2026 Best Value Economics Schools in the Southwest Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the economics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Economics Schools
For return on investment in economics, no school beat Austin Community College District this year. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,550, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,519 to complete the economics program here. Early-career economics graduates make about $44,895. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Rice University one of the best values for economics. Set in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $61,247 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $11,289 to complete the economics program here. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $78,814. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Texas Pan American earned it the #3 place for economics. Set in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,799 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,645 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,694 to complete the economics program here. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $46,404. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas Pan American admits about 94% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes New Mexico State University Main Campus one of the best values for economics. New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Las Cruces. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,183, compared with $25,307 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $19,026. Economics graduates of New Mexico State University Main Campus earn a median of $41,860 early in their careers. Set against $19,026 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
The University Of Texas At San Antonio came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. Students from in state pay about $9,326 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,249. Students borrow a median of $23,312 to complete the economics program here. Early-career economics graduates make about $49,955. That is a strong return on a $23,312 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Arizona State University earned the #6 position for value in economics this year. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Students borrow a median of $16,430 to complete the economics program here. Early-career economics graduates make about $54,778. Set against $16,430 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Houston landed the #7 spot for economics value this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,717, with out-of-state students paying around $22,547. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of Houston generally make around $50,820. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Houston admits about 74% of applicants.
University Of North Texas ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. University Of North Texas is a very large public school located in the city of Denton. In-state tuition and fees average $11,309, while out-of-state students pay about $21,149. Economics graduates carry a median of $23,619 in student loans. Economics graduates of University Of North Texas earn a median of $51,316 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,619 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
University Of Arizona ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Students from in state pay about $13,573 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Economics graduates carry a median of $19,610 in student loans. Early-career economics graduates make about $47,908. Set against $19,610 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Arlington landed the #10 spot for economics value this year. Located in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,950, with out-of-state students paying around $29,582. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the economics program here. Early-career economics graduates make about $46,416. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #11 spot for economics value this year. Set in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,797, with out-of-state students paying around $27,377. Economics graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus generally make around $69,613. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Texas State University San Marcos ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $22,930. Economics graduates carry a median of $22,717 in student loans. Economics graduates of Texas State University San Marcos earn a median of $43,064 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Blinn College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. Located in the town of Brenham, Blinn College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,890, with out-of-state students paying around $11,370. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $16,465. Early-career economics graduates make about $43,408. That is a strong return on a $16,465 median debt.
The University Of Texas At Dallas ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. Set in the city of Richardson, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,644 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,144 for out-of-state students. Economics graduates carry a median of $20,748 in student loans. Early-career economics graduates make about $47,034. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At Dallas admits about 65% of applicants.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus landed the #15 spot for economics value this year. Located in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,140, while out-of-state students pay about $33,060. Students borrow a median of $18,450 to complete the economics program here. Early-career economics graduates make about $43,656. That is a strong return on a $18,450 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #16 for value in economics this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $21,125. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $68,794. Set against $21,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 27%.
Texas A And M University College Station ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,995, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Economics graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Early-career economics graduates make about $64,294. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Oklahoma ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. University Of Central Oklahoma is a large public school located in the suburb of Edmond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,818, compared with $19,704 for out-of-state students. Economics graduates carry a median of $23,321 in student loans. Economics graduates of University Of Central Oklahoma earn a median of $44,085 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,321 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Texas Tech University landed the #19 spot for economics value this year. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,852, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. Economics graduates carry a median of $27,125 in student loans. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $44,292. Set against $27,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas Tech University admits about 73% of applicants.
Hardin Simmons University landed the #20 spot for economics value this year. Set in the city of Abilene, Hardin Simmons University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $32,960. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $26,674. Economics graduates of Hardin Simmons University earn a median of $50,478 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,674 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Trinity University earned the #21 position for value in economics this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, Trinity University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $53,676. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the economics program here. Economics graduates of Trinity University earn a median of $57,482 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Trinity University admits about 26% of applicants.
University Of Dallas ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. Located in the city of Irving, University Of Dallas is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $53,930. Students borrow a median of $24,752 to complete the economics program here. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of Dallas generally make around $55,732. Set against $24,752 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Dallas admits about 53% of applicants.
Southwestern University came in at #23 for value in economics this year. Southwestern University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Georgetown. In-state tuition and fees average $53,613. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $24,975. Early-career economics graduates make about $36,990. That is a strong return on a $24,975 median debt. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Christian University earned the #24 position for value in economics this year. Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Worth. Students from in state pay about $61,740 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the economics program here. Early-career economics graduates make about $54,462. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 44%.
Southern Methodist University earned the #25 position for value in economics 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 economics program here. Economics graduates of Southern Methodist University earn a median of $71,630 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 26 Best Value Economics Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s economics value ranking:
Narrow Economics Schools by State
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 61 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 23 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.
[Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
