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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities in the Southwest Region

12 Ranked Colleges
429 Degrees Awarded
$23,500 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Master's 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. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 559,661 liberal arts / sciences and humanities students received their degree, making the major the 3rd most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, liberal arts / sciences and humanities 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 / sciences and humanities 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 / sciences and humanities graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,078 and $37,227 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region” ranking, we looked at 12 colleges that offer a degree in liberal arts / sciences and humanities. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great liberal arts / sciences and humanities 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 liberal arts / sciences and humanities program at the school. 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 Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region.

Top 12 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities in the Southwest Region

#9 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Arizona State University - Skysong. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region. ASU - Skysong is located in Scottsdale, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 32 masters’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.

ASU - Skysong did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Arizona State University - Skysong are $6,724, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Arizona State University - Skysong

#2 in overall quality

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas at Austin landed the #2 spot on the list. UT Austin is a public institution located in Austin, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 20 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Austin also made our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #2. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Austin are $22,886.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at UT Austin

#3 in overall quality

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #3 spot on the list. University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a large public school situated in Norman, Oklahoma. It awarded 160 masters’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Oklahoma, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus are $23,236, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at University of Oklahoma

#4

Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, Texas
#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Wayland Baptist University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region. Wayland Baptist University is located in Plainview, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 masters’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wayland Baptist University, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wayland Baptist University are $14,710, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Wayland Baptist University Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#11 in overall quality

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Houston Baptist University landed the #5 spot on the list. HBU is located in Houston, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 masters’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at HBU, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities 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 Houston Baptist University are $12,650.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at HBU

#6

University of St. Thomas

Houston, Texas
#8 in overall quality

University of St. Thomas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #6. UST is a private not-for-profit institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 21 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UST, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities 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 University of St. Thomas are $21,634.

Full UST Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#12 in overall quality

Texas A & M University - Central Texas ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region list. Texas A & M University - Central Texas is a public institution located in Killeen, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students list, Texas A & M University - Central Texas has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A & M University - Central Texas are $13,561, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Texas A & M University - Central Texas Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#5 in overall quality

Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #8. Arizona State University - Tempe is a large school located in Tempe, Arizona that handed out 20 masters’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at ASU - Tempe, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Arizona State University - Tempe are $27,048, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at ASU - Tempe

#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, The University of Texas at Dallas did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region list. The University of Texas at Dallas is located in Richardson, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 23 masters’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.

UT Dallas did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities 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 The University of Texas at Dallas are $28,610.

Full The University of Texas at Dallas Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#10

Texas Christian University

Fort Worth, Texas
#4 in overall quality

Texas Christian University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #10. Fort Worth, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to 30 students in 2019-2020.

TCU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas Christian University are $32,268, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at TCU

#11

St. John's College

Santa Fe, New Mexico
#10 in overall quality

St. John’s College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #11. St. John’s is a small school located in Santa Fe, New Mexico that handed out 21 masters’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students list, St. John’s has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities 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 are $28,612.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at St. John’s College

#1 in overall quality

Southern Methodist University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #12. SMU 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 not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SMU are $47,478, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at SMU

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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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