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2022 Best Value Colleges for General Engineering (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region

22 Ranked Colleges
1,775 Degrees Awarded
$12,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

General Engineering is the 78th most popular major in the country with 11,925 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, general engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $66,152 and had an average of $20,077 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southwest region, there were 1,775 general engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $74,200 and $19,581 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 22 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general engineering. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general engineering programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the general engineering program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank General Engineering Schools

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 23 Best Value Colleges for General Engineering (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region

#1

Tulsa Community College

Tulsa, Oklahoma

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Tulsa Community College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Tulsa Community College is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 85 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Tulsa Community College, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $4,835 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Tulsa Community College.

Read full report on General Engineering at Tulsa Community College

Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Austin Community College District landed the #2 spot on the list. Austin Community College District is located in Austin, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 81 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Austin Community College District, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Austin Community College District is $3,134 for southwest region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Austin Community College District General Engineering Report

#3

Central New Mexico Community College

Albuquerque, New Mexico

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Central New Mexico Community College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, this large public school handed out 43 diplomas to qualified ’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k list, CNM has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $2,604 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend CNM.

Full CNM General Engineering Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Arizona State University - Tempe. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Tempe, Arizona, and it awarded 228 ’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

ASU - Tempe also took the #5 spot in our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for ASU - Tempe is $7,044 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about General Engineering at ASU - Tempe

Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas A&M University - College Station landed the #5 spot on the list. Texas A&M College Station is a large public school situated in College Station, Texas. It awarded 91 ’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M College Station also took the #4 spot in our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Texas A&M College Station is $11,454 for southwest region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about General Engineering at Texas A&M College Station

#6

Lamar University

Beaumont, Texas

With a ranking of #6, Lamar University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Lamar University is a public institution located in Beaumont, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 80 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Lamar University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $9,200 for southwest region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Lamar University.

Read more about General Engineering at Lamar University

#7

University of New Mexico - Main Campus

Albuquerque, New Mexico

University of New Mexico - Main Campus landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and it awarded 33 ’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNM, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of New Mexico - Main Campus is $13,242 for southwest region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full UNM General Engineering Report

#8

Northwest Vista College

San Antonio, Texas

Northwest Vista College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in San Antonio, Texas, and it awarded 14 ’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwest Vista College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Northwest Vista College is $4,355 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Northwest Vista College General Engineering Report

New Mexico State University - Main Campus ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. NMSU Main Campus is located in Las Cruces, New Mexico and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

NMSU Main Campus also made our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #16. The estimated yearly cost for NMSU Main Campus is $6,896 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full NMSU Main Campus General Engineering Report

#10

Arizona State University - Skysong

Scottsdale, Arizona

Arizona State University - Skysong landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Scottsdale, Arizona, this large public school awarded 59 diplomas to qualified ’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

ASU - Skysong did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $12,037 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Arizona State University - Skysong.

Read more about General Engineering at Arizona State University - Skysong

#10

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

Texas Tech University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. Texas Tech is a large public school situated in Lubbock, Texas. It awarded 6 ’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas Tech also made our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $12,317 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Texas Tech.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on General Engineering at Texas Tech University

#11

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona

With a ranking of #11, University of Arizona did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Arizona is a public institution located in Tucson, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 15 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Arizona also made our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #15. It costs about $10,562 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Arizona.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about General Engineering at University of Arizona

#12

Oklahoma Christian University

Edmond, Oklahoma

Oklahoma Christian University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Oklahoma Christian University is a small school located in Edmond, Oklahoma that handed out 39 ’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

OC also took the #10 spot in our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Oklahoma Christian University is $18,686 for southwest region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Oklahoma Christian University General Engineering Report

#13

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas

With a ranking of #13, Texas State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. San Marcos, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

Texas State also made our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #12. It costs about $11,125 for southwest region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Texas State University.

Read full report on General Engineering at Texas State

The University of Texas at El Paso ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. The University of Texas at El Paso is a public institution located in El Paso, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UTEP did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UTEP is $7,092 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Engineering at UTEP

Texas A&M University - Kingsville came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Texas A&M Kingsville is a medium-sized school located in Kingsville, Texas that handed out 8 ’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M Kingsville also took the #20 spot in our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $11,105 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Texas A&M Kingsville.

Read full report on General Engineering at Texas A&M University - Kingsville

#16

West Texas A&M University

Canyon, Texas

West Texas A&M University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. West Texas A&M University is located in Canyon, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

West Texas A&M University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $8,730 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend West Texas A&M University.

Full West Texas A&M University General Engineering Report

#17

Prairie View A & M University

Prairie View, Texas

Prairie View A & M University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Prairie View, Texas, this medium-sized public school awarded 20 diplomas to qualified ’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at PVAMU, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for PVAMU is $12,291 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full PVAMU General Engineering Report

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Norman, Oklahoma is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

University of Oklahoma also made our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #17. It costs about $16,675 for southwest region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Oklahoma Norman Campus.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low student loan default rate of 4.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full University of Oklahoma Norman Campus General Engineering Report

#19

Oral Roberts University

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Oral Roberts University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. ORU is a small school located in Tulsa, Oklahoma that handed out 33 ’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

ORU also took the #18 spot in our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Oral Roberts University is $17,078 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about General Engineering at ORU

#20

Texas Christian University

Fort Worth, Texas

Texas Christian University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Texas Christian University is a fairly large school located in Fort Worth, Texas that handed out 55 ’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

TCU also took the #2 spot in our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $21,286 for southwest region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Texas Christian University.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Engineering at TCU

#21

Baylor University

Waco, Texas

With a ranking of #21, Baylor University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Baylor University is a fairly large school located in Waco, Texas that handed out 15 ’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Baylor did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Baylor University is $26,726 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on General Engineering at Baylor University

Southern Methodist University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Dallas, Texas, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 2 degrees to qualified ’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k list, SMU has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Southern Methodist University is $26,718 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full SMU General Engineering Report

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Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Rémi Kaupp.

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