2023 Best 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.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Schools in the Southwest Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 178 schools in the Southwest Region to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Schools in the Southwest Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Rice University to be the best school for students in the Southwest Region .
On average, students take out $13,206 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Rice graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $64,867 during the early year of their career.
Out of the 178 schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas at Austin landed the # 2 spot on the list.
On average, students take out $20,281 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $270. During the early years of their career, UT Austin graduates make an average of $53,632 annually.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Texas Christian University. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Schools in the Southwest Region list.
On average, students take out $21,581 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $664 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, TCU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $54,873 during the early year of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Texas A&M University - College Station. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Schools in the Southwest Region list.
Degree recipients from Texas A&M College Station accumulate an average of $19,847 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $304 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Texas A&M College Station graduates make an average of $57,177 annually.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Methodist University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Schools in the Southwest Region list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,294 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $446. Once they receive their degree, SMU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $62,901 during the early year of their career.
Trinity University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Schools in the Southwest Region list.
On average, students take out $20,545 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Trinity U graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $52,034 during the early year of their career.
El Centro College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #7 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,288 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, El Centro College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,417 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #8, Central Texas College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
On average, students take out $11,605 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Central Texas College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $46,587 during the early years of their career.
Rio Salado College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs.
Degree recipients from Rio Salado College accumulate an average of $16,711 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Rio Salado College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $42,954 during the early year of their career.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs.
Degree recipients from Embry-Riddle Prescott accumulate an average of $24,198 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $828.After graduating from Embry-Riddle Prescott, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $56,446 during the early years of their career.
Panola College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Schools in the Southwest Region list.
Once they receive their degree, Panola College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,120 during the early year of their career.
Collin County Community College District did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #12 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,379 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Collin County Community College District graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $42,890 during the early year of their career.
Arizona State University - Skysong came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in the Southwest Region ranking.
On average, students take out $25,869 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $304, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, ASU - Skysong graduates make an average of $48,067 annually.
University of Phoenix - Arizona did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #14 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $33,058 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $146. Once they receive their degree, UOPX - Arizona graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $50,608 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #15, Lee College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
On average, students take out $15,232 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Lee College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $53,502 during the early year of their career.
Baylor University landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs.
On average, students take out $23,143 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $686. During the early years of their career, Baylor graduates make an average of $42,980 annually.
Texas Tech University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #17 on the list.
Degree recipients from Texas Tech accumulate an average of $24,578 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $273 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Texas Tech, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $45,903 during the early years of their career.
McLennan Community College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Schools in the Southwest Region list.
Degree recipients from MCC accumulate an average of $17,241 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, MCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $43,510 during the early year of their career.
Oklahoma State University - Main Campus ranked #19 on this year’s Best Schools in the Southwest Region list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,108 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $339. During the early years of their career, OSU graduates make an average of $47,215 annually.
With a ranking of #20, Lone Star College System did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
Degree recipients from North Harris Montgomery accumulate an average of $14,481 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, North Harris Montgomery graduates make an average of $36,839 annually.
With a ranking of #21, Chandler-Gilbert Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,941 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Chandler-Gilbert Community College graduates make an average of $39,768 annually.
Mesa Community College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Schools in the Southwest Region list.
On average, students take out $15,310 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Mesa Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $43,129 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #23, Wayland Baptist University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $26,096 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Wayland Baptist University graduates make an average of $47,125 annually.
Austin Community College District landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,267 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Austin Community College District graduates make an average of $39,063 annually.
With a ranking of #25, South Texas College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
On average, students take out $8,601 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, South Texas College graduates make an average of $29,327 annually.
Rest of the Top 15% Best Schools in the Southwest Region of the U.S.
Not only did these schools make the top 27 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
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Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our best schools ranking:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | Arizona State University - Tempe | Tempe, AZ |
| 29 | University of Houston | Houston, TX |
| 30 | University of Oklahoma Norman Campus | Norman, OK |
| 31 | Sam Houston State University | Huntsville, TX |
| 32 | University of Houston - Clear Lake | Houston, TX |
| 33 | University of Dallas | Irving, TX |
| 34 | Scottsdale Community College | Scottsdale, AZ |
| 35 | Ottawa University - Phoenix | Phoenix, AZ |
| 36 | Weatherford College | Weatherford, TX |
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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