduate program, and a course designed for educator professional development can have different admission requirements and career implications. Prospective teachers and counselors, in particular, should check whether a specific program meets the licensing requirements of the state where they intend to work.
University of the Southwest is in Hobbs, a city in southeastern New Mexico near the Texas border. Its setting is substantially different from that of a university in a major metropolitan area: students should plan around local transportation, the availability of housing, and the distance to services outside Hobbs.
Lea County Regional Airport serves the Hobbs area. Students arriving from farther away should check current flight options and ground transportation rather than assuming that an airport connection will take them directly to campus. The university's New Mexico location does not, by itself, mean that all enrolled students live nearby; a substantial share of its students come from other states.
University of the Southwest identifies with a Christian educational mission. Its stated approach connects academic study with character, service, and preparation for professional life; those are institutional aims, not independently measured outcomes for every student.
Religious affiliation may matter to applicants evaluating the campus environment or particular courses. It is worth distinguishing the university's overall identity from the requirements of an individual degree program: a student considering business, education, or another field should examine that program's curriculum and any applicable conduct or participation policies.
Name of the institution
University of the SouthwestLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
Town: RemoteInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
1,000 - 4,999School type
UniversityMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1962University of the Southwest is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Certificate of less than 1 year
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
Doctor's degree - research/scholarshipData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.