by our College Data Analytics TeamWhen pursuing a degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money in the Southwest Region ranking as one thing you can use to help make this decision.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
After analyzing 115 schools in the Southwest Region , we came up with our list of those that offered 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. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
Our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money in the Southwest Region ranking is determined by first looking at the combined costs of average tuition, fees, and room and board before any aid is applied. 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 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 Lee College the best value (no aid) school in the Southwest Region for students working on their associate degree. Baytown, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Lee College is ranked #1 for quality in the state of Texas. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $10,320 a year.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Phoenix - Arizona. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money in the Southwest Region list. 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. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $15,402 a year.
Out of the 115 associate degree schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Central Texas College landed the #3 spot on the list. Central Texas College is located in Killeen, Texas and has a medium-sized student population. 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. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $13,611 a year.
The quality degree programs at Houston Community College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money in the Southwest Region. Houston Community College is a large public school located in Houston, Texas.
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. The average cost without aid for the school is $14,540 a year for undergraduates.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Texas State Technical College. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money in the Southwest Region list. This fairly large public school is located in Waco, Texas.
Not only is Texas State Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in Texas for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $20,441 a year for undergraduates.
Central New Mexico Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money in the Southwest Region ranking. Central New Mexico Community College is a fairly large public school located in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
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 cost without aid for the school is $14,962 a year for undergraduates.
South Texas College landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money in the Southwest Region ranking. South Texas College is a large public school situated in McAllen, Texas.
South Texas College has the honor of being ranked #9 in Texas for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $14,352 a year.
Lamar Institute of Technology ranked #8 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money in the Southwest Region list. Beaumont, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Lamar Institute of Technology has the honor of being ranked #4 in Texas for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $18,600 a year.
With a ranking of #9, El Centro College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money in the Southwest Region list. Located in Dallas, Texas, the school is a large public institution.
Not only is El Centro College a great value, but it is also ranked #7 in Texas for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $16,836 a year for undergraduates.
With a ranking of #10, McLennan Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money in the Southwest Region list. MCC is located in Waco, Texas and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
McLennan Community College has the honor of being ranked #11 in Texas for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $13,317 a year for undergraduates.
Central Arizona College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Coolidge, Arizona, the school is a small public institution.
Not only is Central Arizona College a great value, but it is also ranked #5 in Arizona for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $12,460 a year.
Collin County Community College District came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in McKinney, Texas, the school is a large public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Collin County Community College District is ranked #10 for quality in the state of Texas. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $14,188 a year.
Read full value report on Collin County Community College District
With a ranking of #13, Panola College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money in the Southwest Region list. Located in Carthage, Texas, the school is a small public institution.
Not only is Panola College a great value, but it is also ranked #21 in Texas for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $9,940 a year.
GateWay Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money in the Southwest Region ranking. GateWay Community College is a small public school situated in Phoenix, Arizona.
Not only is GateWay Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in Arizona for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $16,350 a year.
Mesa Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money in the Southwest Region list. Mesa Community College is a public institution located in Mesa, Arizona.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Mesa Community College is ranked #4 for quality in the state of Arizona. The average cost without aid for the school is $16,350 a year for undergraduates.
Del Mar College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #16. Located in Corpus Christi, Texas, the school is a fairly large public institution.
Not only is Del Mar College a great value, but it is also ranked #19 in Texas for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $12,880 a year for undergraduates.
Cochise County Community College District came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Sierra Vista, Arizona, the school is a small public institution.
Cochise County Community College District has the honor of being ranked #8 in Arizona for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $13,602 a year.
Learn More About Value at Cochise County Community College District
San Jacinto Community College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money in the Southwest Region ranking. Pasadena, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is San Jacinto Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #18 in Texas for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $13,486 a year.
Rio Salado College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #19. Rio Salado College is located in Tempe, Arizona and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
Rio Salado College has the honor of being ranked #6 in Arizona for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $15,406 a year.
Odessa College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Odessa, Texas, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
Not only is Odessa College a great value, but it is also ranked #24 in Texas for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $10,293 a year for undergraduates.
American InterContinental University - Online did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #21. American InterContinental University - Online is a fairly large private for-profit school located in Chandler, Arizona.
Not only is American InterContinental University - Online a great value, but it is also ranked #3 in Arizona for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $19,183 a year for undergraduates.
Full American InterContinental University - Online Value Report
Amarillo College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #22. Amarillo College is a public institution located in Amarillo, Texas.
Not only is Amarillo College a great value, but it is also ranked #25 in Texas for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $11,675 a year for undergraduates.
Pima Community College landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Tucson, Arizona, the school is a fairly large public institution.
Not only is Pima Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #7 in Arizona for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $17,346 a year.
Tarrant County College District did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #24. Tarrant County College is a large public school situated in Fort Worth, Texas.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Tarrant County College District is ranked #15 for quality in the state of Texas. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $17,882 a year.
Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #25. Portales, New Mexico is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus has the honor of being ranked #2 in New Mexico for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $16,382 a year.
Full Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus Value Report
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.