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

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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 in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
General Studies is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 5th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 133,583 degrees were awarded to students with this major.
Across the Southwest region, there were 49,602 general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 108 colleges that offered a degree in general studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general studies programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the general studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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More Ways to Rank General Studies 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 General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college 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 in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for General Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend El Centro College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Dallas, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general studies degrees to 5,589 students in 2019-2020.
El Centro College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend El Centro College is $3,454 for Southwest Region General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Austin Community College District. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Austin Community College District is a public institution located in Austin, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1,547 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Austin Community College District, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Austin Community College District is $3,134 for southwest region general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about General Studies at Austin Community College District
Out of the 108 schools in the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, South Texas College landed the #3 spot on the list. South Texas College is a large public school situated in McAllen, Texas. It awarded 1,257 ’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.
South Texas College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $904 for Southwest Region General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend South Texas College.
Out of the 108 schools in the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Tarrant County College District landed the #4 spot on the list. Tarrant County College District is located in Fort Worth, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4,575 ’s general studies degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our southwest region general studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, Tarrant County College has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Tarrant County College is $5,225 for southwest region general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on General Studies at Tarrant County College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Houston Community College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Houston Community College is a large public school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 2,851 ’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.
Houston Community College also took the #4 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Houston Community College is $4,562 for Southwest Region General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about General Studies at Houston Community College
Brazosport College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Brazosport College is a small public school situated in Lake Jackson, Texas. It awarded 306 ’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.
BC also took the #14 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for BC is $3,087 for Southwest Region General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Collin County Community College District came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Collin County Community College District is a large public school situated in McKinney, Texas. It awarded 1,123 ’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.
Collin County Community College District also made our “Best General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $4,565 for southwest region general studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Collin County Community College District.
Read more about General Studies at Collin County Community College District
Central New Mexico Community College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. CNM is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2,935 ’s general studies degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our southwest region general studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, CNM has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Central New Mexico Community College is $2,604 for Southwest Region General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a ranking of #9, Pima Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Pima County Community College District is a fairly large public school situated in Tucson, Arizona. It awarded 156 ’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our southwest region general studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, Pima County Community College District has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Pima Community College is $2,574 for southwest region general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about General Studies at Pima County Community College District
With a ranking of #10, Northwest Vista College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. San Antonio, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general studies degrees to 2,339 students in 2019-2020.
Northwest Vista College also took the #8 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northwest Vista College is $4,355 for southwest region general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Central Texas College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Central Texas College is located in Killeen, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 494 ’s general studies degrees to qualified students.
Central Texas College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $3,705 for southwest region general studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Central Texas College.
With a ranking of #12, San Antonio College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in San Antonio, Texas, this fairly large public school handed out 1,926 diplomas to qualified ’s general studies students in 2019-2020.
San Antonio College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend San Antonio College is $5,183 for southwest region general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a ranking of #13, Wharton County Junior College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Wharton County Junior College is located in Wharton, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 324 ’s general studies degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $3,227 for southwest region general studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Wharton County Junior College.
Read full report on General Studies at Wharton County Junior College
With a ranking of #14, College of the Mainland did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. College of the Mainland is a small school located in Texas City, Texas that handed out 269 ’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for College of the Mainland is $2,069 for Southwest Region General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Oklahoma City Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. OCCC is located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 588 ’s general studies degrees to qualified students.
OCCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Oklahoma City Community College is $5,889 for southwest region general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on General Studies at Oklahoma City Community College
University of North Texas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. University of North Texas is a large public school situated in Denton, Texas. It awarded 618 ’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our southwest region general studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, UNT has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UNT is $8,521 for Southwest Region 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 85%.
El Paso Community College landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in El Paso, Texas, this large public school handed out 119 diplomas to qualified ’s general studies students in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for El Paso Community College is $3,978 for southwest region general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on General Studies at El Paso Community College
North Central Texas College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. Gainesville, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general studies degrees to 720 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at NCTC, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for North Central Texas College is $3,213 for southwest region general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
McLennan Community College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Waco, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general studies degrees to 108 students in 2019-2020.
MCC also made our “Best General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #21. The yearly cost to attend MCC is $5,970 for Southwest Region General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on General Studies at McLennan Community College
With a ranking of #20, Midland College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Midland, Texas, and it awarded 266 ’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Midland College, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $4,070 for Southwest Region General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Midland College.
Central Arizona College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Central Arizona College is a small public school situated in Coolidge, Arizona. It awarded 104 ’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Central Arizona College is $5,597 for Southwest Region General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on General Studies at Pinal County Community College
Texas Woman’s University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Denton, Texas, this fairly large public school awarded 238 diplomas to qualified ’s general studies students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Texas Woman’s University is $6,706 for Southwest Region General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Kilgore College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Kilgore College is located in Kilgore, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 524 ’s general studies degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $6,668 for Southwest Region General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Kilgore College.
Odessa College landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Odessa, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general studies degrees to 370 students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Odessa College is $5,380 for Southwest Region General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a ranking of #25, Temple College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Temple, Texas, this small public school awarded 183 diplomas to qualified ’s general studies students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Temple College is $3,672 for southwest region general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
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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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