by our College Data Analytics TeamWhen pursuing a degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Master's Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard. A school that typically has a high sticker price may actually be very affordable, depending on how much need-based financial aid you receive.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
Our analysis looked at 88 schools in the Southwest Region to determine which ones have the best value Master's Degree programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best value schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
When determining the value of a school in our Best Master's Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region ranking, we first look at its average net price of a student coming from a family that makes $0-$30k a year. The net price is defined as the sum of room and board, tuition, and fees minus any financial aid that the student receives. But, a school that excels in providing value for your money must also be a great school overall as well.
To take this into account we consider a school's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a host of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
We go into more detail on these factors on our best value ranking methodology page.
Keep scrolling for the top schools in this ranking or select one of the other rankings methods below.
If you know what major you want to study, check out our list of the best value schools by major. If you're interested in other degree levels, you can view one of the lists below.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2024 rankings named Rice University the best value (income $0-$30k) school in the Southwest Region for students working on their master’s degree. Houston, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Rice University is ranked #1 for quality in the state of Texas.
Out of the 88 master’s degree schools 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. Austin, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is The University of Texas at Austin a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in Texas for overall quality.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Texas. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region list. Denton, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
University of North Texas has the honor of being ranked #13 in Texas for overall quality on top of being a good value.
A rank of #4 on our Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region list means The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a great place for students working on their degree. UT Rio Grande Valley is located in Edinburg, Texas and has a large student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is ranked #18 for quality in the state of Texas.
Read full value report on The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Oklahoma State University - Main Campus. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region list. Stillwater, Oklahoma is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Oklahoma State University - Main Campus has the honor of being ranked #2 in Oklahoma for overall quality on top of being a good value.
Read full value report on Oklahoma State University - Main Campus
With a ranking of #6, Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region list. ASU - Tempe is a large public school situated in Tempe, Arizona.
Not only is Arizona State University - Tempe a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in Arizona for overall quality.
Texas A&M University - College Station came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region ranking. Texas A&M College Station is located in College Station, Texas and has a large student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Texas A&M University - College Station is ranked #3 for quality in the state of Texas.
Read full value report on Texas A&M University - College Station
The University of Texas of the Permian Basin came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Odessa, Texas.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, The University of Texas of the Permian Basin is ranked #40 for quality in the state of Texas.
Read full value report on The University of Texas of the Permian Basin
Texas Tech University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #9. Texas Tech is a public institution located in Lubbock, Texas.
Texas Tech University has the honor of being ranked #8 in Texas for overall quality on top of being a good value.
With a ranking of #10, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region list. New Mexico Tech is a public institution located in Socorro, New Mexico.
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology has the honor of being ranked #1 in New Mexico for overall quality on top of being a good value.
Read full value report on New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Trinity University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region list. Trinity U is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Antonio, Texas.
Not only is Trinity University a great value, but it is also ranked #12 in Texas for overall quality.
The University of Texas at Dallas landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region ranking. UT Dallas is located in Richardson, Texas and has a large student population. It is a public school.
Not only is The University of Texas at Dallas a great value, but it is also ranked #7 in Texas for overall quality.
With a ranking of #13, University of Arizona did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region list. University of Arizona is a large public school situated in Tucson, Arizona.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Arizona is ranked #2 for quality in the state of Arizona.
Texas A&M International University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region ranking. Texas A&M International University is located in Laredo, Texas and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Texas A&M International University a great value, but it is also ranked #45 in Texas for overall quality.
Learn More About Value at Texas A&M International University
Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus landed the #15 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region ranking. ENMU - Main Campus is a small public school situated in Portales, New Mexico.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus is ranked #6 for quality in the state of New Mexico.
Read full value report on Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus
With a ranking of #16, The University of Texas at San Antonio did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region list. This large public school is located in San Antonio, Texas.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, The University of Texas at San Antonio is ranked #24 for quality in the state of Texas.
Learn More About Value at The University of Texas at San Antonio
The University of Texas at Tyler ranked #17 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region list. This medium-sized public school is located in Tyler, Texas.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, The University of Texas at Tyler is ranked #29 for quality in the state of Texas.
University of Houston came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region ranking. UH is a public institution located in Houston, Texas.
University of Houston has the honor of being ranked #9 in Texas for overall quality on top of being a good value.
Texas Woman’s University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region list. Located in Denton, Texas, the school is a fairly large public institution.
Not only is Texas Woman’s University a great value, but it is also ranked #15 in Texas for overall quality.
University of Phoenix - Arizona came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region ranking. This large private for-profit school is located in Phoenix, Arizona.
Not only is University of Phoenix - Arizona a great value, but it is also ranked #3 in Arizona for overall quality.
Northern Arizona University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #21. Flagstaff, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Northern Arizona University a great value, but it is also ranked #5 in Arizona for overall quality.
Southeastern Oklahoma State University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region list. Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a medium-sized public school located in Durant, Oklahoma.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Southeastern Oklahoma State University is ranked #8 for quality in the state of Oklahoma.
Northeastern State University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region list. Tahlequah, Oklahoma is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Northeastern State University a great value, but it is also ranked #9 in Oklahoma for overall quality.
University of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region ranking. University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a large public school located in Norman, Oklahoma.
Not only is University of Oklahoma Norman Campus a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in Oklahoma for overall quality.
Learn More About Value at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus
New Mexico State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #25. NMSU Main Campus is located in Las Cruces, New Mexico and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, New Mexico State University - Main Campus is ranked #5 for quality in the state of New Mexico.
Read full value report on New Mexico State University - Main Campus
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.