It's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges in the Southwest Region ranking is part of that endeavor.
After analyzing 119 schools in the Southwest Region , we came up with our list of those that offered the best bachelor's degree programs. Our ranking methodology focuses on different objective factors to make this determination of the best schools. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.
Early-Career Salaries Are Higher
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of bachelor's graduates during the early years of their career. While bachelor's degree recipients from schools in the Southwest Region earn an average starting salary of $40,112, those from the top 25 school on this list made an average of $43,808.
Starting Salary ( 37068 to 48820 )
Average Student Debt
In addition to average starting salaries, we also consider the average amount of student loans that students take on while pursuing their bachelor's degree.
During their time at college, bachelor's degree seekers from schools in the Southwest Region take out an average of $26,227.
The average debt load at a particular school may not be bad, but it's an important thing to consider in conjunction with post-graduation earnings.
Other Ranking Factors in Our Methodology
In addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt loads, we also look at a host of other factors to determining our Best Bachelor's Degree Schools ranking.
Several other factors - such as how much the school spends on educational resources, the demand of the school, the availability of online learning options, and the student body caliber - go into our rankings.
If you'd rather work on your bachelor's degree in a specific area of the country, you might be interested in our rankings by place. Also, check out our other college rankings to help you with your college decision.
Top Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Southwest Region
Our 2024 rankings named Rice University the best school in the Southwest Region in terms of overall quality for students working on their bachelor’s degree. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 1,364 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Rice make an average of $62,533 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $11,733 after getting their degree.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas at Austin. The school came in at #2 in the Southwest Region on this year’s best bachelor’s degree schools ranking. UT Austin is a large public school situated in Austin, Texas. It awarded 10,592 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $47,820 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $20,734. This translates to an average monthly payment of $270 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
A rank of #3 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree in the Southwest Region list means Texas A&M University - College Station is a great place for students working on their degree. Texas A&M University - College Station is a large public school located in College Station, Texas that handed out 13,409 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M College Station is $47,897 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $20,358. This translates to an average monthly payment of $304 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Out of the 119 bachelor’s degree schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Southern Methodist University landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Dallas, Texas, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 2,105 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $45,909 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $21,548 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $446 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Texas Christian University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the Southwest Region. Texas Christian University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Fort Worth, Texas that handed out 2,396 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from TCU is $47,940 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $22,997 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $664 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Arizona State University - Tempe came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Tempe, Arizona, the large public school awarded 14,829 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $42,945 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $23,111. Average monthly loan payments are around $329 for a 10-year repayment plan.
University of Phoenix - Arizona came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, the large private for-profit school handed out 12,925 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from UOPX - Arizona is $46,983 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $46,145 in student loans. Average monthly loan payments are around $147 for a 10-year repayment plan.
With a ranking of #8, University of Arizona did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. University of Arizona is located in Tucson, Arizona and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 8,117 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from University of Arizona is $39,891 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $21,917 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $407 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
With a ranking of #9, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. This large public school is located in Norman, Oklahoma, and it awarded 5,069 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from University of Oklahoma is $44,030 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $23,384. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $471.
Baylor University landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Baylor is a private not-for-profit institution located in Waco, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3,730 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Baylor make an average of $40,427 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $23,828 in student loans. Average monthly loan payments are around $686 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Texas Tech University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Lubbock, Texas, the large public school awarded 6,884 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech make an average of $42,512 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $24,442 after getting their degree. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $273.
University of Houston landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. UH is a public institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 8,890 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $43,050 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $22,190 in student loans. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $248.
The University of Texas at Dallas landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. UT Dallas is a large public school situated in Richardson, Texas. It awarded 4,825 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from UT Dallas make an average of $41,154 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $20,061. Average monthly loan payments are around $225 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Oklahoma State University - Main Campus ranked #14 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. OSU is located in Stillwater, Oklahoma and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4,913 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from OSU make an average of $42,840 a year. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $22,804 after getting their degree. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $339.
University of North Texas came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Denton, Texas, the large public school handed out 8,156 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from UNT go into careers with an average salary of $39,344 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $21,869 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $236 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Grand Canyon University landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Grand Canyon University is a large private for-profit school situated in Phoenix, Arizona. It awarded 13,529 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Grand Canyon University make an average of $36,634 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $30,057 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $174 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Northern Arizona University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #17. NAU is a public institution located in Flagstaff, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6,331 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from NAU go into careers with an average salary of $37,587 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $22,570 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $318 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
The University of Texas at Arlington landed the #18 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. This large public school is located in Arlington, Texas, and it awarded 8,852 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from UT Arlington go into careers with an average salary of $42,417 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $21,968 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $163 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Trinity University landed the #19 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in San Antonio, Texas, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 701 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Trinity U make an average of $43,960 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $22,650.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott ranked #20 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. Embry-Riddle Prescott is a private not-for-profit institution located in Prescott, Arizona. The school has a small population, and it awarded 614 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Embry-Riddle Prescott is $53,951 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $24,418 in student loans. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $828.
Arizona State University - Skysong came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Scottsdale, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 7,277 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from ASU - Skysong is $40,260 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $24,079 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $302 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
With a ranking of #22, Wayland Baptist University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Plainview, Texas, and it awarded 786 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Wayland Baptist University make an average of $45,952 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $24,415 in student loans.
Texas State University landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. San Marcos, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 7,822 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $37,563 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $23,634 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $233 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
University of Tulsa came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and it awarded 794 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from University of Tulsa make an average of $47,387 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $25,294 in student loans.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley ranked #25 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. This large public school is located in Edinburg, Texas, and it awarded 4,926 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from UT Rio Grande Valley go into careers with an average salary of $34,222 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $15,275 in student loans.
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%.
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