CCS vs. USW

Comparable Facts

Compare College for Creative Studies in Detroit, MI with University of the Southwest in Hobbs, NM on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College for Creative Studies is larger than USW based on total student enrollment (1,433 students vs. 1,130 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College for Creative Studies is located in Detroit, MI (Large City setting); University of the Southwest is in Hobbs, NM (Rural Fringe setting).
• College for Creative Studies is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of the Southwest is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College for Creative Studies 10:1; University of the Southwest 21:1.

CCS vs. USW Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CCS or USW? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of the Southwest than CCS ($17,243 vs. $36,055).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of the Southwest are 47% lower than at College for Creative Studies ($8,100 vs. $15,272).
• College for Creative Studies is 220% more expensive for in-state tuition than USW (about $36,680 more per year; $53,350.00 vs. $16,670.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 220% higher at CCS than at University of the Southwest (about $36,680 more per year; $53,350.00 vs. $16,670.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of the Southwest than at College for Creative Studies (99% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College for Creative Studies students is 188.5% larger than aid received by University of the Southwest students ($30,108 vs. $10,436).

CCS vs. USW Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CCS or USW? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between USW and CCS.

• University of the Southwest reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CCS - Test-free; USW - Open admission.
• Accepted freshman CCS students have a 0.56 point higher average high school GPA (3.19) than students at USW (2.63).

CCS vs. USW Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CCS and USW? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• College for Creative Studies's six-year graduation rate (57%) is higher than University of the Southwest's (18%).
• Graduates from College for Creative Studies earn a median of about $400 more per year than USW graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,100 vs. $45,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of the Southwest graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than CCS graduates ($23,500 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, USW graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CCS graduates ($242 vs. $279).
• More CCS graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USW students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 47%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.