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2022 Best Value Colleges for Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Southwest Region

49 Ranked Colleges
23,743 Degrees Awarded
$8,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 200,458 engineering students received their degree, making the major the 6th most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $64,888 and had an average of $23,564 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southwest region, there were 23,743 engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $63,902 and $21,894 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 49 colleges that offered a degree in engineering. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great engineering programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the engineering program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Southwest Region

#1

Rice University

Houston, Texas

Out of the 49 schools in the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Rice University landed the #1 spot on the list. Houston, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 314 students in 2019-2020.

Rice also made our “Best Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #1. The yearly cost to attend Rice University is $7,534 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 1.0% 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 full report on Engineering at Rice

#2

Tulsa Community College

Tulsa, Oklahoma

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Tulsa Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. 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.

Tulsa Community College also made our “Best Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #4. The estimated yearly cost for Tulsa Community College is $5,092 for southwest region engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Engineering at Tulsa Community College

#3

Houston Community College

Houston, Texas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Houston Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Houston, Texas, this large public school handed out 134 diplomas to qualified ’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Houston Community College, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Houston Community College is $5,351 for southwest region engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Engineering at Houston Community College

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Austin Community College District. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Austin, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 83 students in 2019-2020.

Austin Community College District also made our “Best Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #17. The estimated yearly cost for Austin Community College District is $4,362 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Engineering at Austin Community College District

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k. UT Rio Grande Valley is a large public school situated in Edinburg, Texas. It awarded 305 ’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is $3,473 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Engineering at UT Rio Grande Valley

#6

Central New Mexico Community College

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Central New Mexico Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. CNM is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 46 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $3,626 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend CNM.

Read more about Engineering at Central New Mexico Community College

Texas A&M University - College Station did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. This large school is located in College Station, Texas, and it awarded 3,286 ’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas A&M College Station, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $13,270 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Texas A&M University - College Station.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Engineering at Texas A&M University - College Station

The University of Texas at Austin came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. The University of Texas at Austin is a large school located in Austin, Texas that handed out 1,961 ’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Austin not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UT Austin is $13,575 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Engineering at UT Austin

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and it awarded 761 ’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at OSU, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for OSU is $9,962 for southwest region engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read full report on Engineering at Oklahoma State University - Main Campus

#10

University of North Texas

Denton, Texas

University of North Texas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. This large school is located in Denton, Texas, and it awarded 390 ’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UNT is $9,082 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

Read full report on Engineering at University of North Texas

#11

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

Texas Tech University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Lubbock, Texas, this large public school handed out 1,086 degrees to qualified ’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

Texas Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Texas Tech University is $13,326 for southwest region engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

Full Texas Tech University Engineering Report

The University of Texas at Tyler landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. The University of Texas at Tyler is a public institution located in Tyler, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 240 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region engineering students whose families make $30-$48k list, UT Tyler has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas at Tyler is $7,058 for southwest region engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full The University of Texas at Tyler Engineering Report

The University of Texas of the Permian Basin came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UT Permian Basin is a public institution located in Odessa, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 94 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Permian Basin not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UT Permian Basin is $10,221 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Engineering at UT Permian Basin

Arizona State University - Tempe ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Tempe, Arizona, and it awarded 2,583 ’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

ASU - Tempe also made our “Best Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $8,921 for southwest region engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Arizona State University - Tempe.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Engineering at Arizona State University - Tempe

With a ranking of #15, The University of Texas at San Antonio did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. San Antonio, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 596 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UTSA is $11,109 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full The University of Texas at San Antonio Engineering Report

#16

University of Houston

Houston, Texas

University of Houston came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Houston, Texas, this large public school handed out 981 degrees to qualified ’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

UH also took the #16 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $9,925 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Houston.

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 Engineering at University of Houston

#17

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona

University of Arizona came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Tucson, Arizona, and it awarded 828 ’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Arizona not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Arizona is $11,466 for southwest region engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Full University of Arizona Engineering Report

Southeastern Oklahoma State University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Durant, Oklahoma is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 53 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Southeastern Oklahoma State University is $6,704 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Engineering at Southeastern Oklahoma State University

#19

Trinity University

San Antonio, Texas

Trinity University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in San Antonio, Texas, and it awarded 29 ’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Trinity U also took the #7 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $12,991 for southwest region engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Trinity U.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Engineering at Trinity U

#20

Lamar University

Beaumont, Texas

With a ranking of #20, Lamar University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Lamar University is a public institution located in Beaumont, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 307 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region engineering students whose families make $30-$48k list, Lamar University has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $10,631 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Lamar University.

Read more about Engineering at Lamar University

The University of Texas at Dallas came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Richardson, Texas, and it awarded 1,061 ’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Dallas also took the #15 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UT Dallas is $11,745 for southwest region engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 student loan default rate at the school is 4.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Engineering at UT Dallas

#22

Northwest Vista College

San Antonio, Texas

With a ranking of #22, Northwest Vista College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Northwest Vista College is located in San Antonio, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $4,906 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Northwest Vista College.

Read more about Engineering at Northwest Vista College

#23

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas

Texas State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #23. Texas State University is a large school located in San Marcos, Texas that handed out 194 ’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $12,292 for southwest region engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Texas State.

Read more about Engineering at Texas State University

The University of Texas at El Paso landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in El Paso, Texas, and it awarded 698 ’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UTEP is $7,427 for southwest region engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full The University of Texas at El Paso Engineering Report

New Mexico State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #25. NMSU Main Campus is a fairly large public school situated in Las Cruces, New Mexico. It awarded 430 ’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $7,006 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend NMSU Main Campus.

Read full report on Engineering at New Mexico State University - Main Campus

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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.

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