2027 Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools in the Southwest Region
[Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find the best return on investment for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students.
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2027 Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools
Our analysis ranked Southeastern Oklahoma State University the best value for a degree in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies in the Southwest Region. Located in the town of Durant, Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $7,200 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,410 for out-of-state students. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $18,660 in student loans. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $62,250. That is a strong return on a $18,660 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Students looking for strong value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies will find it at The University Of Texas At San Antonio, which ranked #2. Located in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,326, with out-of-state students paying around $22,249. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $25,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from The University Of Texas At San Antonio generally make around $49,955. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Phoenix College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Phoenix College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $15,204 in student loans. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $51,053. Set against $15,204 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rice University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,247. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $11,904 in student loans. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $75,299. Set against $11,904 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Northern Arizona University one of the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,619, with out-of-state students paying around $20,044. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $21,645. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from Northern Arizona University generally make around $47,056. That is a strong return on a $21,645 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Arizona State University landed the #6 spot for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies value this year. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $40,719 early in their careers. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
College Of The Muscogee Nation landed the #7 spot for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies value this year. College Of The Muscogee Nation is a small public school located in the rural area of Okmulgee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,600. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $17,525.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #8 spot for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies value this year. Set in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,797, compared with $27,377 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,186 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $58,084. That is a strong return on a $23,186 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Located in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,140, compared with $33,060 for out-of-state students. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $19,797 in student loans. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of University Of New Mexico Main Campus earn a median of $38,260 early in their careers. Set against $19,797 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
University Of Arizona ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,573, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $24,568. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $31,133 early in their careers. Set against $24,568 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Texas Tech University came in at #11 for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Texas Tech University is a very large public school located in the city of Lubbock. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,852, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,271 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $50,332. That is a strong return on a $24,271 median debt. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #12 for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Students borrow a median of $22,575 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $38,138 early in their careers. Set against $22,575 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants.
Texas A And M University College Station earned the #13 position for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,995, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Students borrow a median of $20,031 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $64,891. Set against $20,031 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
