University of the Southwest vs Arizona Christian University

University of the Southwest (USW) and Arizona Christian University (ACU) are two distinct institutions of higher learning with unique characteristics. USW, located in Hobbs, New Mexico, is a private university with a small student body and a focus on liberal arts education. ACU, on the other hand, is a private Christian university in Glendale, Arizona, known for its strong emphasis on faith-based learning and community engagement. While both universities offer a range of undergraduate and graduate programs, they differ in terms of acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.

	Arizona Christian University	University of the Southwest
Overview
Location	Glendale, Arizona	Hobbs, New Mexico
Campus setting	Suburb: Large	Rural: Fringe
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Private (Non Profit)	Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system	Semester	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	48.0%	69.0%
Common app member	No	No
Religious affiliation	Undenominational

Admission
Acceptance rate	75.9%	45.4%
Application fees
SAT range	960 - 1170	N/A
ACT range	16 - 23	N/A
Students submitting SAT score	13.0%
Students submitting ACT score	22.0%
Total number of applicants	1,222	282
Total number of admissions given out	928	128
Admitted students who chose to enroll	311	89
Yield rate	33.5%	69.5%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A
High school GPA	Required	N/A
Recommendation letters	Not required	N/A
High school transcript	Not required	N/A
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	N/A

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$49,424	$32,200
Average net price	$32,412	$19,139
Tuition	$28,874	$16,000
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $4,775 Meal plan: $5,670	Room/dormitory: $4,700 Meal plan: $4,110
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	100.0% Average amount $15,438	96.0% Average amount $11,782
Students receiving federal student loan	93.0% Average amount $4,172	62.0% Average amount $5,421
Students taking out private loans	14.0% Average amount $15,137	4.0% Average amount $8,000

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	1,053 Men 60.7% Women 39.3%	414 Men 56.0% Women 44.0%
Graduate students	N/A	650 Men 28.2% Women 71.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Moderate
Out-of-state students	N/A	N/A
International students	3.1%	N/A
Campus local/setting	Suburb: Large	Rural: Fringe
Dormitory capacity	540	244
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	N/A	N/A

Academics
Popular study areas	Business Education Psychology Theology Biological and Biomedical Sciences	Education Business Kinesiology & Leisure Studies Health Professions Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Students to faculty ratio	18:1	19:1
Institutional accreditation	Higher Learning Commission	Higher Learning Commission

Outcome
Graduation rate	35.8%	9.1%
Dropout rate	53.3%	90.9%
Transferred out	10.8%	N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $34,250 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $38,933 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A	Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $47,026 Year 2: $47,650 Year 3: $48,219 Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $31,861 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $35,815 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $31,409 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $41,784 Year 2: $47,260 Year 3: N/A Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $65,468 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A

Arizona Christian University

University of the Southwest

Overview

Location

Glendale, Arizona

Hobbs, New Mexico

Campus setting

Suburb: Large

Rural: Fringe

College type

4 year

Control/business model

Private (Non Profit)

Calendar system

Semester

Degrees offered

Undergraduate

Undergraduate and Graduate

Students retention rate

48.0%

69.0%

Common app member

Religious affiliation

Undenominational

Admission

Acceptance rate

75.9%

45.4%

Application fees

SAT range

960 - 1170

N/A

ACT range

16 - 23

N/A

Students submitting SAT score

13.0%

Students submitting ACT score

22.0%

Total number of applicants

1,222

282

Total number of admissions given out

928

128

Admitted students who chose to enroll

311

Yield rate

33.5%

69.5%

Test scores (SAT/ACT)

N/A

High school GPA

Required

N/A

Recommendation letters

Not required

N/A

High school transcript

Not required

N/A

English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)

Required

N/A

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price

$49,424

$32,200

Average net price

$32,412

$19,139

Tuition

$28,874

$16,000

Room & board

Room/dormitory: $4,775

Meal plan: $5,670

Room/dormitory: $4,700

Meal plan: $4,110

Available payment plans

Tuition payment plan

Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%

Average amount $15,438

96.0%

Average amount $11,782

Students receiving federal student loan

93.0%

Average amount $4,172

62.0%

Average amount $5,421

Students taking out private loans

14.0%

Average amount $15,137

4.0%

Average amount $8,000

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students

1,053

Men 60.7% Women 39.3%

414

Men 56.0% Women 44.0%

Graduate students

N/A

650

Men 28.2% Women 71.8%

Racial/ethnic diversity

Moderate

Out-of-state students

N/A

International students

3.1%

N/A

Campus local/setting

Suburb: Large

Rural: Fringe

Dormitory capacity

540

244

First year students are required to live on campus?

Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from

N/A

Academics

Popular study areas

Business
Education
Psychology
Theology
Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Education
Business
Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
Health Professions
Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Students to faculty ratio

18:1

19:1

Institutional accreditation

Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate

35.8%

9.1%

Dropout rate

53.3%

90.9%

Transferred out

10.8%

N/A

Alumni salary by major (Top 10)

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)

Year 1: $34,250
Year 2: N/A
Year 3: N/A

Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)

Year 1: $38,933
Year 2: N/A
Year 3: N/A

Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degrees)

Year 1: $47,026
Year 2: $47,650
Year 3: $48,219

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)

Year 1: $31,861
Year 2: N/A
Year 3: N/A

Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Master's Degrees)

Year 1: $35,815
Year 2: N/A
Year 3: N/A

Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)

Year 1: $31,409
Year 2: N/A
Year 3: N/A

Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (Master's Degrees)

Year 1: $41,784
Year 2: $47,260
Year 3: N/A

Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)

Year 1: $65,468
Year 2: N/A
Year 3: N/A