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

35 Ranked Colleges
5,195 Degrees Awarded
$20,200 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master's 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. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 200,458 engineering students received their degree, making the major the 6th most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $64,888 and had an average of $23,564 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southwest region, there were 23,743 engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $63,902 and $21,894 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 5,195 engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,078 and $37,227 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 35 colleges that offered a degree in engineering. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent engineering programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the engineering program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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 Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

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

The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region master’s degree engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 26 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Engineering (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region

#1

Rice University

Houston, Texas
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 35 schools in the Best Value Engineering 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. Rice is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 93 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Rice also made our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #1. Average graduate tuition and fees at Rice University are $47,913, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about 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 Engineering 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 27 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Rio Grande Valley are $15,151, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Engineering at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

#2 in overall quality

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 Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Texas A&M College Station is a large school located in College Station, Texas that handed out 760 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M College Station not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M College Station are $22,743, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Texas A&M University - College Station Engineering Report

#3 in overall quality

Out of the 35 schools in the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas at Austin landed the #4 spot on the list. The University of Texas at Austin is located in Austin, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 361 masters’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

UT Austin also took the #3 spot in our “Best 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 The University of Texas at Austin are $22,886.

Read full report on Engineering at UT Austin

#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Arizona State University - Tempe. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Arizona State University - Tempe is located in Tempe, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 835 masters’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

ASU - Tempe did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Arizona State University - Tempe are $27,048, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Engineering at Arizona State University - Tempe

#13 in overall quality

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. OSU is a public institution located in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The school has a large population, and it awarded 105 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at OSU, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Oklahoma State University - Main Campus are $23,963, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full OSU Engineering Report

Southeastern Oklahoma State University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Southeastern Oklahoma State University is located in Durant, Oklahoma and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 53 masters’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Southeastern Oklahoma State University are $11,178, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Engineering at Southeastern Oklahoma State University

#24 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Tyler ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. The University of Texas at Tyler is a medium-sized school located in Tyler, Texas that handed out 18 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Tyler, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Tyler are $16,308, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UT Tyler Engineering Report

#20 in overall quality

University of North Texas ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UNT is located in Denton, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 50 masters’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

UNT did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UNT are $15,618, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UNT Engineering Report

#10

Lamar University

Beaumont, Texas
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Lamar University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Beaumont, Texas, this fairly large public school handed out 79 diplomas to qualified masters’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lamar University, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best 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 Lamar University are $15,699.

Full Lamar University Engineering Report

#11

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Texas Tech University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Lubbock, Texas, this large public school awarded 159 degrees to qualified masters’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

Texas Tech also made our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #14. 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 Engineering Report

#12

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona
#10 in overall quality

University of Arizona came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering 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 engineering degrees to 167 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree engineering students whose families make $0-$30k list, University of Arizona has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best 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 University of Arizona are $33,399.

Full University of Arizona Engineering Report

#13

University of Houston

Houston, Texas
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, University of Houston did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UH is located in Houston, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 260 masters’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

UH not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best 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 UH are $18,689.

Full UH Engineering Report

#22 in overall quality

The University of Texas at San Antonio did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. The University of Texas at San Antonio is a public institution located in San Antonio, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 97 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree engineering students whose families make $0-$30k list, UTSA has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at San Antonio are $25,807, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Engineering at The University of Texas at San Antonio

#16 in overall quality

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. New Mexico Tech is a public institution located in Socorro, New Mexico. The school has a small population, and it awarded 36 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

New Mexico Tech also made our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #16. Average graduate tuition and fees at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology are $25,602, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Engineering at New Mexico Tech

#9 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Dallas came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Richardson, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s engineering degrees to 297 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Dallas, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best 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 The University of Texas at Dallas are $28,610.

Read full report on Engineering at UT Dallas

#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, New Mexico State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Las Cruces, New Mexico is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s engineering degrees to 100 students in 2019-2020.

NMSU Main Campus did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at NMSU Main Campus are $18,275, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Engineering at NMSU Main Campus

The University of Texas at El Paso did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. This large school is located in El Paso, Texas, and it awarded 149 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at El Paso are $16,180.

Read full report on Engineering at UTEP

#18

Arizona State University - Skysong

Scottsdale, Arizona
#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, Arizona State University - Skysong did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. ASU - Skysong is a large public school situated in Scottsdale, Arizona. It awarded 113 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

ASU - Skysong also took the #18 spot in our “Best 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 ASU - Skysong are $6,724.

Full Arizona State University - Skysong Engineering Report

#19

Oklahoma Christian University

Edmond, Oklahoma
#17 in overall quality

Oklahoma Christian University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Oklahoma Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Edmond, Oklahoma. The school has a small population, and it awarded 65 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

OC also took the #17 spot in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at OC are $11,430, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Engineering at Oklahoma Christian University

University of Houston - Clear Lake ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 45 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Houston - Clear Lake are $19,216.

Read full report on Engineering at University of Houston - Clear Lake

#21

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas

With a ranking of #21, Texas State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. San Marcos, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s engineering degrees to 27 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Texas State University are $17,040.

Read full report on Engineering at Texas State University

#11 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Arlington came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Arlington, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s engineering degrees to 555 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Arlington, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best 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 The University of Texas at Arlington are $23,376.

Full The University of Texas at Arlington Engineering Report

#25 in overall quality

Texas A&M University - Kingsville did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #23. Texas A&M University - Kingsville is located in Kingsville, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 114 masters’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

Texas A&M Kingsville also took the #25 spot in our “Best 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 Kingsville are $14,066.

Read full report on Engineering at Texas A&M Kingsville

#24

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona
#23 in overall quality

Northern Arizona University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Flagstaff, Arizona, this large public school awarded 40 diplomas to qualified masters’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

NAU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best 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 Northern Arizona University are $19,489.

Read full report on Engineering at NAU

#25

West Texas A&M University

Canyon, Texas

West Texas A&M University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. West Texas A&M University is a public institution located in Canyon, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at West Texas A&M University, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at West Texas A&M University are $8,013, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Engineering at West Texas A&M University

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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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