2027 Best Value Applied Economics Schools in Texas
[Applied Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/applied-economics/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 2 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for applied economics students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Applied Economics Schools in Texas
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the applied economics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Applied Economics Schools
Leading the list is University Of Houston, our #1 best value for applied economics in Texas. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,717, with out-of-state students paying around $22,547. Typical student debt for applied economics graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, applied economics degree recipients from University Of Houston generally make around $50,820. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Southern Methodist University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in applied economics, landing the #2 spot this year. Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. In-state tuition and fees average $67,040. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the applied economics program here. Soon after graduation, applied economics degree recipients from Southern Methodist University generally make around $71,630. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 2 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
