2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.
In 2019-2020, 559,661 liberal arts general studies students received their degree, making the major the 1st most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, liberal arts general studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $26,786 and had an average of $16,538 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Southwest region, there were 78,664 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $27,829 and $15,343 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 429 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,078 and $37,227 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 12 colleges that offered a degree in liberal arts general studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent liberal arts general studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the liberal arts general studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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One Size Does Not Fit All
The liberal arts school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.
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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region master’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 13 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Texas A & M University - Central Texas. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Texas A & M University - Central Texas is a small public school situated in Killeen, Texas. It awarded 2 masters’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, Texas A & M University - Central Texas has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A & M University - Central Texas are $13,561.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Texas A & M University - Central Texas
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas at Austin. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. The University of Texas at Austin is located in Austin, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 20 masters’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Austin, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Austin are $22,886, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at The University of Texas at Austin
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Arizona State University - Tempe. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. ASU - Tempe is a public institution located in Tempe, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 20 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
ASU - Tempe not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at ASU - Tempe are $27,048, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Arizona State University - Tempe
Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas at Dallas landed the #4 spot on the list. The University of Texas at Dallas is a large school located in Richardson, Texas that handed out 23 masters’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
UT Dallas also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #6. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Dallas are $28,610.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at The University of Texas at Dallas
Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #5 spot on the list. University of Oklahoma is a large school located in Norman, Oklahoma that handed out 160 masters’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
University of Oklahoma also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #3. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus are $23,236, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full University of Oklahoma Norman Campus Liberal Arts General Studies Report
With a ranking of #6, Arizona State University - Skysong did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Arizona State University - Skysong is a large school located in Scottsdale, Arizona that handed out 32 masters’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
ASU - Skysong not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at ASU - Skysong are $6,724, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Arizona State University - Skysong
New Mexico State University - Main Campus landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. NMSU Main Campus is located in Las Cruces, New Mexico and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 masters’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
NMSU Main Campus not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at NMSU Main Campus are $18,275, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at New Mexico State University - Main Campus
St. John’s College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. St. John’s is a private not-for-profit institution located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The school has a small population, and it awarded 21 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, St. John’s has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at St. John’s College are $28,612.
University of St. Thomas ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UST is located in Houston, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 21 masters’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, UST has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of St. Thomas are $21,634, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Houston Baptist University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Houston, Texas, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 8 degrees to qualified masters’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.
HBU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at HBU are $12,650.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Houston Baptist University
Texas Christian University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Texas Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Fort Worth, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 30 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
TCU also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #4. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at TCU are $32,268.
Southern Methodist University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Dallas, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 32 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
SMU also took the #1 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Methodist University are $47,478, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #12, Wayland Baptist University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Wayland Baptist University is a small school located in Plainview, Texas that handed out 2 masters’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
Wayland Baptist University also took the #7 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wayland Baptist University are $14,710, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Wayland Baptist University
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Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master's Degree Schools in the Southwest Region
Liberal Arts General Studies students in the Southwest Region
Most Focused Master's Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in the Southwest Region
Liberal Arts General Studies students in the Southwest Region
Most Popular Master's Degree Online Liberal Arts General Studies Schools
Liberal Arts General Studies students in the Southwest Region
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region
Liberal Arts General Studies students with family income less than $30k in the Southwest Region
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region
Liberal Arts General Studies students with family income $48-$75k in the Southwest Region
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies (Income Over $110k) in the Southwest Region
Liberal Arts General Studies students with family income exceeding $110k in the Southwest Region
Highest Paid Master's Degree Liberal Arts General Studies Graduates in the Southwest Region
Liberal Arts General Studies students in the Southwest Region
Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in the Southwest Region
Liberal Arts General Studies students in the Southwest Region
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in the Southwest Region (With Aid)
Liberal Arts General Studies students getting aid in the Southwest Region
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies (Income $30-$48k) in the Southwest Region
Liberal Arts General Studies students with family income $30-$48k in the Southwest Region
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies (Income $75-$110k) in the Southwest Region
Liberal Arts General Studies students with family income $75-$110k in the Southwest Region
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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