2026 Best Best Schools in the Southwest Region
Best is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 22 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
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall best education in the Southwest Region.
Top Schools in Best
Leading the list is The University Of Texas At Austin, our #1 school for best. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. About 208 best degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $57,819 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,275 to complete this degree.
Get the full best details for The University Of Texas At Austin
Baylor University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in best, ranking #2. Set in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 53 best students who graduated with this degree at Baylor University in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Baylor University earn a median of $49,888 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,928 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in best from Baylor University
The University Of Texas At Dallas came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Richardson. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 1,288 best degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Dallas in the most recent year. Best graduates of The University Of Texas At Dallas earn a median of $58,507 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,531 to complete this degree.
Get the full best details for The University Of Texas At Dallas
Texas Christian University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in best, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 40 best students who graduated with this degree at Texas Christian University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $60,035 in their early career. Texas Christian University graduates carry a median of $22,960 in student loans.
Read more about the best program at Texas Christian University
Students looking for a strong best program will find one at University Of Houston, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. University Of Houston graduates 65% of students within six years. There were roughly 47 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of Houston in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of Houston generally make around $57,529. Students borrow a median of $21,255 to complete this degree.
Get the full best details for University Of Houston
The University Of Texas At Arlington ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Arlington. The University Of Texas At Arlington graduates 54% of students within six years. About 153 best degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Arlington in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $55,304 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,632 to complete this degree.
Get the full best details for The University Of Texas At Arlington
Northern Arizona University placed #7 among the best best schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Flagstaff. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. Northern Arizona University awarded about 26 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Northern Arizona University earn a median of $47,056 early in their careers. Northern Arizona University graduates carry a median of $21,645 in student loans.
See the full best program report for Northern Arizona University
The University Of Texas At San Antonio earned the #8 position for best this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public institution. The University Of Texas At San Antonio graduates 53% of students within six years. About 17 best degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At San Antonio in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from The University Of Texas At San Antonio generally make around $49,955. Students borrow a median of $23,312 to complete this degree.
Read more about the best program at The University Of Texas At San Antonio
University Of North Texas placed #9 among the best best schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Denton. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of North Texas awarded about 428 best degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from University Of North Texas earn around $49,157 in the first couple years of their career. University Of North Texas graduates carry a median of $21,817 in student loans.
More information about a degree in best from University Of North Texas
Midwestern State University landed the #10 spot for best this year. Located in the city of Wichita Falls, Midwestern State University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 43%. Midwestern State University awarded about 44 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Midwestern State University earn a median of $49,638 early in their careers. Midwestern State University graduates carry a median of $26,415 in student loans.
Get the full best details for Midwestern State University
University Of North Texas At Dallas placed #11 among the best best schools. University Of North Texas At Dallas is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Dallas. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. University Of North Texas At Dallas awarded about 13 best degrees in the most recent data year.
Get the full best details for University Of North Texas At Dallas
Texas A And M University Commerce earned the #12 position for best this year. Located in the town of Commerce, Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public university. Roughly 43% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 274 best students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University Commerce in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Texas A And M University Commerce generally make around $54,201. Students borrow a median of $23,796 to complete this degree.
Get the full best details for Texas A And M University Commerce
Texas State University San Marcos came in at #13 for best this year. Located in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. There were roughly 49 best students who graduated with this degree at Texas State University San Marcos in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Texas State University San Marcos earn a median of $47,456 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,659.
Read more about the best program at Texas State University San Marcos
Angelo State University came in at #14 for best this year. Angelo State University is a large public school located in the city of San Angelo. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 29 best students who graduated with this degree at Angelo State University in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Angelo State University earn a median of $46,134 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,237.
Get the full best details for Angelo State University
Texas Wesleyan University earned the #15 position for best this year. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 32% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 18 best students who graduated with this degree at Texas Wesleyan University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Texas Wesleyan University earn around $59,434 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,461 to complete this degree.
See the full best program report for Texas Wesleyan University
The University Of Texas Pan American earned the #16 position for best this year. Set in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public institution. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 59 best degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas Pan American in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $46,404. The University Of Texas Pan American graduates carry a median of $14,694 in student loans.
More information about a degree in best from The University Of Texas Pan American
Narrow Best Schools by State
View All Best Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 22 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.