2027 Best Value Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region

[Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering](/majors/engineering/aerospace-and-aeronautical-engineering/aerospace-aeronautical-space-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong aerospace & aeronautical engineering education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for aerospace & aeronautical engineering students.
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2027 Best Value Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in aerospace & aeronautical engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering Schools
Our analysis ranked The University Of Texas At San Antonio the best value for a degree in aerospace & aeronautical engineering in the Southwest Region. Set in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,326, with out-of-state students paying around $22,249. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,312 in student loans. Early-career aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates make about $49,955. Set against $23,312 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At San Antonio admits about 87% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in aerospace & aeronautical engineering will find it at New Mexico State University Main Campus, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,183, while out-of-state students pay about $25,307. Students borrow a median of $24,537 to complete the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program here. Early-career aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates make about $68,002. That is a strong return on a $24,537 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Texas At El Paso earned it the #3 place for aerospace & aeronautical engineering. Located in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,544 in tuition and fees, compared with $25,502 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates is $19,819. Early-career aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates make about $48,335. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Houston came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value aerospace & aeronautical engineering schools. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,717, compared with $22,547 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,255 to complete the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program here. Early-career aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates make about $57,529. Set against $21,255 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
A rank of #5 makes The University Of Texas At Arlington one of the best values for aerospace & aeronautical engineering. Set in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,950, compared with $29,582 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates is $25,260. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates of The University Of Texas At Arlington earn a median of $78,005 early in their careers. Set against $25,260 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Arizona State University landed the #6 spot for aerospace & aeronautical engineering value this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,223 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Typical student debt for aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates is $25,500. Early-career aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates make about $78,808. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #7 for value in aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norman. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,797, compared with $27,377 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates is $26,000. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates of University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn a median of $72,607 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arizona landed the #8 spot for aerospace & aeronautical engineering value this year. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Typical student debt for aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates is $23,656. Early-career aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates make about $57,456. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus came in at #9 for value in aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Stillwater. In-state tuition and fees average $10,110, compared with $25,630 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,843 to complete the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree recipients from Oklahoma State University Main Campus generally make around $68,226. That is a strong return on a $19,843 median debt. Oklahoma State University Main Campus admits about 75% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #10 spot for aerospace & aeronautical engineering value this year. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,688, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,542 in student loans. Soon after graduation, aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $81,022. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 27%.
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #11 for value in aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. Students from in state pay about $12,995 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,208 to complete the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program here. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $85,388 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott came in at #12 for value in aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. Located in the city of Prescott, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $43,974. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,995 in student loans. Soon after graduation, aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree recipients from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott generally make around $75,483. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.