Southwestern University's published cost of attendance is $67,493. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $22,478, families in the lower-middle range pay around $19,096, middle-income families pay about $28,175, families in the upper-middle range pay approximately $30,387, and higher-income families pay around $36,332.
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Net prices are averages and may vary. Based on federal data for first-time, full-time students receiving aid.
| Cost Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Cost of Attendance (Sticker Price) | $67,493 |
| Tuition and Fees | $53,813 |
| Room and Board | $15,072 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,250 |
| Average Financial Aid (Grants and Scholarships) | -$38,269 |
| Average Net Price (What Families Pay) | $29,224 |
| Family Income | Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0–30k | $22,478 |
| $30–48k | $19,096 |
| $48–75k | $28,175 |
| $75–110k | $30,387 |
| $110k+ | $36,332 |
Southwestern University's published cost of attendance is $67,493. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $22,478, families in the lower-middle range pay around $19,096, middle-income families pay about $28,175, families in the upper-middle range pay approximately $30,387, and higher-income families pay around $36,332. Azimuth ranks Southwestern University #1237 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. The gap between published cost and actual net price reflects Southwestern's need-based aid structure. The university applies the FAFSA to determine eligibility, and aid packages combine institutional grants, federal and state aid, and work-study opportunities. Understanding how your specific family circumstances map to these income bands is important, since aid formulas account for family size, assets, and other factors that individual aid offices can clarify. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $46,546; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $59,994, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use .
How much students borrow and whether debt is manageable given outcomes.
Debt-to-earnings data not available.
How cost compares to graduate earnings and value added.
Graduates of Southwestern University earn median 4-year earnings of $59,994, placing Southwestern University in the 45.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $14,339 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Southwestern University in the 11.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Southwestern University #1002 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes reflect both the university's social-sciences focus and its ability to position graduates into careers with sustained earning growth. The earnings pattern is anchored in Social Sciences, which shapes the institution's overall economic profile. Business/Commerce, General is the largest program with 60 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $71,342, performing at 1.0x the national benchmark for the field. The Psychology, General program graduates 34 students with median 4-year earnings of $50,426, and Biology, General delivers median 4-year earnings of $62,928 across 27 graduates. Together, these programs form the core of Southwestern University's degree output and contribute meaningfully to the institution's above-average return on investment profile among comparable private institutions.