Hood vs. USW

Comparable Facts

Compare Hood College in Frederick, MD with University of the Southwest in Hobbs, NM on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Hood College is larger than USW based on total student enrollment (2,101 students vs. 1,130 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Hood College is located in Frederick, MD (Small City setting); University of the Southwest is in Hobbs, NM (Rural Fringe setting).
• Hood College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of the Southwest is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Hood College 10:1; University of the Southwest 21:1.

Hood vs. USW Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hood 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 Hood ($17,243 vs. $23,350).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of the Southwest are 50% lower than at Hood College ($8,100 vs. $16,200).
• Hood College is 186.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than USW (about $31,030 more per year; $47,700.00 vs. $16,670.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 186.1% higher at Hood than at University of the Southwest (about $31,030 more per year; $47,700.00 vs. $16,670.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hood College than at University of the Southwest (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Hood College students is 263.7% larger than aid received by University of the Southwest students ($37,957 vs. $10,436).

Hood vs. USW Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Hood 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 Hood.

• University of the Southwest reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Hood - Test-free; USW - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Hood Aug 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Hood students have a 0.78 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at USW (2.63).

Hood vs. USW Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hood 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).

• Hood College's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than University of the Southwest's (18%).
• Graduates from Hood College earn a median of about $1,600 more per year than USW graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,300 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 Hood graduates ($23,500 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, USW graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Hood graduates ($242 vs. $279).
• More Hood graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USW students, three years after graduation. (73% 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.