2023 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region
Today's students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Also there are many trade schools and bpptcamp that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 105 schools in the Southwest Region to see which associate degree programs offered the best educational experiences for students. Factors related to overall quality of the school, post-graduation earnings, average student debt, and more accumulated were considered when coming up with this list.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found University of Phoenix - Arizona to be the best school for students who want to pursue a associate degree in the Southwest Region .
By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,839 in student loans.
UOPX - Arizona does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 100% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Central Texas College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list.
By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,657 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Central Texas College does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 74% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
The excellent associate degree programs at El Centro College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the Southwest Region .
Associate Degree recipients from El Centro College accumulate an average of $18,961 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that El Centro College does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 92% took at least some of their classes online.
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 #4 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Collin County Community College District is $3,094. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $5,104. On average, associate degree students take out $17,379 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Collin County Community College District. In 2019-2020 about 95% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Read full report on Collin County Community College District
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Rio Salado College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list.
Full-time students from Arizona pay an average of $2,070 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Rio Salado College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,854. On average, associate degree students take out $15,498 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Rio Salado College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 53% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Wayland Baptist University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking.
The average tuition and fees at Wayland Baptist University is $22,004. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Wayland Baptist University. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 63% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #7, South Texas College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at South Texas College is $4,530. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,920. On average, associate degree students take out $8,401 in loans while pursuing their degree.
South Texas College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 94% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Lone Star College System did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #8 on the list.
In-state students pay an average of $4,848 in tuition and fees if they attend North Harris Montgomery full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,168. On average, associate degree students take out $15,481 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since North Harris Montgomery does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 72% took at least some of their classes online.
Lee College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #9 on the list.
In-state students pay an average of $3,882 in tuition and fees if they attend Lee College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $4,302. Associate Degree recipients from Lee College accumulate an average of $15,284 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Lee College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 49% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #10, Austin Community College District did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Austin Community College District is $8,580. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,590. Associate Degree recipients from Austin Community College District accumulate an average of $16,220 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Austin Community College District. During the 2019-2020 year, about 99% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Tarrant County College District landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
Associate Degree recipients from Tarrant County College accumulate an average of $17,198 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Tarrant County College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 97% took at least some of their classes online.
McLennan Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at MCC is $4,200. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $5,910. On average, associate degree students take out $17,859 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that MCC does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 57% took at least some of their classes online.
Mesa Community College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
In-state students pay an average of $2,070 in tuition and fees if they attend Mesa Community College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,854. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,634 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Mesa Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 71% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #14, Chandler-Gilbert Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Chandler-Gilbert Community College is $2,070. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,854. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,533 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Chandler-Gilbert Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 62% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #15, DeVry University - Arizona did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
The average tuition and fees at DeVry University - Arizona is $15,032. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $34,245 in student loans.
DeVry University - Arizona does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 99% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Panola College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #16 on the list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Panola College is $3,672. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $4,680.
Online courses are available at Panola College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 72% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #17, Weatherford College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Weatherford College is $5,700. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,800. On average, associate degree students take out $16,268 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Weatherford College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 37% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
University of the Incarnate Word came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking.
The average tuition and fees at UIW is $33,100. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from UIW accumulate an average of $19,041 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
UIW does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 97% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Midland College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking.
In-state students pay an average of $4,620 in tuition and fees if they attend Midland College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $5,880. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,310 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Midland College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 63% took at least some of their classes online.
Oklahoma City Community College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking.
Full-time students from Oklahoma pay an average of $4,059 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend OCCC. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,810. On average, associate degree students take out $14,583 in loans while pursuing their degree.
OCCC is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
Northwest Vista College landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Northwest Vista College is $6,592. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $14,122. Associate Degree recipients from Northwest Vista College accumulate an average of $13,060 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Northwest Vista College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 42% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
San Antonio College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #22 on the list.
In-state students pay an average of $6,592 in tuition and fees if they attend San Antonio College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $14,122. On average, associate degree students take out $16,504 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at San Antonio College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 53% took at least some of their classes online.
Scottsdale Community College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking.
Students from Arizona who attend Scottsdale Community College full time pay an average of $2,070 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,854. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,639 in student loans.
Scottsdale Community College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 71% took at least some of their classes online.
Hallmark University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list.
On average, associate degree students take out $23,845 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Hallmark does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 76% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
North Central Texas College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #25 on the list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at NCTC is $4,560. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,080. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,150 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since NCTC does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 89% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- 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 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%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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