2027 Best Value Value Schools in the Southwest Region
[Value](/majors/engineering/electrical-and-computer-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
What’s on this page:
2027 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
Our analysis ranked Rice University the best value for a degree in value in the Southwest Region. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $61,247 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $11,904 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $75,299. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Rice University admits about 8% of applicants.
Northern Arizona University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,619, compared with $20,044 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $21,645. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Northern Arizona University generally make around $47,056. That is a strong return on a $21,645 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
A rank of #3 makes The University Of Texas At Austin one of the best values for value. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, compared with $44,908 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $21,275. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $57,819. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 27%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Baylor University earned it the #4 place for value. Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waco. In-state tuition and fees average $58,100. Value graduates carry a median of $23,928 in student loans. Value graduates of Baylor University earn a median of $49,888 early in their careers. Set against $23,928 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Baylor University admits about 51% of applicants.
Narrow Value Schools by State
View All Value Rankings >
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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
