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2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region

34 Ranked Colleges
1,506 Degrees Awarded
$18,000 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Social Sciences 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. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Social Sciences is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 5th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 205,726 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2017-2018, social sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $34,801 and had an average of $23,466 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southwest region, there were 14,301 social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,155 and $22,401 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,506 social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,078 and $37,227 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region” ranking looked at 34 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in social sciences. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality social sciences programs that also have a lower cost than 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 social sciences program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Sciences in the Southwest Region

#1

Oklahoma City University

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Oklahoma City University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region. OCU is located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 masters’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

OCU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Social Sciences 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 Oklahoma City University are $13,410.

Read more about Social Sciences at Oklahoma City University

#19 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Arizona State University - Skysong. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region list. Scottsdale, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 120 students in 2019-2020.

ASU - Skysong also took the #19 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Arizona State University - Skysong are $6,724, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Sciences at ASU - Skysong

#8 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Texas. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region list. Denton, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 42 students in 2019-2020.

UNT not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Social Sciences 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 University of North Texas are $15,618.

Read more about Social Sciences at University of North Texas

#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas A&M University - College Station. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region. Texas A&M College Station is a public institution located in College Station, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 224 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas A&M College Station, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M University - College Station are $22,743, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Sciences at Texas A&M University - College Station

#5

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas
#10 in overall quality

Out of the 34 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas State University landed the #5 spot on the list. San Marcos, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 57 students in 2019-2020.

Texas State also made our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #10. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas State are $17,040, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Texas State

#6

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas
#15 in overall quality

Texas Tech University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #6. Texas Tech is a large school located in Lubbock, Texas that handed out 18 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas Tech also took the #15 spot in our “Best Social Sciences 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 Tech University are $17,530.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Texas Tech

#21 in overall quality

Texas Woman’s University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #7. TWU is located in Denton, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 masters’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

TWU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Social Sciences 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 Texas Woman’s University are $14,962.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Texas Woman’s University

#8

University of Houston

Houston, Texas
#14 in overall quality

University of Houston did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #8. Houston, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 61 students in 2019-2020.

UH not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Social Sciences 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 University of Houston are $18,689.

Read more about Social Sciences at UH

#9

St. Mary's University

San Antonio, Texas
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, St. Mary’s University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region list. San Antonio, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 18 students in 2019-2020.

St. Mary’s also took the #13 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at St. Mary’s are $19,320, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Sciences at St. Mary’s

#10

Angelo State University

San Angelo, Texas
#24 in overall quality

Angelo State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in San Angelo, Texas, and it awarded 28 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Angelo State also took the #24 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Angelo State are $14,396, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Angelo State

#11

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, Texas
#23 in overall quality

Sam Houston State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region ranking. SHSU is a public institution located in Huntsville, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 18 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree social sciences students list, SHSU has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Social Sciences 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 SHSU are $15,704.

Read more about Social Sciences at SHSU

#5 in overall quality

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region ranking. University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a large public school situated in Norman, Oklahoma. It awarded 49 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Oklahoma, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Oklahoma are $23,236, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Sciences at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

#25 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Texas A&M University - Commerce did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region list. Commerce, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 29 students in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M Commerce also took the #25 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M University - Commerce are $14,549, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Social Sciences at Texas A&M University - Commerce

#4 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Austin ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region list. UT Austin is a large school located in Austin, Texas that handed out 125 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Austin, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Austin are $22,886, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin

#15

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona
#17 in overall quality

Northern Arizona University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #15. Northern Arizona University is located in Flagstaff, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 42 masters’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

NAU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northern Arizona University are $19,489, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Sciences at NAU

#16 in overall quality

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Prescott, Arizona, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 10 diplomas to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

Embry-Riddle Prescott also took the #16 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott are $19,636, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott

#22 in overall quality

University of Houston - Clear Lake ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region list. University of Houston - Clear Lake is a medium-sized school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 15 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UH Clear Lake did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UH Clear Lake are $19,216, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Social Sciences at UH Clear Lake

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #18. UT Rio Grande Valley is located in Edinburg, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 masters’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Rio Grande Valley are $15,151, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Sciences at UT Rio Grande Valley

Texas A&M University - Kingsville landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region ranking. Kingsville, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 22 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M University - Kingsville are $14,066, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Social Sciences at Texas A&M University - Kingsville

#20 in overall quality

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region ranking. Oklahoma State University - Main Campus is a large school located in Stillwater, Oklahoma that handed out 12 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

OSU also made our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #20. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at OSU are $23,963.

Full OSU Social Sciences Report

With a ranking of #21, The University of Texas at El Paso did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region list. The University of Texas at El Paso is located in El Paso, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 49 masters’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at El Paso are $16,180, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UTEP Social Sciences Report

New Mexico State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #22. New Mexico State University - Main Campus is a fairly large school located in Las Cruces, New Mexico that handed out 32 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at NMSU Main Campus are $18,275, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Sciences at New Mexico State University - Main Campus

#23

University of New Mexico - Main Campus

Albuquerque, New Mexico

University of New Mexico - Main Campus ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region list. This large school is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and it awarded 25 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of New Mexico - Main Campus are $19,890.

Full UNM Social Sciences Report

#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #24, The University of Texas at Dallas did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region list. The University of Texas at Dallas is a large school located in Richardson, Texas that handed out 67 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Dallas not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Social Sciences 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 UT Dallas are $28,610.

Full The University of Texas at Dallas Social Sciences Report

#24

Texas Southern University

Houston, Texas

Texas Southern University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #24. TSU is a medium-sized public school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 6 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at TSU are $13,221, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Sciences at TSU

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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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