2023 Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Southwest Region
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities School for You
In 2020-2021, 556,813 liberal arts / sciences and humanities students received a degree or certificate, making the major the #3 most popular in the country.
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.
The Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities 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 121 schools in the Southwest Region to see which ones offered the best value programs for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
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.
Top 15% Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools
Our analysis found New Mexico Junior College to be the best value school for liberal arts / sciences and humanities 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.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at New Mexico Junior College are $2,280 a year. After completing their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from New Mexico Junior College carry an average student debtload of $6,495.
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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 & Humanities Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in the medium-sized suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a public school 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. After completing their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from Collin County Community College District carry an average student debtload of $10,000.
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 & Humanities Schools in the Southwest Region list.
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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 / sciences and humanities schools in the Southwest Region . Located in the rural area of Carlsbad, NMSU Carlsbad is a public school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at NMSU Carlsbad are $4,008 a year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at NMSU Carlsbad take out is $11,832.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend El Centro College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Southwest Region list. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas.
El Centro College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,000 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at El Centro College take out is $11,286.
El Centro College also claimed a spot on our Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Southwest Region list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools in this category.
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The excellent programs at Amarillo College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best liberal arts / sciences and humanities schools in the Southwest Region . Located in the city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Amarillo College are $4,704 a year. While working on their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at Amarillo College accumulate an average of around $13,830 in student debt.
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New Mexico State University - Grants came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in the remote town of Grants, NMSU Grants is a public school with a small student population.
NMSU Grants undergraduate students pay an average of $4,104 in tuition and fees each year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities majors at NMSU Grants take out an average of $11,832 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Tyler Junior College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Tyler Junior College is a fairly large public school located in the city of Tyler.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Tyler Junior College are $4,440 per year. While working on their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at Tyler Junior College accumulate an average of around $11,000 in student debt.
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Odessa College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in the midsize city of Odessa, Odessa College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Odessa College are $4,398 a year. While working on their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at Odessa College accumulate an average of around $7,945 in student debt.
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McLennan Community College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value liberal arts / sciences and humanities programs. Located in the medium-sized city of Waco, MCC is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at MCC are $5,910 per year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at MCC take out is $13,505.
MCC excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Southwest Region list.
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College of the Mainland came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in the medium-sized suburb of Texas City, COM is a public school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at COM are $3,873 a year. While working on their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at COM accumulate an average of around $10,276 in student debt.
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Lone Star College System landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value liberal arts / sciences and humanities programs. Located in the medium-sized city of The Woodlands, North Harris Montgomery is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at North Harris Montgomery are $6,168 a year. While working on their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at North Harris Montgomery accumulate an average of around $10,313 in student debt.
North Harris Montgomery excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Southwest Region list.
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With a ranking of #12, Midland College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. Midland College is a medium-sized public school located in the midsize city of Midland.
Midland College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,880 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at Midland College take out is $5,500.
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With a ranking of #13, Hill College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. Located in the town of Hillsboro, Hill College is a public school with a small student population.
Hill College undergraduate students pay an average of $3,382 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from Hill College carry an average student debtload of $11,875.
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Central Texas College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in the medium-sized suburb of Killeen, Central Texas College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
Central Texas College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,440 in tuition and fees each year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities majors at Central Texas College take out an average of $7,126 in student loans while working on their egree.
In addition to its great value ranking, Central Texas College is in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Southwest Region list.
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South Plains College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Southwest Region list. South Plains College is a medium-sized public school located in the town of Levelland.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at South Plains College are $4,276 per year. On average, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from South Plains College take out $13,487 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Houston Community College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value liberal arts / sciences and humanities programs. Located in the large city of Houston, Houston Community College is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Houston Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,460 in tuition and fees each year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities majors at Houston Community College take out an average of $16,001 in student loans while working on their egree.
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New Mexico State University - Dona Ana did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. It came in at #18 on the list. Located in the rural area of Las Cruces, NMSU Dona Ana is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
NMSU Dona Ana undergraduate students pay an average of $5,664 in tuition and fees each year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities majors at NMSU Dona Ana take out an average of $11,832 in student loans while working on their egree.
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These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities 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 / Sciences & Humanities Colleges by State
Explore the best liberal arts / sciences and humanities schools for a specific state in the Southwest region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Arizona | 8,087 |
| Texas | 55,869 |
| New Mexico | 3,989 |
| Oklahoma | 3,298 |
More Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Rankings in the Southwest Region
Majors Related to Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Majors to Study
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts General Studies | 556,813 |
Most Popular Related Majors
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Visual & Performing Arts | 149,215 |
| English Language & Literature | 54,635 |
| Foreign Languages & Linguistics | 33,333 |
| Theology & Religious Vocations | 27,459 |
| Philosophy & Religious Studies | 19,993 |
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).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Jacques Sablet (Switzerland, Morges, 1749-1803).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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