Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Best Health Professions Schools in the Southwest Region

Find Schools Near

2023 Best Health Professions Schools in the Southwest Region

250 Colleges
$44,352 Avg Salary
$19,031 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Health Professions School for You

In 2020-2021, 977,800 health professions students received a degree or certificate, making the major the #2 most popular in the country.

Today's students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.

The Best Health Professions Schools in the Southwest Region ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 250 schools in the Southwest Region to see which ones offered the best programs for students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Health Professions Schools in the Southwest Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Health Professions Colleges.

Top 25 Top Southwest Region Schools in Health Professions

Our 2023 rankings named Midwestern University - Glendale the best school in the Southwest Region for health professions students. Midwestern University - Glendale is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Glendale.

Read More…

The excellent programs at Baylor College of Medicine helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best health professions schools in the Southwest Region . Located in the city of Houston, Baylor College of Medicine is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

Full Health Professions at Baylor College of Medicine Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Health Professions Schools in the Southwest Region list. TTUHSC is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Lubbock.

While working on their degree, health professions majors at TTUHSC accumulate an average of around $25,223 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $242, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Health Professions at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Report

#4

Texas Wesleyan University

Fort Worth, TX

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Texas Wesleyan University. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Health Professions Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Wesleyan is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

Full Health Professions at Texas Wesleyan University Report

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston is a great place for health professions students. UTHealth is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Houston.

On average, health professions graduates from UTHealth take out $22,951 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $203.

Full Health Professions at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Report

Ottawa University - Phoenix came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Health Professions Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Ottawa University - Phoenix is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Phoenix.

While working on their degree, health professions majors at Ottawa University - Phoenix accumulate an average of around $26,485 in student debt.

Read More…

The University of Texas Medical Branch ranked #7 on this year’s Best Health Professions Schools in the Southwest Region list. UTMB Galveston is a small public school located in the town of Galveston.

While working on their degree, health professions majors at UTMB Galveston accumulate an average of around $25,611 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $215, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Health Professions at The University of Texas Medical Branch

CCI Training Center, Arlington did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for health professions students. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in the large city of Arlington, CCI Training Center is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

After completing their degree, health professions graduates from CCI Training Center carry an average student debtload of $9,500.

Full Health Professions at CCI Training Center, Arlington Report

#9

Aspen University

Denver, CO

Aspen University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best health professions programs. Aspen University is a medium-sized private for-profit school located in the large city of Denver.

On average, health professions graduates from Aspen University take out $35,922 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Health Professions at Aspen University

#10

Parker University

Dallas, TX

With a ranking of #10, Parker University did quite well on this year’s best schools for health professions students. Parker University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dallas.

The average amount in student loans that health professions majors at Parker University take out is $21,333.

Read full report on Health Professions at Parker University

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for health professions students. It came in at #11 on the list. Located in the large city of Dallas, UT Southwestern is a public college with a small student population.

Read full report on Health Professions at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

West Coast University - Dallas ranked #12 on this year’s Best Health Professions Schools in the Southwest Region list. West Coast University - Dallas is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Dallas.

The average amount in student loans that health professions majors at West Coast University - Dallas take out is $38,146. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $665, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Health Professions at West Coast University - Dallas Report

Texas A&M University - College Station came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Health Professions Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A&M College Station is a public school with a very large student population.

On average, health professions graduates from Texas A&M College Station take out $19,530 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $277, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Health Professions at Texas A&M University - College Station Report

University of North Texas Health Science Center did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for health professions students. It came in at #14 on the list. UNT Health Science Center is a small public school located in the large city of Fort Worth.

Read More…

Baptist Health System School of Health Professions did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for health professions students. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in the large city of San Antonio, Baptist Health System School of Health Professions is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

While working on their degree, health professions majors at Baptist Health System School of Health Professions accumulate an average of around $25,060 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $110.

Read More…

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for health professions students. It came in at #16 on the list. UT Health San Antonio is a small public school located in the city of San Antonio.

The average amount in student loans that health professions majors at UT Health San Antonio take out is $21,527.

Read More…

The University of Texas at Austin did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for health professions students. It came in at #17 on the list. UT Austin is a very large public school located in the large city of Austin.

On average, health professions graduates from UT Austin take out $19,893 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $227.

Full Health Professions at The University of Texas at Austin Report

#18

Texas Health School

Houston, TX

Texas Health School ranked #18 on this year’s Best Health Professions Schools in the Southwest Region list. Texas Health School is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Houston.

Health Professions majors at Texas Health School take out an average of $15,175 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read More…

#19

Texas Christian University

Fort Worth, TX

Texas Christian University landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best health professions programs. Located in the large city of Fort Worth, TCU is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population.

While working on their degree, health professions majors at TCU accumulate an average of around $25,046 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $559, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Health Professions at Texas Christian University Report

Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best health professions programs. Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio is a small private for-profit school located in the city of San Antonio.

The average amount in student loans that health professions majors at Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio take out is $33,027. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $114, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Health Professions at Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio Report

GateWay Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for health professions students. It came in at #21 on the list. GateWay Community College is a fairly small public school located in the large city of Phoenix.

While working on their degree, health professions majors at GateWay Community College accumulate an average of around $14,584 in student debt.

Read full report on Health Professions at GateWay Community College

Texas A & M University - Central Texas did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for health professions students. It came in at #22 on the list. Texas A & M University - Central Texas is a small public school located in the rural area of Killeen.

Health Professions majors at Texas A & M University - Central Texas take out an average of $19,825 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Health Professions at Texas A & M University - Central Texas

Regional Center for Border Health ranked #23 on this year’s Best Health Professions Schools in the Southwest Region list. Regional Center for Border Health is a small private not-for-profit school located in the fringe town of Yuma.

Read More…

University of Oklahoma - Health Sciences Center came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Health Professions Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in the city of Oklahoma City, UOHSC is a public college with a small student population.

Health Professions majors at UOHSC take out an average of $24,302 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $318.

Full Health Professions at University of Oklahoma - Health Sciences Center Report

Tulsa Technology Center landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best health professions programs. Tulsa Tech is a small public school located in the large city of Tulsa.

On average, health professions graduates from Tulsa Tech take out $9,497 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Health Professions at Tulsa Technology Center

Rest of the Top Best Health Professions Schools in the Southwest Region

#26

El Centro College

Dallas, TX
#30

Central Arizona College

Coolidge, AZ
#33

Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, AZ
#34

University of Houston

Houston, TX
#36

Pioneer Technology Center

Ponca City, OK

Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Health Professions Schools in the Southwest Region award.

Rank College Location
38 Pima Medical Institute - Phoenix Phoenix, AZ
39 Northeast Texas Community College Mount Pleasant, TX
40 The College of Health Care Professions - Northwest Houston, TX
41 MSU Texas Wichita Falls, TX
42 Remington College - Dallas Campus Garland, TX
43 Abilene Christian University Abilene, TX
44 Arizona State University - Tempe Tempe, AZ
45 Platt College-Lawton Lawton, OK
46 Pima Medical Institute - Albuquerque Albuquerque, NM
47 Baylor University Waco, TX
48 South Texas Vocational Technical Institute-McAllen McAllen, TX
49 Kiamichi Technology Center-McAlester McAlester, OK
50 Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX

Best Health Professions Colleges by State

Explore the best health professions schools for a specific state in the Southwest region.

State Degrees Awarded
Arizona 24,705
Texas 45,833
New Mexico 3,731
Oklahoma 6,642

Health Professions Majors to Study

Major Annual Graduates
Nursing 322,592
Health & Medical Administrative Services 89,359
Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services 84,492
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants 84,274
Allied Health Professions 82,308
Public Health 40,596
Health Sciences & Services 35,945
Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions 29,833
Mental & Social Health Services 29,053
Medicine 28,629
Dental Support Services 26,399
Communication Sciences 22,298
Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences 20,393
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science 18,901
Somatic Bodywork & Therapeutic Services 10,751
Health/Medical Prep Programs 9,210
Other Health Professions 7,984
Dentistry 6,770
Dietetics & Clinical Nutrition Services 6,158
Bioethics/Medical Ethics 5,115
Alternative Medicine & Systems 3,564
Chiropractic 2,658
Health Aids/Attendants/Orderlies 2,374
Medical Illustration & Informatics 2,089
Optometry 1,822
Advanced Dentistry & Oral Sciences 1,775
Ophthalmic & Optometric Support Services 960
Medical Science 909
Movement & Mind-Body Therapies 294
Alternative Medical Support Services 227
Energy & Biologically Based Therapies 68

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • 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 the rest 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).

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Featured Schools

Find Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited colleges across the U.S.