Southwest University at El Paso opened in June 1999 as what was then called the Quikstudy Learning Centers, Inc., a Texas Corporation, a private, for-profit institution whose mission was to provide quality education to students who needed assistance with English as a second language and those pursuing their GED.

In November of 2002, Quikstudy Learning Centers, Inc., a Texas Corporation, converted into Southwest Career Institute when vocational career programs were implemented in general business office trade and technical trade fields. In 2009, the integration of Associate degree programs in allied health professions allowed the transition to Southwest Career College and satisfied the demand for degrees of this nature in the local workforce. In 2012, the expansion of our curriculum, resources, and student body developed the need for Bachelor’s degree programs. This advancement called for the official name change and transformation to Southwest University at El Paso.

The continuous growth of the university created the need to broaden its accreditation and serve a larger student population. As a result, the institution obtained multiple programmatic accreditations and recognitions, including JRCERT, IJCAHPO, IACBE, CCNE, and the Texas Board of Nursing. Southwest University is also recognized by THECB and holds institutional accreditation through ABHES, valid until 2029.

Southwest University at El Paso has established itself at the forefront of a meaningful education that serves our region’s unique culture of non-traditional students. Through all the changes and evolution within Southwest University, the core mission remains constant. Since its founding, the institution has remained a center committed to providing individuals with education for success in their future endeavors.