by our College Data Analytics TeamWhen pursuing a degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Southwest Region ranking is part of that endeavor. 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:
We analyzed 110 schools across the Southwest Region to determine which have the best value Associate Degree programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best value schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.
To calculate the value of a school in our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Southwest Region ranking, we first consider its average net price of students from families making $75-$110k a year. The net price is the sum of room and board, tuition, and fees minus any financial aid that 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 include a school's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a collection of various 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 2024 rankings named Lee College the best value (income $75-$110k) school in the Southwest Region for students working on their associate degree. Located in Baytown, Texas, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
Not only is Lee College a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in Texas for overall quality. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,835.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend South Texas College. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Southwest Region list. South Texas College is located in McAllen, Texas and has a large student population. It is a public school.
Not only is South Texas College a great value, but it is also ranked #9 in Texas for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $3,055.
Out of the 110 associate degree schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, El Centro College landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Dallas, Texas, the school is a large public institution.
El Centro College has the honor of being ranked #7 in Texas for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,930.
The quality degree programs at Central New Mexico Community College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Southwest Region. CNM is located in Albuquerque, 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, Central New Mexico Community College is ranked #1 for quality in the state of New Mexico. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $7,922.
Out of the 110 associate degree schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Pima Community College landed the #5 spot on the list. Tucson, Arizona is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Pima Community College is ranked #7 for quality in the state of Arizona. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,672.
Northwest Vista College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #6. This fairly large public school is located in San Antonio, Texas.
Northwest Vista College has the honor of being ranked #8 in Texas for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,945.
Lamar Institute of Technology landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Southwest Region ranking. Lamar Institute of Technology is a small public school situated in Beaumont, Texas.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Lamar Institute of Technology is ranked #4 for quality in the state of Texas. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $11,550.
Houston Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Southwest Region list. Houston Community College is located in Houston, Texas and has a large student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Houston Community College is ranked #5 for quality in the state of Texas. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $11,356.
Central Texas College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Southwest Region ranking. Killeen, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Central Texas College a great value, but it is also ranked #3 in Texas for overall quality. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $12,147.
With a ranking of #10, Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Southwest Region list. Located in Portales, New Mexico, the school is a small public institution.
Not only is Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in New Mexico for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $7,979.
Learn More About Value at Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus
McLennan Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Southwest Region list. This medium-sized public school is located in Waco, Texas.
Not only is McLennan Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #11 in Texas for overall quality. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,124.
Tarrant County College District landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Southwest Region ranking. Tarrant County College is a large public school situated in Fort Worth, Texas.
Tarrant County College District has the honor of being ranked #15 in Texas for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $9,493.
San Antonio College landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Southwest Region ranking. San Antonio College is a public institution located in San Antonio, Texas.
Not only is San Antonio College a great value, but it is also ranked #12 in Texas for overall quality. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,086.
University of Phoenix - Arizona landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Southwest Region ranking. University of Phoenix - Arizona is a large private for-profit school located in Phoenix, Arizona.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Phoenix - Arizona is ranked #1 for quality in the state of Arizona. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $17,492.
With a ranking of #15, Central Arizona College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Southwest Region list. This small public school is located in Coolidge, Arizona.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Central Arizona College is ranked #5 for quality in the state of Arizona. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,402.
With a ranking of #16, Lamar State College - Orange did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Southwest Region list. Located in Orange, Texas, the school is a small public institution.
Not only is Lamar State College - Orange a great value, but it is also ranked #26 in Texas for overall quality. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,852.
Cochise County Community College District ranked #17 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Southwest Region list. Cochise College is a small public school situated in Sierra Vista, Arizona.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Cochise County Community College District is ranked #8 for quality in the state of Arizona. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,019.
Learn More About Value at Cochise County Community College District
Texas State Technical College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Southwest Region ranking. Waco, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Texas State Technical College is ranked #2 for quality in the state of Texas. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $15,230.
St Philip’s College landed the #19 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Southwest Region ranking. St Philip’s College is located in San Antonio, 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, St Philip’s College is ranked #23 for quality in the state of Texas. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $9,169.
With a ranking of #20, Collin County Community College District did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Southwest Region list. McKinney, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Collin County Community College District has the honor of being ranked #10 in Texas for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $12,041.
Del Mar College landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Southwest Region ranking. Corpus Christi, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Del Mar College is ranked #19 for quality in the state of Texas. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $10,467.
Amarillo College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Amarillo, Texas, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
Not only is Amarillo College a great value, but it is also ranked #25 in Texas for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $8,806.
Grayson College landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Southwest Region ranking. Grayson College is located in Denison, Texas and has a small student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Grayson College is ranked #31 for quality in the state of Texas. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $7,460.
Austin Community College District came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Southwest Region ranking. Austin, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Austin Community College District has the honor of being ranked #16 in Texas for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $11,486.
Oklahoma City Community College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Southwest Region list. OCCC is a public institution located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Oklahoma City Community College has the honor of being ranked #2 in Oklahoma for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $10,723.
View Best Value Associate Degree Schools (Income $75-$110k) Nationwide >
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.