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Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region

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2023 Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region

Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices

121 Colleges
$5,195 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$29,155 Avg Salary

Finding the Best Liberal Arts General Studies School for You

Liberal Arts General Studies is the most popular major in the United States with 79,412 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021.

There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 121 schools in the Southwest Region to see which programs offered the best value experiences for liberal arts students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.

When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.

Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.

2023 Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Colleges.

Top 15% Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools

$2,280 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found New Mexico Junior College to be the best value school for liberal arts general studies students who want to pursue a degree in the Southwest Region . Located in the town of Hobbs, New Mexico Junior College is a public school with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at New Mexico Junior College are $2,280 per year. While working on their degree, liberal arts majors at New Mexico Junior College accumulate an average of around $6,495 in student debt.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at New Mexico Junior College Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Collin County Community College District. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in the medium-sized suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a public college with a very large student population.

Collin County Community College District undergraduate students pay an average of $5,104 in tuition and fees each year. Liberal Arts majors at Collin County Community College District take out an average of $10,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

In addition to its great value ranking, Collin County Community College District is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region list.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Collin County Community College District

$4,008 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent programs at New Mexico State University - Carlsbad helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best liberal arts general studies schools in the Southwest Region . Located in the rural area of Carlsbad, NMSU Carlsbad is a public school with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at NMSU Carlsbad are $4,008 per year. Liberal Arts majors at NMSU Carlsbad take out an average of $11,832 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at New Mexico State University - Carlsbad

#4

El Centro College

Dallas, TX

The excellent programs at El Centro College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best liberal arts general studies schools in the Southwest Region . El Centro College is a very large public school located in the large city of Dallas.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at El Centro College are $6,000 per year. Liberal Arts majors at El Centro College take out an average of $11,286 in student loans while working on their egree.

El Centro College excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region list.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at El Centro College

#5

Amarillo College

Amarillo, TX
$4,704 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Amarillo College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in the city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Amarillo College are $4,704 per year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at Amarillo College take out is $13,830.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Amarillo College Report

$4,104 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #6, New Mexico State University - Grants did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts general studies students. Located in the town of Grants, NMSU Grants is a public college with a fairly small student population.

NMSU Grants undergraduate students pay an average of $4,104 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at NMSU Grants take out is $11,832.

Read More…

#7

Tyler Junior College

Tyler, TX
$4,440 Average Tuition & Fees

Tyler Junior College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for liberal arts general studies students. It came in at #7 on the list. Tyler Junior College is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized city of Tyler.

Tyler Junior College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,440 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at Tyler Junior College take out is $11,000.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Tyler Junior College

#8

Odessa College

Odessa, TX
$4,398 Average Tuition & Fees

Odessa College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value liberal arts general studies programs. Located in the city of Odessa, Odessa College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

Odessa College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,398 in tuition and fees each year. Liberal Arts majors at Odessa College take out an average of $7,945 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read More…

McLennan Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in the medium-sized city of Waco, MCC is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at MCC are $5,910 a year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at MCC take out is $13,505.

On top of its placing in our value ranking, MCC also did well on our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at McLennan Community College

#10

College of the Mainland

Texas City, TX
$3,873 Average Tuition & Fees

College of the Mainland came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in the medium-sized suburb of Texas City, COM is a public college with a small student population.

COM undergraduate students pay an average of $3,873 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, liberal arts majors at COM accumulate an average of around $10,276 in student debt.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at College of the Mainland

#11

Lone Star College System

The Woodlands, TX

Lone Star College System ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in the city of The Woodlands, North Harris Montgomery is a public college with a very large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at North Harris Montgomery are $6,168 a year. After completing their degree, liberal arts graduates from North Harris Montgomery carry an average student debtload of $10,313.

On top of its placing in our value ranking, North Harris Montgomery also did well on our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Lone Star College System Report

#12

Midland College

Midland, TX
$5,880 Average Tuition & Fees

Midland College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Midland College is a moderately-sized public school located in the midsize city of Midland.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Midland College are $5,880 a year. After completing their degree, liberal arts graduates from Midland College carry an average student debtload of $5,500.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Midland College Report

#13

Hill College

Hillsboro, TX
$3,382 Average Tuition & Fees

Hill College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in the distant town of Hillsboro, Hill College is a public school with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Hill College are $3,382 a year. After completing their degree, liberal arts graduates from Hill College carry an average student debtload of $11,875.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Hill College

#14

Central Texas College

Killeen, TX

Central Texas College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in the medium-sized suburb of Killeen, Central Texas College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

Central Texas College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,440 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, liberal arts graduates from Central Texas College carry an average student debtload of $7,126.

Central Texas College also claimed a spot on our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools in this category.

Read More…

#15

South Plains College

Levelland, TX
$4,276 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #15, South Plains College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts general studies students. South Plains College is a medium-sized public school located in the distant town of Levelland.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at South Plains College are $4,276 per year. Liberal Arts majors at South Plains College take out an average of $13,487 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at South Plains College Report

$5,460 Average Tuition & Fees

Houston Community College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value liberal arts general studies programs. Located in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a public school with a very large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Houston Community College are $5,460 a year. After completing their degree, liberal arts graduates from Houston Community College carry an average student debtload of $16,001.

Read More…

$5,664 Average Tuition & Fees

New Mexico State University - Dona Ana came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in the rural area of Las Cruces, NMSU Dona Ana is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at NMSU Dona Ana are $5,664 per year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at NMSU Dona Ana take out is $11,832.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at New Mexico State University - Dona Ana

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional great value schools for Liberal Arts General Studies students in the Southwest Region seeking value that almost earned our Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region award.

Rank College Location
19 Grayson College Denison, TX
20 Central Arizona College Coolidge, AZ
21 New Mexico State University - Alamogordo Alamogordo, NM
22 San Jacinto Community College Pasadena, TX
23 South Texas College McAllen, TX
24 Mesa Community College Mesa, AZ

Best Liberal Arts General Studies Colleges by State

Explore the best liberal arts general studies schools for a specific state in the Southwest region.

State Degrees Awarded
Texas 55,869
Arizona 8,087
Oklahoma 3,298
New Mexico 3,989

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • 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.

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