by our College Data Analytics TeamIt's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. College Factual has developed its Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region ranking as one thing you can use to help make this decision. The amount of financial aid you could receive at various schools, including some with high sticker prices, may surprise you.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
After analyzing 245 schools in the Southwest Region , we came up with our list of those that offered the best value programs. To come up with this ranking of the best value schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.
When determining the value of a school in our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region ranking, we first look at its average net price of a student coming from a family that makes $48-$75k 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 collection of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
Find out more about our best value ranking methodology.
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 analysis found Rice University to be the best value (income $48-$75k) school in the Southwest Region in this year’s ranking. Rice University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Houston, Texas.
Not only is Rice University a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in Texas for overall quality. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,320.
Out of the 245 schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Lee College landed the #2 spot on the list. Lee College is a medium-sized public school situated in Baytown, Texas.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Lee College is ranked #6 for quality in the state of Texas. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,574.
A rank of #3 on our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region list means South Texas College is a great place for students working on their degree. McAllen, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is South Texas College a great value, but it is also ranked #22 in Texas for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $3,268.
The quality degree programs at El Centro College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region. El Centro College is a public institution located in Dallas, Texas.
El Centro College has the honor of being ranked #17 in Texas for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $5,619.
The quality degree programs at Central New Mexico Community College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region. CNM is a fairly large public school situated in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Central New Mexico Community College has the honor of being ranked #1 in New Mexico for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $5,991.
Read full value report on Central New Mexico Community College
With a ranking of #6, Northwest Vista College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region list. Located in San Antonio, Texas, the school is a fairly large public institution.
Northwest Vista College has the honor of being ranked #19 in Texas for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $6,544.
Lamar State College - Orange did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #7. Orange, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $3,148.
Lamar Institute of Technology came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region ranking. Lamar Institute of Technology is a small public school located in Beaumont, Texas.
Lamar Institute of Technology has the honor of being ranked #13 in Texas for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $8,831.
Pima Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region list. Located in Tucson, Arizona, the school is a fairly large public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Pima Community College is ranked #13 for quality in the state of Arizona. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,866.
Central Texas College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Killeen, Texas, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
Central Texas College has the honor of being ranked #12 in Texas for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $9,628.
With a ranking of #11, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region list. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a large public school located in Edinburg, Texas.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley has the honor of being ranked #23 in Texas for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,248.
Central Arizona College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region list. Central Arizona College is a small public school located in Coolidge, Arizona.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Central Arizona College is ranked #10 for quality in the state of Arizona. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $6,839.
Houston Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region list. Located in Houston, Texas, the school is a large public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Houston Community College is ranked #15 for quality in the state of Texas. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,052.
Del Mar College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region list. DMC is located in Corpus Christi, Texas and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Del Mar College is ranked #37 for quality in the state of Texas. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,305.
Panola College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #15. This small public school is located in Carthage, Texas.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Panola College is ranked #42 for quality in the state of Texas. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $6,288.
McLennan Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #16. This medium-sized public school is located in Waco, Texas.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, McLennan Community College is ranked #24 for quality in the state of Texas. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,876.
The University of Texas at Austin did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #17. UT Austin is located in Austin, Texas and has a large student population. 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. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $16,738.
With a ranking of #18, Trinity University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region list. San Antonio, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is Trinity University a great value, but it is also ranked #18 in Texas for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $9,644.
Austin Community College District landed the #19 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region ranking. This large public school is located in Austin, Texas.
Not only is Austin Community College District a great value, but it is also ranked #32 in Texas for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $7,536.
San Antonio College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #19. San Antonio College is located in San Antonio, Texas and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
Not only is San Antonio College a great value, but it is also ranked #27 in Texas for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $7,914.
Tarrant County College District landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region ranking. This large public school is located in Fort Worth, Texas.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Tarrant County College District is ranked #30 for quality in the state of Texas. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $7,843.
With a ranking of #22, College of the Mainland did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region list. College of the Mainland is a small public school located in Texas City, Texas.
College of the Mainland has the honor of being ranked #98 in Texas for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $1,861.
With a ranking of #23, Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region list. ENMU - Main Campus is located in Portales, New Mexico and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus has the honor of being ranked #6 in New Mexico for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,418.
Learn More About Value at Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus
Texas A&M International University landed the #24 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Laredo, Texas.
Not only is Texas A&M International University a great value, but it is also ranked #71 in Texas for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $4,668.
Read full value report on Texas A&M International University
New Mexico Military Institute landed the #25 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region ranking. NMMI is a small public school situated in Roswell, New Mexico.
New Mexico Military Institute has the honor of being ranked #12 in New Mexico for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,103.
Not only did these schools make the top 37 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
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These schools also performed well in our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region ranking:
| Rank | College | Location | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | Ranger College | Ranger, TX | Value Report |
| 39 | Eastern New Mexico University - Roswell Campus | Roswell, NM | Value Report |
| 40 | University of North Texas | Denton, TX | Value Report |
| 41 | El Paso Community College | El Paso, TX | Value Report |
| 42 | Cochise County Community College District | Sierra Vista, AZ | Value Report |
| 43 | Texas A & M University - Central Texas | Killeen, TX | Value Report |
| 44 | University of Phoenix - Arizona | Phoenix, AZ | Value Report |
| 45 | The University of Texas at San Antonio | San Antonio, TX | Value Report |
| 45 | Victoria College | Victoria, TX | Value Report |
| 47 | Palo Alto College | San Antonio, TX | Value Report |
| 48 | The University of Texas of the Permian Basin | Odessa, TX | Value Report |
| 49 | Texas A&M University - College Station | College Station, TX | Value Report |
| 50 | GateWay Community College | Phoenix, AZ | Value Report |
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.