2027 Best Value Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region
[Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/psychiatric-mental-health-nurse-nursing/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing schools.
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2027 Best Value Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing Schools
The University Of Texas Pan American earned the #1 spot for value among psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing schools in the Southwest Region. The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public school located in the city of Edinburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,799, while out-of-state students pay about $19,645. Students borrow a median of $11,674 to complete the psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing program here. Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing graduates of The University Of Texas Pan American earn a median of $46,404 early in their careers. Set against $11,674 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at New Mexico State University Main Campus earned it the #2 place for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing. Located in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,183, while out-of-state students pay about $25,307. Typical student debt for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing graduates is $18,484. Early-career psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing graduates make about $75,870. Set against $18,484 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. New Mexico State University Main Campus admits about 89% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Texas At El Paso earned it the #3 place for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing. Located in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,544, with out-of-state students paying around $25,502. Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $21,379 in student loans. Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing graduates of The University Of Texas At El Paso earn a median of $88,713 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,379 median debt. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes The University Of Texas At Tyler one of the best values for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing. Set in the city of Tyler, The University Of Texas At Tyler is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,512, compared with $24,512 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,356 to complete the psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing program here. Early-career psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing graduates make about $98,109. That is a strong return on a $24,356 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Arizona University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,619 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,044 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,276 to complete the psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing program here. Early-career psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing graduates make about $88,824. That is a strong return on a $24,276 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University Texarkana placed #6 among the best values for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing. Texas A And M University Texarkana is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Texarkana. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,349, with out-of-state students paying around $24,680. Students borrow a median of $28,663 to complete the psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing program here. Soon after graduation, psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degree recipients from Texas A And M University Texarkana generally make around $67,768. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arizona ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing schools. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $96,470. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Texas State University San Marcos placed #8 among the best values for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing. Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $22,930. Typical student debt for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing graduates is $23,250. Soon after graduation, psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos generally make around $84,285. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Texas State University San Marcos admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of St Thomas Texas placed #9 among the best values for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing. University Of St Thomas Texas is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Students from in state pay about $34,634 in tuition and fees. Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $24,607 in student loans. Soon after graduation, psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Texas generally make around $83,793. That is a strong return on a $24,607 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
West Texas A And M University landed the #10 spot for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing value this year. Located in the town of Canyon, West Texas A And M University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,101, compared with $10,996 for out-of-state students. Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $22,884 in student loans. Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing graduates of West Texas A And M University earn a median of $74,531 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,884 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University College Station ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing schools. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,995 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Typical student debt for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing graduates is $21,500. Soon after graduation, psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $98,675. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. Texas A And M University College Station admits about 57% of applicants.
Grand Canyon University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing schools. Located in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,508. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete the psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing program here. Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing graduates of Grand Canyon University earn a median of $56,285 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Grand Canyon University admits about 79% of applicants.
University Of The Incarnate Word came in at #13 for value in psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, University Of The Incarnate Word is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,090. Typical student debt for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing graduates is $27,574. Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing graduates of University Of The Incarnate Word earn a median of $85,614 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,574 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Christian University came in at #14 for value in psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing this year. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,740. Typical student debt for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing graduates is $27,000. Early-career psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing graduates make about $133,545. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Texas Christian University admits about 44% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
