Mission University vs University of the Southwest

Side-by-side comparison across admissions, costs, outcomes, campus life, and more. Data from US Department of Education.

💰
Best Value
University of the Southwest
Lower Net Price
💼
High Earners
University of the Southwest
Higher 10yr Salary
🏆
Most Selective
Harder to get in
🎓
Graduation
Mission University
Higher success
Admissions Difficulty
Cost & Financial Aid
Avg Net Price
$21,887
$19,969
Tuition (In-State)
$16,230
$16,670
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$16,230
$16,670
Pell Grant Rate % students receiving Pell Grants
48.9%
55.7%
Federal Loan Rate
71.2%
62.5%
Career Outcomes
Median Salary (10yr)
$38,641
$45,389
Graduation Rate
38.6%
26.6%
Retention Rate Freshmen who return for 2nd year
70.5%
53.2%
Campus Life
Total Enrollment
342
337
Undergrad Enrollment
308
390
Type
Private
Private
Setting
Urban
Suburban

📋 Report Cards

Mission University

Academics
C
Value
C+
Admissions
C
Diversity
C

University of the Southwest

Academics
C
Value
C+
Admissions
C
Diversity
C

⚖️ Expert Analysis

Mission University and University of the Southwest are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Cost: University of the Southwest offers a lower average net price at $19,969, which is $1,918 less than Mission University ($21,887). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from University of the Southwest earn a median salary of $45,389 ten years after enrollment, which is $6,748 more than Mission University graduates ($38,641).

Graduation: Mission University leads with a 38.6% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 70.5% vs 53.2%.

Campus Size: Mission University is the larger campus with 342 total students, while University of the Southwest has 337.

Bottom Line: University of the Southwest stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.

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