2023 Most Popular Online Schools in the Southwest Region
There are so many programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one 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. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Most Popular Online Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. This report analyzed 199 schools in the Southwest Region to see which ones had the most popular online programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from schools with online programs.
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Most Popular Online Schools in the Southwest Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these popular schools with online programs:
Our analysis found University of Phoenix - Arizona to be the most popular school for students in the Southwest Region . UOPX - Arizona is a private for-profit institution located in Tempe, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 29,877 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from UOPX - Arizona accumulate an average of $33,058 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $146, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UOPX - Arizona, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $50,608 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 68% were women.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Arizona State University - Skysong is a great place for students. Arizona State University - Skysong is a large public school located in Scottsdale, Arizona that handed out 12,598 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,869 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $304, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from ASU - Skysong, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $48,067 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 67% were women.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Grand Canyon University is a great place for students. Phoenix, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 29,176 students in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $31,746 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $174, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Grand Canyon University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $48,396 during the early years of their career. Around 76% of those degree recipients were women.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Lone Star College System is a great place for students. North Harris Montgomery is a public institution located in The Woodlands, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 11,684 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $14,481 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, North Harris Montgomery graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,839 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
You’ll be in good company if you attend Collin County Community College District. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Most Popular Online Schools in the Southwest Region list. This large public school is located in McKinney, Texas, and it awarded 5,703 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from Collin County Community College District accumulate an average of $17,379 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. 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. Of those students who received their degree, 56% were women.
With a ranking of #6, American InterContinental University - Online did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working. AIU Online is a private for-profit institution located in Schaumburg, Arizona. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 4,440 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from AIU Online accumulate an average of $42,789 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 $116. Once they receive their degree, AIU Online graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,597 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 50% were women.
With a ranking of #7, South Texas College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working. South Texas College is a public institution located in McAllen, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5,669 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $8,601 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, South Texas College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $29,327 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 62% were women.
With a ranking of #8, Mesa Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working. Mesa Community College is a fairly large public school located in Mesa, Arizona that handed out 3,084 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $15,310 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Mesa Community College graduates make an average of $43,129 annually. Around 58% of those degree recipients were women.
Sam Houston State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. SHSU is located in Huntsville, Texas and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5,395 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,557 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $169. Once they receive their degree, SHSU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $42,564 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 66% were women.
Central Texas College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Central Texas College is a medium-sized public school situated in Killeen, Texas. It awarded 2,323 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $11,605 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Central Texas College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $46,587 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 56% were women.
San Jacinto Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #11 on the list. Located in Pasadena, Texas, the large public school handed out 7,278 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from San Jacinto College accumulate an average of $14,185 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from San Jacinto College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,140 during the early years of their career. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #12, Estrella Mountain Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working. Estrella Mountain Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Avondale, Arizona that handed out 2,295 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,910 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Estrella Mountain Community College graduates make an average of $29,019 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.
With a ranking of #13, Tulsa Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working. This fairly large public school is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and it awarded 2,823 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $20,049 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Tulsa Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $35,249 during the early year of their career. Around 70% of those degree recipients were women.
Chandler-Gilbert Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #14 on the list. Chandler, Arizona is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 2,366 students in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $14,941 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Chandler-Gilbert Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $39,768 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 52% were women.
With a ranking of #15, Oklahoma City Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working. OCCC is located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,158 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from OCCC accumulate an average of $14,664 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, OCCC graduates make an average of $34,940 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
Rio Salado College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. Located in Tempe, Arizona, the fairly large public school handed out 4,161 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from Rio Salado College accumulate an average of $16,711 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Rio Salado College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,954 during the early years of their career. Around 46% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #17, Texas A&M University - College Station did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working. Texas A&M University - College Station is a large public school located in College Station, Texas that handed out 19,908 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,847 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $304. During the early years of their career, Texas A&M College Station graduates make an average of $57,177 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 51% were women.
McLennan Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #18 on the list. Located in Waco, Texas, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,886 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from MCC accumulate an average of $17,241 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from MCC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $43,510 during the early years of their career. Around 73% of those degree recipients were women.
Yavapai College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. This medium-sized public school is located in Prescott, Arizona, and it awarded 1,950 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from Yavapai College accumulate an average of $17,468 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Yavapai College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $45,570 during the early years of their career. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
University of Houston - Downtown did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #20 on the list. Houston, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 3,764 students in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $27,224 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from UH Downtown, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $40,939 during the early years of their career. Around 65% of those degree recipients were women.
Oklahoma State University - Main Campus ranked #21 on this year’s Most Popular Online Schools in the Southwest Region list. Stillwater, Oklahoma is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 6,403 students in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from OSU accumulate an average of $23,108 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 $339. Once they receive their degree, OSU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $47,215 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 51% were women.
Sonoran Desert Institute landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. Sonoran Desert Institute is a small private for-profit school situated in Scottsdale, Arizona. It awarded 1,082 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from Sonoran Desert Institute accumulate an average of $13,962 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Sonoran Desert Institute graduates make an average of $62,428 annually. Around 1% of those degree recipients were women.
Amarillo College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #23 on the list. Amarillo College is a medium-sized public school located in Amarillo, Texas that handed out 1,959 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $17,791 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Amarillo College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $37,621 during the early years of their career. Around 61% of those degree recipients were women.
Tyler Junior College ranked #24 on this year’s Most Popular Online Schools in the Southwest Region list. Tyler Junior College is a public institution located in Tyler, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,533 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from Tyler Junior College accumulate an average of $16,583 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Tyler Junior College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,511 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 68% were women.
Central New Mexico Community College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the fairly large public school awarded 9,303 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $13,850 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, CNM graduates make an average of $30,582 annually. Around 67% of those degree recipients were women.
Rest of the Top 15% Most Popular Online Schools in the Southwest Region of the U.S.
Not only did these schools make the top most popular online 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 most popular online schools ranking:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | New Mexico State University - Dona Ana | Las Cruces, NM |
| 32 | University of Central Oklahoma | Edmond, OK |
| 33 | Navarro College | Corsicana, TX |
| 34 | New Mexico State University - Main Campus | Las Cruces, NM |
| 35 | Pima Medical Institute - Tucson | Tucson, AZ |
| 36 | Phoenix College | Phoenix, AZ |
| 37 | Scottsdale Community College | Scottsdale, AZ |
| 38 | University of North Texas | Denton, TX |
| 39 | Southwestern Assemblies of God University | Waxahachie, TX |
| 40 | Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus | Portales, NM |
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- 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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