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Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region

2023 Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region

39 Schools Ranked

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 Graduate Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. This report analyzed 39 schools in the Southwest Region to see which ones offered the best graduate certificate programs 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.

Top Graduate Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region of the U.S.

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Texas A&M University - College Station

College Station, Texas
823 Total Awards
$11,093 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Texas A&M University - College Station to be the best school for students who want to pursue a graduate certificate in the Southwest Region . Texas A&M College Station is a public institution located in College Station, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 823 graduate certificates in .

Texas A&M College Station does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2022-2023 academic year, around 26% took at least some of their classes online.

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#2

Arizona State University - Skysong

Scottsdale, Arizona
446 Total Awards
$10,573 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 39 schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Arizona State University - Skysong landed the # 2 spot on the list. This large public school is located in Scottsdale, Arizona, and it awarded 446 graduate certificates in .

Since the graduate programs at ASU - Skysong are primarily online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.

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89 Total Awards

The excellent graduate certificate programs at The University of Texas at Austin helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the Southwest Region . UT Austin is a public institution located in Austin, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 89 graduate certificates in .

UT Austin does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 8% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2022-2023.

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#4

St. Mary's University

San Antonio, Texas
8 Total Awards
$21,006 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means St. Mary’s University is a great place for students working on their graduate certificate. Located in San Antonio, Texas, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 8 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in .

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at St. Mary’s. In fact, around 33% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2022-2023.

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#5

Texas Christian University

Fort Worth, Texas
40 Total Awards
$35,778 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Texas Christian University is a great place for students working on their graduate certificate. Located in Fort Worth, Texas, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 40 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in .

One thing to take note of is that TCU does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In 2022-2023 about 24% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

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70 Total Awards
$37,062 Average Tuition & Fees

Southern Methodist University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in Dallas, Texas, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 70 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in .

SMU does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 24% of graduates took at least one course online in 2022-2023.

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407 Total Awards

University of Phoenix - Arizona came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. UOPX - Arizona is located in Phoenix, Arizona and has a large student population. In , this school awarded 407 graduate certificates to qualified students.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at UOPX - Arizona. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2022-2023 academic year, around 99% took at least some of their classes online.

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#8

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas
264 Total Awards
$9,518 Average Tuition & Fees

Texas Tech University landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate programs. Located in Lubbock, Texas, the large public school awarded 264 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in .

Online graduate courses are available at Texas Tech, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2022-2023 academic year, around 45% took at least some of their classes online.

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271 Total Awards
$9,092 Average Tuition & Fees

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus ranked #9 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region list. Stillwater, Oklahoma is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out graduate certificates to 271 students in .

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since OSU does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. During the 2022-2023 year, about 42% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Full Oklahoma State University - Main Campus Report

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#10

Angelo State University

San Angelo, Texas
51 Total Awards
$7,394 Average Tuition & Fees

Angelo State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region list. Angelo State University is a fairly large public school located in San Angelo, Texas that handed out 51 graduate certificates in .

One thing to take note of is that Angelo State does offer online graduate classes in some areas. During the 2022-2023 year, about 86% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

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368 Total Awards
$9,529 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Houston - Downtown landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate programs. UH Downtown is a public institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 368 graduate certificates in .

Online graduate courses are available at UH Downtown, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2022-2023 about 84% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

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#12

Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, Arizona
417 Total Awards
$11,124 Average Tuition & Fees

Grand Canyon University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region list. This large private for-profit school is located in Phoenix, Arizona, and it awarded 417 graduate certificates in .

One thing to take note of is that Grand Canyon University does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In fact, around 97% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2022-2023.

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#13

University of Tulsa

Tulsa, Oklahoma
6 Total Awards
$26,928 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Tulsa came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. University of Tulsa is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It awarded 6 graduate certificates in .

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since University of Tulsa does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In fact, around 31% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2022-2023.

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319 Total Awards
$10,853 Average Tuition & Fees

The University of Texas at Arlington did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #14 on the list. UT Arlington is a large public school situated in Arlington, Texas. It awarded 319 graduate certificates in .

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at UT Arlington. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2022-2023 academic year, around 56% took at least some of their classes online.

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#15

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, Texas
37 Total Awards
$8,954 Average Tuition & Fees

Sam Houston State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #15 on the list. SHSU is located in Huntsville, Texas and has a large student population. In , this school awarded 37 graduate certificates to qualified students.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since SHSU does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 64% of graduates took at least one course online in 2022-2023.

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168 Total Awards
$13,389 Average Tuition & Fees

Arizona State University - Tempe landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate programs. ASU - Tempe is a public institution located in Tempe, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 168 graduate certificates in .

ASU - Tempe does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. In 2022-2023 about 19% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

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#17

The University of Texas at Dallas

Richardson, Texas
366 Total Awards

The University of Texas at Dallas did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #17 on the list. This large public school is located in Richardson, Texas, and it awarded 366 graduate certificates in .

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UT Dallas does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In 2022-2023 about 34% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

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#18

Northeastern State University

Tahlequah, Oklahoma
55 Total Awards
$5,552 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #18, Northeastern State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their graduate certificate. Located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, the medium-sized public school handed out 55 graduate certificate awards in .

One thing to take note of is that NSU does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In fact, around 77% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2022-2023.

Full Northeastern State University Report

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#19

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona
275 Total Awards
$14,389 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Arizona landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate programs. University of Arizona is a public institution located in Tucson, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 275 graduate certificates in .

One thing to take note of is that University of Arizona does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In fact, around 40% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2022-2023.

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40 Total Awards
$8,443 Average Tuition & Fees

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley ranked #20 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region list. Edinburg, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out graduate certificates to 40 students in .

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at UT Rio Grande Valley. In fact, around 66% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2022-2023.

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70 Total Awards
$9,082 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #21, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their graduate certificate. Located in Norman, Oklahoma, the large public school awarded 70 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in .

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since University of Oklahoma does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In 2022-2023 about 57% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

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#22

Texas Woman's University

Denton, Texas
143 Total Awards
$7,890 Average Tuition & Fees

Texas Woman’s University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region list. TWU is a fairly large public school situated in Denton, Texas. It awarded 143 graduate certificates in .

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since TWU does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In fact, around 80% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2022-2023.

Full Texas Woman’s University Report

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#23

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona
151 Total Awards
$12,547 Average Tuition & Fees

Northern Arizona University landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate programs. Northern Arizona University is a large public school located in Flagstaff, Arizona that handed out 151 graduate certificates in .

NAU does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. In 2022-2023 about 57% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

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#24

Lamar University

Beaumont, Texas
668 Total Awards
$8,642 Average Tuition & Fees

Lamar University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Lamar University is located in Beaumont, Texas and has a fairly large student population. In , this school awarded 668 graduate certificates to qualified students.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Lamar University. During the 2022-2023 year, about 90% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

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#25

University of North Texas

Denton, Texas
204 Total Awards
$9,062 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #25, University of North Texas did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their graduate certificate. Located in Denton, Texas, the large public school awarded 204 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in .

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at UNT. In fact, around 53% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2022-2023.

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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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