2024 Best Value Writing Schools in the Southwest Region
23
Ranked Colleges
1,056
Degrees Awarded
$16,400
Avg Net Price*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Writing Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2020-2021, 12,529 people earned their degree in writing studies, making the major the 81st most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, writing studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $32,208 and had an average of $24,626 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Southwest region, there were 1,056 writing studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,760 and $24,609 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Writing Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking analyzed 23 colleges that offered a degree in writing studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great writing studies programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the writing studies program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank Writing Studies Schools
The writing school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Writing Schools in the Southwest Region”.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value Writing Schools in the Southwest Region
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Writing Schools in the Southwest Region.
Top 23 Best Value Colleges for Writing Studies in the Southwest Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Arizona State University - Skysong. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Writing Schools in the Southwest Region. ASU - Skysong is a large public school situated in Scottsdale, Arizona. It awarded 64 ’s writing degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at ASU - Skysong, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Writing Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Arizona State University - Skysong Writing Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Texas Tech University. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Value Writing Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in Lubbock, Texas, this large public school awarded 40 diplomas to qualified ’s writing students in 2020-2021.
Texas Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Writing Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $16,194 for southwest region writing students per year to attend Texas Tech.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Writing Studies at Texas Tech University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Houston. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Value Writing Schools in the Southwest Region list. University of Houston is a large school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 16 ’s writing degrees in 2020-2021.
UH not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Writing Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UH is $13,721 for southwest region writing students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Houston Writing Studies Report
Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Writing Schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas State University landed the #4 spot on the list. Texas State is a public institution located in San Marcos, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 38 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Texas State also made our “Best Writing Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #10. It costs about $14,887 for Southwest Region Writing students per year to attend Texas State.
Full Texas State Writing Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northern Arizona University. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Value Writing Schools in the Southwest Region list. This large school is located in Flagstaff, Arizona, and it awarded 54 ’s writing degrees in 2020-2021.
NAU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Writing Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northern Arizona University is $14,308 for Southwest Region Writing students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Writing Studies at NAU
University of New Mexico - Main Campus landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Value Writing Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. This large school is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and it awarded 135 ’s writing degrees in 2020-2021.
UNM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Writing Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of New Mexico - Main Campus is $14,424 for Southwest Region Writing students.
Full UNM Writing Studies Report
University of Phoenix - Arizona ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Writing Schools in the Southwest Region list. UOPX - Arizona is a private for-profit institution located in Phoenix, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UOPX - Arizona, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Writing Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UOPX - Arizona is $13,038 for southwest region writing students.
Full UOPX - Arizona Writing Studies Report
With a ranking of #8, The University of Texas at El Paso did quite well on the 2024 Best Value Writing Schools in the Southwest Region list. The University of Texas at El Paso is a large public school situated in El Paso, Texas. It awarded 40 ’s writing degrees in 2020-2021.
UTEP also made our “Best Writing Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #12. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas at El Paso is $9,000 for Southwest Region Writing students.
Full The University of Texas at El Paso Writing Studies Report
University of Houston - Downtown came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Writing Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Houston, Texas, this fairly large public school handed out 20 diplomas to qualified ’s writing students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UH Downtown, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Writing Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Houston - Downtown is $12,044 for southwest region writing students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Writing Studies at University of Houston - Downtown
Sam Houston State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Writing Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Sam Houston State University is a large public school situated in Huntsville, Texas. It awarded 4 ’s writing degrees in 2020-2021.
SHSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Writing Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $15,035 for Southwest Region Writing students per year to attend SHSU.
Read full report on Writing Studies at Sam Houston State University
University of Central Oklahoma did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Writing Schools in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #11. University of Central Oklahoma is a public institution located in Edmond, Oklahoma. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 32 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UCO not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Writing Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $17,339 for southwest region writing students per year to attend UCO.
Read full report on Writing Studies at UCO
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Value Writing Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. This large school is located in Edinburg, Texas, and it awarded 5 ’s writing degrees in 2020-2021.
UT Rio Grande Valley not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Writing Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is $3,743 for Southwest Region Writing students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Writing Studies at UT Rio Grande Valley
With a ranking of #13, Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well on the 2024 Best Value Writing Schools in the Southwest Region list. Tempe, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s writing degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.
ASU - Tempe did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Writing Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $13,107 for Southwest Region Writing students per year to attend ASU - Tempe.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full ASU - Tempe Writing Studies Report
The University of Texas at Austin ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Writing Schools in the Southwest Region list. The University of Texas at Austin is a large public school situated in Austin, Texas. It awarded 123 ’s writing degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Austin, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Writing Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $18,350 for Southwest Region Writing students per year to attend UT Austin.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UT Austin Writing Studies Report
With a ranking of #15, Grand Canyon University did quite well on the 2024 Best Value Writing Schools in the Southwest Region list. Phoenix, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s writing degrees to 89 students in 2020-2021.
Grand Canyon University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Writing Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Grand Canyon University is $20,585 for Southwest Region Writing students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Writing Studies at Grand Canyon University
Stephen F Austin State University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Writing Schools in the Southwest Region list. Nacogdoches, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s writing degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.
SFASU also took the #15 spot in our “Best Writing Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $13,393 for southwest region writing students per year to attend SFASU.
Read full report on Writing Studies at Stephen F Austin State University
With a ranking of #17, New Mexico State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2024 Best Value Writing Schools in the Southwest Region list. New Mexico State University - Main Campus is located in Las Cruces, New Mexico and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 ’s writing degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at NMSU Main Campus, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Writing Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend NMSU Main Campus is $10,428 for Southwest Region Writing students.
Read more about Writing Studies at NMSU Main Campus
With a ranking of #18, Oklahoma State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2024 Best Value Writing Schools in the Southwest Region list. OSU is a large public school situated in Stillwater, Oklahoma. It awarded 4 ’s writing degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at OSU, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Writing Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $14,237 for Southwest Region Writing students per year to attend OSU.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full OSU Writing Studies Report
With a ranking of #19, University of Arizona did quite well on the 2024 Best Value Writing Schools in the Southwest Region list. University of Arizona is a large school located in Tucson, Arizona that handed out 113 ’s writing degrees in 2020-2021.
University of Arizona also took the #6 spot in our “Best Writing Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Arizona is $13,358 for Southwest Region Writing students.
Read more about Writing Studies at University of Arizona
Northeastern State University landed the #20 spot on the 2024 Best Value Writing Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Tahlequah, Oklahoma is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s writing degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.
NSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Writing Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Northeastern State University is $10,094 for southwest region writing students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Writing Studies at Northeastern State University
Texas Christian University did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Writing Schools in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #21. Texas Christian University is located in Fort Worth, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 23 ’s writing degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at TCU, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Writing Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $39,942 for Southwest Region Writing students per year to attend TCU.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full TCU Writing Studies Report
Baylor University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Writing Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Waco, Texas, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 24 diplomas to qualified ’s writing students in 2020-2021.
Baylor also took the #11 spot in our “Best Writing Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Baylor University is $37,309 for southwest region writing students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.
Read full report on Writing Studies at Baylor University
Saint Edward’s University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Writing Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Austin, Texas, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 22 diplomas to qualified ’s writing students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our southwest region writing students list, St. Edward’s University has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Writing Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $26,110 for southwest region writing students per year to attend Saint Edward’s University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Writing Studies at St. Edward’s University
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Notes and References
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%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Credits
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