2027 Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region
Nursing programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their nursing programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 202 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for nursing students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Nursing 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 nursing degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Nursing
Our analysis ranked The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston the best school in the country for a degree in nursing. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Houston. The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston awarded about 372 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston earn a median of $123,774 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
See the full nursing program report for The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is a moderately-sized public university. About 1,138 nursing degrees were awarded at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $113,144 in their early career. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in nursing from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
The University Of Texas Medical Branch came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Set in the city of Galveston, The University Of Texas Medical Branch is a mid-sized public institution. The University Of Texas Medical Branch awarded about 444 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from The University Of Texas Medical Branch earn around $98,578 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
Get the full nursing details for The University Of Texas Medical Branch
Students looking for a strong nursing program will find one at Midwestern University Glendale, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Glendale, Midwestern University Glendale is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Midwestern University Glendale awarded about 70 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Midwestern University Glendale generally make around $205,504.
Get the full nursing details for Midwestern University Glendale
Baylor University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in nursing, ranking #5. Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waco. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 636 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Baylor University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Baylor University generally make around $94,615. Typical student debt for the program is $26,975.
Read more about the nursing program at Baylor University
Texas A And M University College Station earned the #6 position for nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the city of College Station. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 329 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Texas A And M University College Station earn around $98,675 in the first couple years of their career. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
Read more about the nursing program at Texas A And M University College Station
Baylor College Of Medicine earned the #7 position for nursing this year. Located in the city of Houston, Baylor College Of Medicine is a small private not-for-profit university. About 27 nursing degrees were awarded at Baylor College Of Medicine in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $227,784 in their early career.
Read more about the nursing program at Baylor College Of Medicine
The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #8 spot for nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. About 89% of students finish within six years. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 248 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $85,026 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,651.
Get the full nursing details for The University Of Texas At Austin
Texas Christian University earned the #9 position for nursing this year. Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Worth. Texas Christian University graduates 85% of students within six years. About 299 nursing degrees were awarded at Texas Christian University in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Texas Christian University earn a median of $133,545 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the nursing program at Texas Christian University
The University Of Texas At Arlington ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Set in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public institution. The University Of Texas At Arlington graduates 54% of students within six years. About 3,684 nursing degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Arlington in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $106,807 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,182 to complete this degree.
Get the full nursing details for The University Of Texas At Arlington
University Of St Thomas Texas earned the #11 position for nursing this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Houston. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of St Thomas Texas awarded about 296 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Texas generally make around $83,793. Students borrow a median of $24,607 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing from University Of St Thomas Texas
University Of Arizona ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 601 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Arizona in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $96,470 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for University Of Arizona
Arizona State University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Arizona State University graduates 68% of students within six years. Arizona State University awarded about 600 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $96,796 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,750.
See the full nursing program report for Arizona State University
West Coast University Los Angeles ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. This mid-sized private for-profit university is located in the city of Richardson. West Coast University Los Angeles graduates 31% of students within six years. West Coast University Los Angeles awarded about 500 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of West Coast University Los Angeles earn a median of $112,084 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $38,145 to complete this degree.
Get the full nursing details for West Coast University Los Angeles
Sam Houston State University landed the #15 spot for nursing this year. Located in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. There were roughly 169 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Sam Houston State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $82,463 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,504 to complete this degree.
Read more about the nursing program at Sam Houston State University
Lone Star College System earned the #16 position for nursing this year. Lone Star College System is a very large public school located in the city of The Woodlands. Lone Star College System awarded about 682 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Lone Star College System generally make around $77,795. Lone Star College System graduates carry a median of $11,938 in student loans.
Read more about the nursing program at Lone Star College System
Texas Womans University earned the #17 position for nursing this year. Texas Womans University is a large public school located in the city of Denton. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 844 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Texas Womans University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $111,254 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full nursing details for Texas Womans University
University Of Houston landed the #18 spot for nursing this year. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. There were roughly 68 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Houston in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $85,740 early in their careers. University Of Houston graduates carry a median of $26,283 in student loans.
See the full nursing program report for University Of Houston
The University Of Texas At Tyler placed #19 among the best nursing schools. Located in the city of Tyler, The University Of Texas At Tyler is a large public university. The University Of Texas At Tyler graduates 54% of students within six years. The University Of Texas At Tyler awarded about 810 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of The University Of Texas At Tyler earn a median of $98,109 early in their careers. The University Of Texas At Tyler graduates carry a median of $24,356 in student loans.
More information about a degree in nursing from The University Of Texas At Tyler
Northern Arizona University placed #20 among the best nursing schools. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public university. Northern Arizona University graduates 61% of students within six years. Northern Arizona University awarded about 572 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $88,824 in their early career. Northern Arizona University graduates carry a median of $24,276 in student loans.
More information about a degree in nursing from Northern Arizona University
Pima Community College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Pima Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. There were roughly 141 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Pima Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Pima Community College earn around $73,629 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,500.
Read more about the nursing program at Pima Community College
Lee College placed #22 among the best nursing schools. This large public university is located in the city of Baytown. There were roughly 38 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Lee College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Lee College generally make around $72,164. Lee College graduates carry a median of $14,750 in student loans.
Read more about the nursing program at Lee College
The University Of Texas Pan American landed the #23 spot for nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Edinburg. The University Of Texas Pan American graduates 51% of students within six years. There were roughly 308 nursing students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas Pan American in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $101,468. Students borrow a median of $11,674 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for The University Of Texas Pan American
Collin County Community College District came in at #24 for nursing this year. Set in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public institution. About 311 nursing degrees were awarded at Collin County Community College District in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $72,584 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,687 to complete this degree.
Read more about the nursing program at Collin County Community College District
University Of Houston Clear Lake ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Clear Lake is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. University Of Houston Clear Lake awarded about 15 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from University Of Houston Clear Lake earn around $93,001 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,100 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for University Of Houston Clear Lake
Rest of the Top 50 Nursing Schools
These schools also placed among the best for nursing this year:
Honorable Mentions
A few more nursing schools worth a look:
- #51 — Midwestern State University · Wichita Falls, TX
- #52 — Northeastern State University · Tahlequah, OK
- #53 — The University Of Texas At El Paso · El Paso, TX
- #54 — College Of The Mainland · Texas City, TX
- #55 — Texas State University San Marcos · San Marcos, TX
- #56 — University Of Phoenix Arizona · Phoenix, AZ
- #57 — Oklahoma State University Main Campus · Stillwater, OK
- #58 — West Texas A And M University · Canyon, TX
- #59 — Weatherford College · Weatherford, TX
- #60 — Mesa Community College · Mesa, AZ
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 202 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.
