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2022 Best Value Colleges for Nursing in the Southwest Region (With Aid)

171 Ranked Colleges
39,179 Degrees Awarded
$5,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Nursing is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 3rd of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 313,362 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2017-2018, nursing graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $67,065 and had an average of $26,282 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southwest region, there were 39,179 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $66,645 and $23,719 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 171 colleges that offer a degree in nursing. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent nursing 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 nursing program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid” list to help you make the college 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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region nursing students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Nursing in the Southwest Region (With Aid)

#1

South Texas College

McAllen, Texas

Out of the 171 schools in the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, South Texas College landed the #1 spot on the list. South Texas College is located in McAllen, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 244 ’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

South Texas College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $1,174 for southwest region nursing students with aid per year to attend South Texas College.

Read more about Nursing at South Texas College

#2

College of the Mainland

Texas City, Texas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend College of the Mainland. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Texas City, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s nursing degrees to 83 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, COM is also in the top of our “Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for College of the Mainland is $2,036 for southwest region nursing students with aid.

Read more about Nursing at College of the Mainland

Top 15% in overall quality

Out of the 171 schools in the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas A & M University - Central Texas landed the #3 spot on the list. Killeen, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s nursing degrees to 37 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, Texas A & M University - Central Texas is in the top on our “Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis.

Full Texas A & M University - Central Texas Nursing Report

Out of the 171 schools in the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Austin Community College District landed the #4 spot on the list. Austin Community College District is a public institution located in Austin, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 321 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Austin Community College District, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Austin Community College District is $6,861 for Southwest Region Nursing students with aid.

Read full report on Nursing at Austin Community College District

#5

Galveston College

Galveston, Texas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Galveston College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Galveston, Texas, this small public school handed out 59 degrees to qualified ’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

Galveston College also claimed a top spot on our “Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Galveston College is $3,446 for southwest region nursing students with aid.

Read more about Nursing at Galveston College

#6

El Centro College

Dallas, Texas

El Centro College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. El Centro College is a large public school situated in Dallas, Texas. It awarded 229 ’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

El Centro College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $4,373 for southwest region nursing students with aid per year to attend El Centro College.

Read more about Nursing at El Centro College

#7

Houston Community College

Houston, Texas

Houston Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. Houston, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s nursing degrees to 147 students in 2019-2020.

Houston Community College excels when it comes to nursing quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Houston Community College is $5,272 for Southwest Region Nursing students with aid.

Full Houston Community College Nursing Report

#8

Pima Community College

Tucson, Arizona

Pima Community College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Pima County Community College District is a public institution located in Tucson, Arizona. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 178 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $3,583 for southwest region nursing students with aid per year to attend Pima County Community College District.

Read full report on Nursing at Pima County Community College District

#9

Central New Mexico Community College

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Central New Mexico Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. This large school is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and it awarded 278 ’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend CNM is $3,429 for southwest region nursing students with aid.

Read more about Nursing at CNM

#10

Tarrant County College District

Fort Worth, Texas

Tarrant County College District came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Tarrant County College is a large public school situated in Fort Worth, Texas. It awarded 248 ’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Tarrant County College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Tarrant County College District is $5,434 for southwest region nursing students with aid.

Read more about Nursing at Tarrant County College

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. This large school is located in Edinburg, Texas, and it awarded 234 ’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is $4,514 for southwest region nursing students with aid.

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%.

Read full report on Nursing at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

#12

Del Mar College

Corpus Christi, Texas

Del Mar College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Del Mar College is a fairly large public school situated in Corpus Christi, Texas. It awarded 147 ’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, DMC is in the top on our “Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for DMC is $5,738 for southwest region nursing students with aid.

Read more about Nursing at Del Mar College

#13

Lone Star College System

The Woodlands, Texas

Lone Star College System landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. North Harris Montgomery is a large school located in The Woodlands, Texas that handed out 554 ’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region nursing students with aid list, North Harris Montgomery has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lone Star College System is $8,016 for Southwest Region Nursing students with aid.

Read full report on Nursing at Lone Star College System

#14

Amarillo College

Amarillo, Texas

With a ranking of #14, Amarillo College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Amarillo College is located in Amarillo, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 202 ’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

On top of its placing in this ranking, Amarillo College also did well on our “Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend Amarillo College is $5,578 for Southwest Region Nursing students with aid.

Full Amarillo College Nursing Report

Wharton County Junior College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. Wharton County Junior College is located in Wharton, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 57 ’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Wharton County Junior College is $5,334 for Southwest Region Nursing students with aid.

Full Wharton County Junior College Nursing Report

#16

Oklahoma City Community College

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Oklahoma City Community College landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s nursing degrees to 267 students in 2019-2020.

OCCC excels when it comes to nursing quality. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Oklahoma City Community College is $6,842 for southwest region nursing students with aid.

Full Oklahoma City Community College Nursing Report

#17

Lee College

Baytown, Texas

Lee College landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Baytown, Texas, this medium-sized public school handed out 62 diplomas to qualified ’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Lee College is $7,732 for Southwest Region Nursing students with aid.

Read full report on Nursing at Lee College

#18

San Antonio College

San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. San Antonio College is a public institution located in San Antonio, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 182 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

San Antonio College also claimed a top spot on our “Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $5,882 for southwest region nursing students with aid per year to attend San Antonio College.

Read more about Nursing at San Antonio College

With a ranking of #19, Texas A&M International University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Texas A&M International University is a public institution located in Laredo, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 101 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Texas A&M International University is $3,074 for Southwest Region Nursing students with aid.

Read full report on Nursing at Texas A&M International University

#20

Victoria College

Victoria, Texas

Victoria College landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Victoria College is located in Victoria, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 88 ’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $5,629 for Southwest Region Nursing students with aid per year to attend Victoria College.

Read more about Nursing at Victoria College

#21

Grayson College

Denison, Texas

With a ranking of #21, Grayson College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Denison, Texas, this small public school handed out 133 degrees to qualified ’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Grayson College is $7,877 for southwest region nursing students with aid.

Read full report on Nursing at Grayson College

#22

El Paso Community College

El Paso, Texas

El Paso Community College landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in El Paso, Texas, this large public school handed out 230 diplomas to qualified ’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $4,594 for Southwest Region Nursing students with aid per year to attend El Paso Community College.

Full El Paso Community College Nursing Report

#23

Vernon College

Vernon, Texas

With a ranking of #23, Vernon College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Vernon College is a public institution located in Vernon, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 90 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Vernon Regional Junior College is $5,604 for Southwest Region Nursing students with aid.

Read full report on Nursing at Vernon College

#24

Temple College

Temple, Texas

Temple College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #24. Temple College is a small school located in Temple, Texas that handed out 70 ’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $5,300 for Southwest Region Nursing students with aid per year to attend Temple College.

Read full report on Nursing at Temple College

With a ranking of #25, Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and it awarded 145 ’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $6,753 for Southwest Region Nursing students with aid per year to attend OSU-OKC.

Full Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City Nursing Report

Rest of the Best 26 in Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid

Not only did these schools make the top 26 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#26

South Plains College

Levelland, Texas

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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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