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2022 Best Value Economics Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k

29 Ranked Colleges
2,902 Degrees Awarded
Best Value Economics Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Economics Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 48,831 people earned their degree in economics, making the major the 18th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, economics graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $47,295 and had an average of $21,978 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southwest region, there were 2,902 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $45,669 and $20,712 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Economics Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 29 colleges that offer a degree in economics. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality economics programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the economics program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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 Economics Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important 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 Economics Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Economics Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 26 Best Value Colleges for Economics (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region

#1

Rice University

Houston, Texas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Rice University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Economics Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Rice University is located in Houston, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 103 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southwest region economics students whose families make $48-$75k list, Rice has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Economics Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Rice University is $7,318 for Southwest Region Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Rice Economics Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas at Austin. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Economics Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Austin, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s economics degrees to 523 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region economics students whose families make $48-$75k list, UT Austin has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Economics Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas at Austin is $15,757 for southwest region economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read more about Economics at The University of Texas at Austin

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Economics Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k. This large school is located in Edinburg, Texas, and it awarded 15 ’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is $6,405 for Southwest Region Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Economics at UT Rio Grande Valley

Out of the 29 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas A&M University - College Station landed the #4 spot on the list. Texas A&M University - College Station is located in College Station, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 396 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.

Texas A&M College Station also made our “Best Economics Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend Texas A&M College Station is $18,810 for southwest region economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Economics at Texas A&M University - College Station

#5

University of Houston

Houston, Texas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Houston. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Economics Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k. This large school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 215 ’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

UH also took the #9 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Houston is $12,505 for southwest region economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full University of Houston Economics Report

The University of Texas at San Antonio landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in San Antonio, Texas, and it awarded 19 ’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

UTSA also made our “Best Economics Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #20. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas at San Antonio is $13,827 for Southwest Region Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Economics at The University of Texas at San Antonio

With a ranking of #7, Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. ASU - Tempe is a large public school situated in Tempe, Arizona. It awarded 285 ’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

ASU - Tempe not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Economics Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $14,033 for southwest region economics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend ASU - Tempe.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Economics at Arizona State University - Tempe

#7

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona

University of Arizona ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Arizona is a public institution located in Tucson, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 283 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Arizona not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Economics Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $15,399 for Southwest Region Economics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Arizona.

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 more about Economics at University of Arizona

The University of Texas at Dallas landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in Richardson, Texas, and it awarded 79 ’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Dallas also made our “Best Economics Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas at Dallas is $13,797 for Southwest Region Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Economics at UT Dallas

#10

Trinity University

San Antonio, Texas

Trinity University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Trinity University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in San Antonio, Texas. It awarded 38 ’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Trinity U did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Economics Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Trinity U is $18,012 for southwest region economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read more about Economics at Trinity University

#11

University of North Texas

Denton, Texas

University of North Texas landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UNT is located in Denton, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 59 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.

UNT also made our “Best Economics Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #14. It costs about $15,377 for Southwest Region Economics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of North Texas.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full UNT Economics Report

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, this large public school awarded 10 diplomas to qualified ’s economics students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region economics students whose families make $48-$75k list, OSU has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Economics Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Oklahoma State University - Main Campus is $14,698 for southwest region economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

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 Oklahoma State University - Main Campus Economics Report

#13

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

Texas Tech University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #13. Lubbock, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s economics degrees to 104 students in 2019-2020.

Texas Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Economics Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Texas Tech is $17,421 for southwest region economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Economics at Texas Tech University

#14

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas

Texas State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #14. This large school is located in San Marcos, Texas, and it awarded 41 ’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas State also took the #22 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Texas State University is $14,250 for southwest region economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Texas State Economics Report

New Mexico State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Las Cruces, New Mexico, this fairly large public school handed out 29 diplomas to qualified ’s economics students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $10,235 for southwest region economics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend New Mexico State University - Main Campus.

Read more about Economics at New Mexico State University - Main Campus

#16

Arizona State University - Skysong

Scottsdale, Arizona

Arizona State University - Skysong did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #16. Arizona State University - Skysong is a large school located in Scottsdale, Arizona that handed out 28 ’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at ASU - Skysong, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for ASU - Skysong is $15,891 for Southwest Region Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Economics at ASU - Skysong

The University of Texas at Arlington ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. The University of Texas at Arlington is a public institution located in Arlington, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 54 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Arlington also took the #19 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UT Arlington is $14,622 for Southwest Region Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full UT Arlington Economics Report

Stephen F Austin State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Stephen F Austin State University is a fairly large public school situated in Nacogdoches, Texas. It awarded 1 ’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $13,644 for Southwest Region Economics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend SFASU.

Read full report on Economics at Stephen F Austin State University

#18

Texas Lutheran University

Seguin, Texas

Texas Lutheran University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #18. This small school is located in Seguin, Texas, and it awarded 2 ’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at TLU, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $19,310 for Southwest Region Economics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend TLU.

Read more about Economics at Texas Lutheran University

#19

Austin College

Sherman, Texas

With a ranking of #19, Austin College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Austin College is a small school located in Sherman, Texas that handed out 14 ’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region economics students whose families make $48-$75k list, Austin College has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Economics Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Austin College is $19,574 for southwest region economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Economics at Austin College

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Oklahoma is a large public school situated in Norman, Oklahoma. It awarded 114 ’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Oklahoma, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $21,812 for Southwest Region Economics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Oklahoma Norman Campus.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Economics at University of Oklahoma

#21

University of New Mexico - Main Campus

Albuquerque, New Mexico

University of New Mexico - Main Campus landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UNM is a public institution located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The school has a large population, and it awarded 66 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UNM is $16,557 for southwest region economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Economics at University of New Mexico - Main Campus

#22

University of Dallas

Irving, Texas

University of Dallas ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Dallas is a small school located in Irving, Texas that handed out 17 ’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

UD not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Economics Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UD is $19,433 for southwest region economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full UD Economics Report

University of Central Oklahoma did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #23. University of Central Oklahoma is located in Edmond, Oklahoma and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southwest region economics students whose families make $48-$75k list, UCO has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Economics Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UCO is $18,693 for Southwest Region Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full University of Central Oklahoma Economics Report

#24

St. Mary's University

San Antonio, Texas

St. Mary’s University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. St. Mary’s is a small private not-for-profit school situated in San Antonio, Texas. It awarded 4 ’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Mary’s did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Economics Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend St. Mary’s is $20,360 for southwest region economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Economics at St. Mary’s University

#25

Southwestern University

Georgetown, Texas
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #25, Southwestern University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Southwestern University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Georgetown, Texas. It awarded 12 ’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Southwestern, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Southwestern is $20,394 for Southwest Region Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Economics at Southwestern

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.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to pixabay.

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