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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region

24 Ranked Colleges
3,386 Degrees Awarded
$12,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor's 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. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

With 133,583 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, general studies is the 5th most popular major in the United States.

Across the Southwest region, there were 49,602 general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 3,386 general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,896 and $23,899 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 24 colleges that offered a degree in general studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great general studies programs and cost less that 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 studies program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank General Studies Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest 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 General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 24 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region

#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Texas. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UNT is a public institution located in Denton, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 618 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UNT did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Texas is $8,521 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UNT General Studies Report

#8 in overall quality

Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas Woman’s University landed the #2 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Denton, Texas, and it awarded 238 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at TWU, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $6,706 for southwest region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Texas Woman’s University.

Full TWU General Studies Report

#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Oklahoma State University - Main Campus. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Oklahoma State University - Main Campus is located in Stillwater, Oklahoma and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 238 bachelors’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

OSU also made our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for OSU is $8,669 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on General Studies at Oklahoma State University - Main Campus

#15 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southeastern Oklahoma State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a public institution located in Durant, Oklahoma. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 90 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Southeastern Oklahoma State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Southeastern Oklahoma State University is $6,102 for southwest region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about General Studies at Southeastern Oklahoma State University

#5

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas
#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas Tech University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Texas Tech is a large school located in Lubbock, Texas that handed out 232 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Texas Tech University is $12,317 for southwest region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read more about General Studies at Texas Tech

#12 in overall quality

The University of Texas at San Antonio did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. UTSA is a public institution located in San Antonio, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 158 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UTSA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $10,516 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UTSA.

Read full report on General Studies at UTSA

#13 in overall quality

Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Portales, New Mexico is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s general studies degrees to 77 students in 2019-2020.

ENMU - Main Campus also took the #13 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $8,115 for southwest region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus.

Read more about General Studies at Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus

#8

Northeastern State University

Tahlequah, Oklahoma
#14 in overall quality

Northeastern State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. NSU is located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 89 bachelors’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

NSU also took the #14 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $7,614 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Northeastern State University.

Read more about General Studies at Northeastern State University

#17 in overall quality

Northwestern Oklahoma State University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. NWOSU is a public institution located in Alva, Oklahoma. The school has a small population, and it awarded 31 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

NWOSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $7,491 for southwest region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend NWOSU.

Read full report on General Studies at Northwestern Oklahoma State University

#10

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas
#9 in overall quality

Texas State University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in San Marcos, Texas, this large public school awarded 164 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s general studies students in 2019-2020.

Texas State also took the #9 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $11,125 for southwest region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Texas State.

Read more about General Studies at Texas State University

#3 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Arlington came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UT Arlington is a large public school situated in Arlington, Texas. It awarded 312 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Arlington also took the #3 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $11,811 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UT Arlington.

Read full report on General Studies at UT Arlington

#12

Oklahoma City University

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
#1 in overall quality

Oklahoma City University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 69 degrees to qualified bachelors’s general studies students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, OCU has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Oklahoma City University is $17,214 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full OCU General Studies Report

#13

Lamar University

Beaumont, Texas
#19 in overall quality

Lamar University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Beaumont, Texas, this fairly large public school awarded 146 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s general studies students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, Lamar University has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lamar University is $9,200 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Studies at Lamar University

#14

East Central University

Ada, Oklahoma
#22 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, East Central University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Ada, Oklahoma, and it awarded 27 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at ECU, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend ECU is $7,787 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Studies at East Central University

#16 in overall quality

Texas A&M University - Commerce landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Texas A&M Commerce is located in Commerce, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 99 bachelors’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas A&M Commerce, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Texas A&M Commerce is $10,013 for southwest region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about General Studies at Texas A&M Commerce

#16

West Texas A&M University

Canyon, Texas
#11 in overall quality

West Texas A&M University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s 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 202 bachelors’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

West Texas A&M University also made our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $8,730 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend West Texas A&M University.

Full West Texas A&M University General Studies Report

#23 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, Texas A&M University - Texarkana did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Texarkana, Texas, and it awarded 20 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M Texarkana also made our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #23. The estimated yearly cost for Texas A&M Texarkana is $6,384 for southwest region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Studies at Texas A&M University - Texarkana

#18

University of St. Thomas

Houston, Texas
#2 in overall quality

University of St. Thomas came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Houston, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s general studies degrees to 60 students in 2019-2020.

UST also made our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for UST is $16,969 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Studies at University of St. Thomas

#10 in overall quality

University of Central Oklahoma came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Central Oklahoma is a fairly large school located in Edmond, Oklahoma that handed out 196 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UCO also took the #10 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $12,297 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Central Oklahoma.

Read full report on General Studies at University of Central Oklahoma

#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, Southwestern Assemblies of God University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Southwestern Assemblies of God University is a small school located in Waxahachie, Texas that handed out 24 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Southwestern Assemblies of God University also took the #18 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $23,726 for southwest region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Southwestern Assemblies of God University.

Read more about General Studies at Southwestern Assemblies of God University

#21

Texas Southern University

Houston, Texas
#24 in overall quality

Texas Southern University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. TSU is a public institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 56 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

TSU also took the #24 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend TSU is $19,390 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Texas Southern University General Studies Report

#22

Texas Christian University

Fort Worth, Texas
#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #22, Texas Christian University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. TCU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Fort Worth, Texas. It awarded 57 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

TCU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for TCU is $21,286 for southwest region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%.

Full Texas Christian University General Studies Report

#23

Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, Oklahoma
#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #23, Oklahoma Wesleyan University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. OKWU or OWU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at OKWU or OWU, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Oklahoma Wesleyan University is $22,189 for southwest region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full OKWU or OWU General Studies Report

#21 in overall quality

University of Mary Hardin - Baylor did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. This small school is located in Belton, Texas, and it awarded 36 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMHB, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $24,867 for southwest region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Mary Hardin - Baylor.

Read full report on General Studies at University of Mary Hardin - Baylor

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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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