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

49 Ranked Colleges
23,743 Degrees Awarded
$8,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value 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. 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 in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Engineering is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 6th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 200,458 degrees were awarded to students with this major. 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.

This year’s “Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 49 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

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 engineering program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Engineering Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value 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 College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

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

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

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

#1

Rice University

Houston, Texas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Rice University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Rice University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 314 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Rice also took the #1 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Rice University is $3,437 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Engineering at Rice University

#2

Tulsa Community College

Tulsa, Oklahoma

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Tulsa Community College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Tulsa, Oklahoma is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 85 students in 2019-2020.

Tulsa Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Tulsa Community College is $4,835 for southwest region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Engineering at Tulsa Community College

#3

Houston Community College

Houston, Texas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Houston Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Houston Community College is located in Houston, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 134 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

Houston Community College also made our “Best Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $4,562 for southwest region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Houston Community College.

Read more about Engineering at Houston Community College

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Austin Community College District. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Austin Community College District is a public institution located in Austin, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 83 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Austin Community College District also took the #17 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Austin Community College District is $3,134 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Engineering at Austin Community College District

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a public institution located in Edinburg, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 305 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $2,993 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UT Rio Grande Valley Engineering Report

#6

Central New Mexico Community College

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Central New Mexico Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. CNM is a large school located in Albuquerque, New Mexico that handed out 46 ’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $2,604 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend CNM.

Read full report on Engineering at Central New Mexico Community College

Texas A&M University - College Station ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Texas A&M College Station is located in College Station, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3,286 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas A&M College Station, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Texas A&M College Station is $11,454 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Engineering at Texas A&M College Station

The University of Texas at Austin ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Austin, Texas, and it awarded 1,961 ’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Austin did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UT Austin is $12,203 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.7% 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%. 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 Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin

#9

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

Texas Tech University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Texas Tech is a large public school situated in Lubbock, Texas. It awarded 1,086 ’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas Tech, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Texas Tech University is $12,317 for southwest region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read full report on Engineering at Texas Tech University

Arizona State University - Tempe ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Arizona State University - Tempe is a large public school situated in Tempe, Arizona. It awarded 2,583 ’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

ASU - Tempe also made our “Best Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $7,044 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend ASU - Tempe.

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

Full ASU - Tempe Engineering Report

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and it awarded 761 ’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at OSU, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Oklahoma State University - Main Campus is $8,669 for southwest region 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.

Read full report on Engineering at Oklahoma State University - Main Campus

The University of Texas at Tyler ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. The University of Texas at Tyler is located in Tyler, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 240 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southwest region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k list, UT Tyler has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas at Tyler is $6,797 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Engineering at UT Tyler

#13

University of North Texas

Denton, Texas

University of North Texas came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Denton, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 390 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UNT is $8,521 for Southwest Region 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%.

Read full report on Engineering at University of North Texas

#14

Trinity University

San Antonio, Texas

Trinity University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in San Antonio, Texas, and it awarded 29 ’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Trinity U also took the #7 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Trinity U is $12,373 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Trinity U Engineering Report

#15

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona

University of Arizona ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Tucson, Arizona, this large public school awarded 828 degrees to qualified ’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

University of Arizona also took the #19 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Arizona is $10,562 for southwest region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

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

Read more about Engineering at University of Arizona

The University of Texas of the Permian Basin landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. The University of Texas of the Permian Basin is a public institution located in Odessa, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 94 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Permian Basin did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $7,889 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend The University of Texas of the Permian Basin.

Read full report on Engineering at UT Permian Basin

With a ranking of #17, Southeastern Oklahoma State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a public institution located in Durant, Oklahoma. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 53 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Southeastern Oklahoma State University is $6,102 for southwest region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Engineering at Southeastern Oklahoma State University

The University of Texas at San Antonio ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in San Antonio, Texas, and it awarded 596 ’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas at San Antonio is $10,516 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Engineering at UTSA

#19

University of Houston

Houston, Texas

University of Houston landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UH is a large public school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 981 ’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

UH not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $10,203 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Houston.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UH Engineering Report

#20

Lamar University

Beaumont, Texas

Lamar University landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Lamar University is a fairly large school located in Beaumont, Texas that handed out 307 ’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k list, Lamar University has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $9,200 for southwest region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Lamar University.

Full Lamar University Engineering Report

The University of Texas at Dallas came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Richardson, Texas, and it awarded 1,061 ’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Dallas also took the #15 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas at Dallas is $10,857 for southwest region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.

Read full report on Engineering at The University of Texas at Dallas

#22

Northwest Vista College

San Antonio, Texas

With a ranking of #22, Northwest Vista College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Northwest Vista College is a public institution located in San Antonio, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $4,355 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Northwest Vista College.

Read full report on Engineering at Northwest Vista College

With a ranking of #23, The University of Texas at El Paso did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in El Paso, Texas, this large public school awarded 698 degrees to qualified ’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas at El Paso is $7,092 for southwest region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Engineering at UTEP

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. Socorro, New Mexico is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 216 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend New Mexico Tech is $10,924 for southwest region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full New Mexico Tech Engineering Report

#25

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas

With a ranking of #25, Texas State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Texas State University is a public institution located in San Marcos, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 194 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k list, Texas State has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Texas State University is $11,125 for Southwest Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Engineering at Texas State 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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