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

36 Ranked Colleges
5,649 Degrees Awarded
$9,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value General Mechanical Engineering 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. 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 General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 47,598 people earned their degree in general mechanical engineering, making the major the 12th most popular in the United States.

Across the Southwest region, there were 5,649 general mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 36 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general mechanical engineering. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general mechanical engineering programs that also have a lower cost than 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 general mechanical engineering program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

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

#1

Rice University

Houston, Texas

Out of the 36 schools in the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Rice University landed the #1 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 60 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Rice also took the #2 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Rice is $3,437 for southwest region general mechanical engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low student loan default rate of 1.0% 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 Rice General Mechanical Engineering Report

Out of the 36 schools in the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley landed the #2 spot on the list. This large school is located in Edinburg, Texas, and it awarded 116 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Rio Grande Valley, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is $2,993 for Southwest Region General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low 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 more about General Mechanical Engineering at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas A&M University - College Station. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Texas A&M College Station is located in College Station, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 575 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees to qualified students.

Texas A&M College Station also took the #3 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $11,454 for southwest region general mechanical engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Texas A&M University - College Station.

The low student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University - College Station

#4

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas Tech University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Lubbock, Texas, this large public school awarded 389 diplomas to qualified ’s general mechanical engineering students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas Tech, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $12,317 for southwest region general mechanical engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Texas Tech University.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Texas Tech General Mechanical Engineering Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas at Austin. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. The University of Texas at Austin is a large public school situated in Austin, Texas. It awarded 344 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Austin, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas at Austin is $12,203 for southwest region general mechanical engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at UT Austin

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Stillwater, Oklahoma is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general mechanical engineering degrees to 292 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region general mechanical engineering students whose families make $0-$30k list, OSU has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for OSU is $8,669 for southwest region general mechanical engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

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

Full OSU General Mechanical Engineering Report

Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Arizona State University - Tempe is a large public school situated in Tempe, Arizona. It awarded 411 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

ASU - Tempe not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend ASU - Tempe is $7,044 for southwest region general mechanical engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at Arizona State University - Tempe

University of North Texas came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Denton, Texas, this large public school handed out 179 degrees to qualified ’s general mechanical engineering students in 2019-2020.

UNT not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Texas is $8,521 for Southwest Region General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

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 General Mechanical Engineering Report

With a ranking of #9, The University of Texas at Tyler did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UT Tyler is located in Tyler, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 117 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southwest region general mechanical engineering students whose families make $0-$30k list, UT Tyler has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $6,797 for Southwest Region General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UT Tyler.

Full The University of Texas at Tyler General Mechanical Engineering Report

#10

University of Houston

Houston, Texas

University of Houston did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. UH is a large public school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 276 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

UH not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UH is $10,203 for Southwest Region General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

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

Full University of Houston General Mechanical Engineering Report

The University of Texas at San Antonio ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in San Antonio, Texas, this large public school awarded 214 degrees to qualified ’s general mechanical engineering students in 2019-2020.

UTSA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UTSA is $10,516 for southwest region general mechanical engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at The University of Texas at San Antonio

#12

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona

University of Arizona came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Tucson, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general mechanical engineering degrees to 143 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region general mechanical engineering students whose families make $0-$30k list, University of Arizona has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $10,562 for southwest region general mechanical engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Arizona.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at University of Arizona

The University of Texas of the Permian Basin did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. The University of Texas of the Permian Basin is located in Odessa, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 55 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees to qualified students.

UT Permian Basin did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas of the Permian Basin is $7,889 for Southwest Region General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at UT Permian Basin

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Socorro, New Mexico is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general mechanical engineering degrees to 88 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at New Mexico Tech, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology is $10,924 for southwest region general mechanical engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at New Mexico Tech

The University of Texas at Dallas ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UT Dallas is a large public school situated in Richardson, Texas. It awarded 277 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Dallas also made our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #12. The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas at Dallas is $10,857 for Southwest Region General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.9% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%.

Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at The University of Texas at Dallas

The University of Texas at El Paso came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. The University of Texas at El Paso is a large school located in El Paso, Texas that handed out 240 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $7,092 for Southwest Region General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UTEP.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at The University of Texas at El Paso

#17

Lamar University

Beaumont, Texas

Lamar University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Beaumont, Texas, this fairly large public school awarded 64 degrees to qualified ’s general mechanical engineering students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lamar University, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lamar University is $9,200 for Southwest Region General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at Lamar University

New Mexico State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Las Cruces, New Mexico, this fairly large public school awarded 127 degrees to qualified ’s general mechanical engineering students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend NMSU Main Campus is $6,896 for southwest region general mechanical engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at NMSU Main Campus

#19

MSU Texas

Wichita Falls, Texas

MSU Texas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. MSU Texas is a medium-sized public school situated in Wichita Falls, Texas. It awarded 50 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for MSU Texas is $7,703 for southwest region general mechanical engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at MSU Texas

Texas A&M University - Kingsville came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Texas A&M Kingsville is a medium-sized school located in Kingsville, Texas that handed out 97 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Texas A&M Kingsville is $11,105 for southwest region general mechanical engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Texas A&M University - Kingsville General Mechanical Engineering Report

University of Houston - Clear Lake landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UH Clear Lake is a medium-sized public school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 8 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UH Clear Lake is $4,517 for Southwest Region General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full UH Clear Lake General Mechanical Engineering Report

With a ranking of #22, The University of Texas at Arlington did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UT Arlington is a large school located in Arlington, Texas that handed out 304 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Arlington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas at Arlington is $11,811 for Southwest Region General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at The University of Texas at Arlington

#23

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona

Northern Arizona University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Flagstaff, Arizona, and it awarded 173 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend NAU is $9,251 for southwest region general mechanical engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at Northern Arizona University

#24

Oklahoma Christian University

Edmond, Oklahoma

Oklahoma Christian University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Oklahoma Christian University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Edmond, Oklahoma. It awarded 25 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Oklahoma Christian University is $18,686 for southwest region general mechanical engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full OC General Mechanical Engineering Report

#25

Prairie View A & M University

Prairie View, Texas

Prairie View A & M University landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Prairie View, Texas, and it awarded 70 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

PVAMU also took the #18 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for PVAMU is $12,291 for Southwest Region General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at PVAMU

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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

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.

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