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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region

40 Ranked Colleges
6,337 Degrees Awarded
$9,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor's in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

With 559,661 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, liberal arts / sciences and humanities is the 3rd most popular major in the United States. In 2017-2018, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $26,786 and had an average of $16,538 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southwest region, there were 78,664 liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates with average earnings and debt of $27,829 and $15,343 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 6,337 liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,896 and $23,899 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 40 colleges that offer a degree in liberal arts / sciences and humanities. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality liberal arts / sciences and humanities programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the liberal arts / sciences and humanities program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 26 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region

#13 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas A & M University - Central Texas. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Texas A & M University - Central Texas is located in Killeen, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 52 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.

Texas A & M University - Central Texas also made our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #13.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Texas A & M University - Central Texas

#8 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Texas. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. UNT is a large public school situated in Denton, Texas. It awarded 618 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

UNT also took the #8 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of North Texas is $8,521 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at UNT

#15 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Texas Woman’s University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. TWU is a public institution located in Denton, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 238 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

TWU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend TWU is $6,706 for southwest region bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Texas Woman’s University

#1 in overall quality

Out of the 40 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas at Austin landed the #4 spot on the list. UT Austin is a public institution located in Austin, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 245 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Austin, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UT Austin is $12,203 for southwest region bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full The University of Texas at Austin Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#12 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Oklahoma State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. OSU is located in Stillwater, Oklahoma and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 265 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.

OSU also took the #12 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Oklahoma State University - Main Campus is $8,669 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at OSU

#25 in overall quality

Southeastern Oklahoma State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Durant, Oklahoma, and it awarded 90 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

Southeastern Oklahoma State University also made our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #25. The estimated yearly cost for Southeastern Oklahoma State University is $6,102 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Southeastern Oklahoma State University Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#7

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas
#10 in overall quality

Texas Tech University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Lubbock, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to 237 students in 2019-2020.

Texas Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Texas Tech is $12,317 for southwest region bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Texas Tech

#22 in overall quality

The University of Texas at San Antonio landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. The University of Texas at San Antonio is a large school located in San Antonio, Texas that handed out 166 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UTSA, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas at San Antonio is $10,516 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at UTSA

#23 in overall quality

Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus is a medium-sized school located in Portales, New Mexico that handed out 148 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at ENMU - Main Campus, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for ENMU - Main Campus is $8,115 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#21 in overall quality

Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. ASU - Tempe is a public institution located in Tempe, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 102 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at ASU - Tempe, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Arizona State University - Tempe is $7,044 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full ASU - Tempe Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#11

Northeastern State University

Tahlequah, Oklahoma
#24 in overall quality

Northeastern State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Northeastern State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. It awarded 89 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

NSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northeastern State University is $7,614 for southwest region bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Northeastern State University

Northwestern Oklahoma State University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. NWOSU is a small public school situated in Alva, Oklahoma. It awarded 31 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $7,491 for southwest region bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend NWOSU.

Full NWOSU Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#13

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona
#14 in overall quality

Northern Arizona University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Northern Arizona University is a public institution located in Flagstaff, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 546 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k list, NAU has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northern Arizona University is $9,251 for southwest region bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at NAU

#14

Arizona State University - Skysong

Scottsdale, Arizona
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Arizona State University - Skysong did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Scottsdale, Arizona, this large public school awarded 342 degrees to qualified bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities students in 2019-2020.

ASU - Skysong also made our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for ASU - Skysong is $12,037 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Arizona State University - Skysong

#14

University of Houston

Houston, Texas
#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, University of Houston did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Houston, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to 58 students in 2019-2020.

UH also took the #19 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UH is $10,203 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at UH

#15

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Texas State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Texas State is a large school located in San Marcos, Texas that handed out 164 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas State, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $11,125 for southwest region bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Texas State.

Full Texas State Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#7 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Arlington ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Arlington, Texas, and it awarded 312 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k list, UT Arlington has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas at Arlington is $11,811 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at The University of Texas at Arlington

#17

Oklahoma City University

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
#4 in overall quality

Oklahoma City University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to 69 students in 2019-2020.

OCU also took the #4 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Oklahoma City University is $17,214 for southwest region bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full OCU Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#18

Lamar University

Beaumont, Texas

Lamar University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Beaumont, Texas, and it awarded 146 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Lamar University is $9,200 for southwest region bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Lamar University

New Mexico State University - Main Campus came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Las Cruces, New Mexico is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to 166 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $6,896 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend New Mexico State University - Main Campus.

Full New Mexico State University - Main Campus Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#20

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, Texas
#20 in overall quality

Sam Houston State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. Sam Houston State University is located in Huntsville, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 54 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.

SHSU also took the #20 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SHSU is $10,561 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Sam Houston State University

#21

East Central University

Ada, Oklahoma

East Central University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Ada, Oklahoma, and it awarded 27 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend East Central University is $7,787 for southwest region bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full East Central University Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

Texas A&M University - Commerce ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Commerce, Texas, and it awarded 133 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Texas A&M University - Commerce is $10,013 for southwest region bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Texas A&M University - Commerce

#23

West Texas A&M University

Canyon, Texas
#18 in overall quality

West Texas A&M University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #23. West Texas A&M University is a fairly large school located in Canyon, Texas that handed out 202 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

West Texas A&M University also took the #18 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend West Texas A&M University is $8,730 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at West Texas A&M University

Texas A&M University - Texarkana came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Texarkana, Texas, and it awarded 20 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $6,384 for southwest region bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Texas A&M University - Texarkana.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Texas A&M Texarkana

#3 in overall quality

With a ranking of #25, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Oklahoma is located in Norman, Oklahoma and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 336 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Oklahoma, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $16,675 for southwest region bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Oklahoma.

The low student loan default rate of 4.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full University of Oklahoma Norman Campus Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

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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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