2027 Best Best Schools in the Southwest Region
Best degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their best programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for best students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Best in the Southwest Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the best degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Best
Leading the list is Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, our #1 school for best. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Lubbock. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center awarded about 17 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $76,328 in their early career. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center graduates carry a median of $24,889 in student loans.
Read more about the best program at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
West Coast University Los Angeles is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in best, ranking #2. West Coast University Los Angeles is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Richardson. About 31% of students finish within six years. West Coast University Los Angeles awarded about 14 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from West Coast University Los Angeles generally make around $130,904. West Coast University Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $37,140 in student loans.
See the full best program report for West Coast University Los Angeles
Students looking for a strong best program will find one at The University Of Texas At Arlington, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Arlington. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. The University Of Texas At Arlington awarded about 117 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Arlington generally make around $97,185. Typical student debt for the program is $21,632.
See the full best program report for The University Of Texas At Arlington
Texas Womans University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in best, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public institution. About 49% of students finish within six years. About 13 best degrees were awarded at Texas Womans University in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from Texas Womans University earn around $101,837 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,211.
See the full best program report for Texas Womans University
Students looking for a strong best program will find one at Lamar University, which ranked #5. Lamar University is a very large public school located in the city of Beaumont. Lamar University graduates 37% of students within six years. Lamar University awarded about 26 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Lamar University generally make around $52,678. Typical student debt for the program is $26,988.
See the full best program report for Lamar University
The University Of Texas At Tyler came in at #6 for best this year. Set in the city of Tyler, The University Of Texas At Tyler is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. The University Of Texas At Tyler awarded about 43 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Tyler generally make around $75,886. The University Of Texas At Tyler graduates carry a median of $20,959 in student loans.
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University Of Phoenix Arizona came in at #7 for best this year. University Of Phoenix Arizona is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. About 16% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 131 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of Phoenix Arizona in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of Phoenix Arizona generally make around $106,556. Typical student debt for the program is $35,323.
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The University Of Texas At El Paso placed #8 among the best best schools. Located in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. About 13 best degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At El Paso in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from The University Of Texas At El Paso earn around $95,799 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Texas At El Paso graduates carry a median of $19,819 in student loans.
Read more about the best program at The University Of Texas At El Paso
Northeastern State University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best best schools. Northeastern State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Tahlequah. About 35% of students finish within six years. Northeastern State University awarded about 43 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Northeastern State University generally make around $49,353. Typical student debt for the program is $23,465.
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Tarleton State University came in at #10 for best this year. Located in the town of Stephenville, Tarleton State University is a large public university. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 best students who graduated with this degree at Tarleton State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Tarleton State University earn around $50,532 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,222.
Read more about the best program at Tarleton State University
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 10 schools evaluated.
- 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.
