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2022 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

27 Ranked Colleges
1,738 Degrees Awarded
$12,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 14,528 people earned their degree in journalism, making the major the 62nd most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, journalism graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $31,042 and had an average of $24,628 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southwest region, there were 1,738 journalism graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,835 and $21,613 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 27 colleges that offer a degree in journalism. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent journalism programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the journalism program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Journalism Schools

The journalism 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 Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Journalism (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region

Out of the 27 schools in the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Texas landed the #1 spot on the list. Denton, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 308 students in 2019-2020.

UNT not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $8,521 for southwest region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UNT.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UNT Journalism Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Arizona State University - Tempe. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Tempe, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 223 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at ASU - Tempe, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Arizona State University - Tempe is $7,044 for southwest region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read more about Journalism at Arizona State University - Tempe

Out of the 27 schools in the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas at Austin landed the #3 spot on the list. UT Austin is a large school located in Austin, Texas that handed out 184 ’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Austin also made our “Best Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for UT Austin is $12,203 for Southwest Region Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The low student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 The University of Texas at Austin Journalism Report

#4

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Arizona. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Arizona is a large public school situated in Tucson, Arizona. It awarded 98 ’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Arizona, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $10,562 for southwest region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Arizona.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read more about Journalism at University of Arizona

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Oklahoma State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. OSU is a large school located in Stillwater, Oklahoma that handed out 25 ’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

OSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $8,669 for Southwest Region Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend OSU.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read full report on Journalism at OSU

#6

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

Texas Tech University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. This large school is located in Lubbock, Texas, and it awarded 21 ’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas Tech also made our “Best Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $12,317 for southwest region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Texas Tech.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read full report on Journalism at Texas Tech University

#7

University of Houston

Houston, Texas

University of Houston came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UH is a public institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 61 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UH did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $10,203 for southwest region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Houston.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read full report on Journalism at University of Houston

#8

Angelo State University

San Angelo, Texas

With a ranking of #8, Angelo State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Angelo State is a public institution located in San Angelo, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 19 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k list, Angelo State has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Angelo State University is $9,799 for southwest region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Angelo State Journalism Report

New Mexico State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. New Mexico State University - Main Campus is a fairly large public school situated in Las Cruces, New Mexico. It awarded 47 ’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

NMSU Main Campus did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend New Mexico State University - Main Campus is $6,896 for Southwest Region Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full New Mexico State University - Main Campus Journalism Report

#10

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas

Texas State University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in San Marcos, Texas, and it awarded 41 ’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas State also made our “Best Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #15. The estimated yearly cost for Texas State is $11,125 for Southwest Region Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Journalism at Texas State

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a large public school situated in Norman, Oklahoma. It awarded 248 ’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Oklahoma also took the #5 spot in our “Best Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Oklahoma is $16,675 for southwest region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Oklahoma Journalism Report

#12

Northeastern State University

Tahlequah, Oklahoma

Northeastern State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Northeastern State University is a public institution located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

NSU also made our “Best Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #22. The estimated yearly cost for NSU is $7,614 for southwest region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Journalism at Northeastern State University

With a ranking of #13, University of Central Oklahoma did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Central Oklahoma is a fairly large public school situated in Edmond, Oklahoma. It awarded 54 ’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k list, UCO has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Central Oklahoma is $12,297 for southwest region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Journalism at University of Central Oklahoma

#14

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona

Northern Arizona University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. Northern Arizona University is located in Flagstaff, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 25 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

NAU also took the #19 spot in our “Best Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for NAU is $9,251 for southwest region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Northern Arizona University Journalism Report

#15

University of New Mexico - Main Campus

Albuquerque, New Mexico

University of New Mexico - Main Campus landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and it awarded 48 ’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

UNM also took the #16 spot in our “Best Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of New Mexico - Main Campus is $13,242 for Southwest Region Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Journalism at UNM

Texas A&M University - Commerce came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Texas A&M University - Commerce is located in Commerce, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

Texas A&M Commerce did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Texas A&M Commerce is $10,013 for southwest region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Journalism at Texas A&M Commerce

#17

Cameron University

Lawton, Oklahoma

Cameron University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cameron University is a public institution located in Lawton, Oklahoma. The school has a small population, and it awarded 12 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $6,652 for Southwest Region Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Cameron University.

Read more about Journalism at Cameron University

#18

San Antonio College

San Antonio, Texas

With a ranking of #18, San Antonio College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in San Antonio, Texas, this fairly large public school handed out 1 diplomas to qualified ’s journalism students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $5,183 for southwest region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend San Antonio College.

Full San Antonio College Journalism Report

#19

West Texas A&M University

Canyon, Texas

West Texas A&M University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Canyon, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

West Texas A&M University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for West Texas A&M University is $8,730 for southwest region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full West Texas A&M University Journalism Report

#20

Oral Roberts University

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Oral Roberts University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. ORU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It awarded 4 ’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

ORU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend ORU is $17,078 for southwest region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full ORU Journalism Report

#21

Texas Christian University

Fort Worth, Texas

Texas Christian University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. TCU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Fort Worth, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 17 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

TCU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for TCU is $21,286 for Southwest Region Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Texas Christian University Journalism Report

#22

Oklahoma Baptist University

Shawnee, Oklahoma

Oklahoma Baptist University landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. OBU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Shawnee, Oklahoma. It awarded 1 ’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

OBU also took the #17 spot in our “Best Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $18,537 for southwest region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Oklahoma Baptist University.

Full OBU Journalism Report

#23

Baylor University

Waco, Texas

Baylor University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Baylor is a private not-for-profit institution located in Waco, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 89 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Baylor not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $26,726 for southwest region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Baylor University.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Journalism at Baylor University

Southern Methodist University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. SMU is a fairly large school located in Dallas, Texas that handed out 42 ’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

SMU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $26,718 for southwest region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Southern Methodist University.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% 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 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Journalism at SMU

#25

Texas Southern University

Houston, Texas

Texas Southern University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #25. Texas Southern University is a medium-sized school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 27 ’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

TSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Texas Southern University is $19,390 for Southwest Region Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Journalism at Texas Southern University

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

Footnotes

  • *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

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Jfurrer.

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