At $17,803/yr net price, Southwest University at El Paso graduates earn $29,648/yr within 10 years of enrollment.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $17,803 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $71,212 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $29,648/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | $-4,352/yr |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 65.7% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $20,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $17,720/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $18,091/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $21,909/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Associate | $48,041 | $41,654 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies. | Associate | $25,826 | $20,000 |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other. | Bachelor | $24,615 | $47,083 |
| Public Health. | Bachelor | $21,312 | $48,996 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Associate | $21,234 | $20,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Associate | $18,999 | $19,998 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions. | Associate | $18,047 | $24,750 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services. | Certificate | $17,246 | |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services. | Associate | $16,580 | $17,367 |
The Risk Factor
65.7% of students at Southwest University at El Paso graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 34% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
Southwest University at El Paso puts you in a bad financial spot. Ten years after enrolling, median earnings sit at $29,648 a year. That is close to what many jobs in El Paso pay without any degree, and it barely clears the $17,803 you pay each year in net price. When your yearly cost eats up most of a year's post-graduation pay, the math does not work.
The two bachelor's programs with earnings data pay worse than the school-wide median. Business graduates earn about $24,615 a year while carrying $47,083 in debt. Public Health graduates earn even less, roughly $21,312, against nearly $49,000 in debt. Borrowing close to $50,000 for a degree that returns low-$20,000s pay is a losing trade. Neither of these programs pays off in any real sense.
The specific risk here is debt tied to weak outcomes. School-wide median debt is $20,000, but the two listed bachelor's programs carry more than double that. A 65.7% graduation rate and a 63.82% retention rate mean roughly one in three of you leaves, and leaving with any of that debt and no degree is the worst outcome on the table.
The net price tiers make this harder to justify. If your family earns under $30,000, you still pay about $17,720 a year. Earn between $48,000 and $75,000 and the price climbs above $21,900. Lower income buys you almost no discount here.
Look elsewhere first. El Paso Community College and the University of Texas at El Paso are public options in the same city and worth comparing before you commit. This school makes financial sense only if a specific program leads directly to a job you already have lined up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Southwest University at El Paso worth the cost?
With graduates earning just $29,648 ten years after enrollment against a net price of $17,803 annually, Southwest University at El Paso shows poor return on investment for most students. Only the Allied Health programs offer decent earning potential at $48,041.
What are the best paying programs at Southwest University at El Paso?
Allied Health Diagnostic programs lead with $48,041 in median earnings, while Vehicle Maintenance pays $25,826. Most other programs, including Business and Public Health, produce graduates earning around $21,000-24,000.
How much debt do Southwest University at El Paso graduates have?
The median debt is $20,000, which creates financial stress when most graduates earn under $30,000 annually. Only students in Allied Health programs can reasonably manage this debt load.
What is the graduation rate at Southwest University at El Paso?
About 66% of students graduate, meaning one in three students leave without a degree while potentially carrying debt. This adds significant risk to an already challenging financial picture for most programs.