2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Southwest Region
[Value](/majors/engineering-technologies/energy-systems/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 25 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
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2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Value Schools
For return on investment in value, no school beat Central New Mexico Community College this year. Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. In-state tuition and fees average $2,060, compared with $8,684 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $10,112. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College generally make around $34,751. That is a strong return on a $10,112 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Texas State Technical College one of the best values for value. Texas State Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Waco. Students from in state pay about $7,212 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,812 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $40,747. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Okmulgee, Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,774, with out-of-state students paying around $11,384. Students borrow a median of $13,356 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee generally make around $52,354. That is a strong return on a $13,356 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Texas Tech University earned it the #4 place for value. Texas Tech University is a very large public school located in the city of Lubbock. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,852, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. Typical student debt for value graduates is $24,271. Value graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of $50,332 early in their careers. Set against $24,271 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Tulsa is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Tulsa, University Of Tulsa is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,546. Students borrow a median of $23,638 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Tulsa generally make around $66,166. That is a strong return on a $23,638 median debt. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Refrigeration School Inc earned the #6 position for value in value this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Refrigeration School Inc is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $19,919 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Refrigeration School Inc earn a median of $51,772 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,919 median debt.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
