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2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

26 Ranked Colleges
760 Degrees Awarded
$23,600 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value ME Schools for a Master's in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 47,598 people earned their degree in mechanical engineering, making the major the 20th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, mechanical engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $64,495 and had an average of $23,104 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southwest region, there were 5,649 mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $61,691 and $21,487 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 760 mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,078 and $37,227 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 26 colleges that offer a degree in mechanical engineering. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality mechanical engineering programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the mechanical engineering program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Mechanical Engineering Schools

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. 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 ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

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

#1

Rice University

Houston, Texas
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 26 schools in the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s 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 17 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

Rice did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Rice University are $47,913, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Rice

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Edinburg, Texas, and it awarded 17 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Rio Grande Valley not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Rio Grande Valley are $15,151, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Mechanical Engineering Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Texas A&M University - College Station. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. College Station, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s ME degrees to 90 students in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M College Station also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M College Station are $22,743, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

Out of the 26 schools in the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Arizona State University - Tempe landed the #4 spot on the list. This large school is located in Tempe, Arizona, and it awarded 133 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at ASU - Tempe, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Arizona State University - Tempe are $27,048.

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

#9 in overall quality

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 ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Oklahoma State University - Main Campus is located in Stillwater, Oklahoma and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 29 masters’s ME degrees to qualified students.

OSU also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #9. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Oklahoma State University - Main Campus are $23,963.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Oklahoma State University - Main Campus

The University of Texas at Austin did quite well in the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Austin, Texas, this large public school awarded 44 diplomas to qualified masters’s ME students in 2019-2020.

UT Austin also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #3. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Austin are $22,886, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at UT Austin

#21 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, The University of Texas at Tyler did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Tyler, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s ME degrees to 10 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Tyler, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UT Tyler are $16,308.

Full UT Tyler Mechanical Engineering Report

#8

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas
#10 in overall quality

Texas Tech University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Lubbock, Texas, this large public school awarded 25 diplomas to qualified masters’s ME students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas Tech, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Texas Tech University are $17,530.

Full Texas Tech University Mechanical Engineering Report

#9

University of Houston

Houston, Texas

University of Houston came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Houston is a large school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 47 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree me students whose families make $0-$30k list, UH has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Houston are $18,689, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at UH

The University of Texas at San Antonio did quite well in the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. UTSA is a large school located in San Antonio, Texas that handed out 18 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree me students whose families make $0-$30k list, UTSA has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UTSA are $25,807, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at UTSA

#11

University of North Texas

Denton, Texas

University of North Texas ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of North Texas is a public institution located in Denton, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 8 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNT, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UNT are $15,618.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at UNT

The University of Texas at El Paso ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in El Paso, Texas, and it awarded 35 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

UTEP also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #16. Average graduate tuition and fees at UTEP are $16,180, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at UTEP

#13

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona
#13 in overall quality

University of Arizona came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s 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 masters’s ME degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

University of Arizona also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #13. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Arizona are $33,399.

Full University of Arizona Mechanical Engineering Report

#14 in overall quality

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Socorro, New Mexico, this small public school awarded 11 degrees to qualified masters’s ME students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree me students whose families make $0-$30k list, New Mexico Tech has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology are $25,602.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at New Mexico Tech

#12 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Dallas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. The University of Texas at Dallas is a large public school situated in Richardson, Texas. It awarded 45 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Dallas also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #12. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UT Dallas are $28,610.

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

#19 in overall quality

New Mexico State University - Main Campus landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. New Mexico State University - Main Campus is a fairly large public school situated in Las Cruces, New Mexico. It awarded 18 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

NMSU Main Campus also took the #19 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at NMSU Main Campus are $18,275, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full NMSU Main Campus Mechanical Engineering Report

The University of Texas at Arlington ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Arlington, Texas, this large public school handed out 86 diplomas to qualified masters’s ME students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree me students whose families make $0-$30k list, UT Arlington has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Arlington are $23,376, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at UT Arlington

#22 in overall quality

Texas A&M University - Kingsville came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Texas A&M University - Kingsville is a medium-sized school located in Kingsville, Texas that handed out 20 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree me students whose families make $0-$30k list, Texas A&M Kingsville has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M University - Kingsville are $14,066.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M Kingsville

#19

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona
#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, Northern Arizona University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. NAU is located in Flagstaff, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17 masters’s ME degrees to qualified students.

NAU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at NAU are $19,489, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at NAU

#20

University of New Mexico - Main Campus

Albuquerque, New Mexico

With a ranking of #20, University of New Mexico - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, this large public school handed out 37 diplomas to qualified masters’s ME students in 2019-2020.

UNM not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of New Mexico - Main Campus are $19,890.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at UNM

University of Central Oklahoma came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UCO is a fairly large public school situated in Edmond, Oklahoma. It awarded 2 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

UCO also took the #0 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Central Oklahoma are $17,913, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at University of Central Oklahoma

#11 in overall quality

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Oklahoma is a large school located in Norman, Oklahoma that handed out 16 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Oklahoma also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #11. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Oklahoma are $23,236, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Oklahoma Mechanical Engineering Report

#23

University of Tulsa

Tulsa, Oklahoma
#7 in overall quality

University of Tulsa came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Tulsa is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 masters’s ME degrees to qualified students.

University of Tulsa also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Tulsa are $24,080, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at University of Tulsa

#24

LeTourneau University

Longview, Texas

LeTourneau University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. LeTourneau University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Longview, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

LETU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at LETU are $18,630.

Full LETU Mechanical Engineering Report

#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #25, Southern Methodist University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. SMU is a fairly large school located in Dallas, Texas that handed out 10 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SMU, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SMU are $47,478, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Southern Methodist University Mechanical Engineering Report

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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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