2027 Best Value Philosophy Schools in the Southwest Region
[Philosophy](/majors/philosophy-and-religious-studies/philosophy/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for philosophy students.
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2027 Best Value Philosophy Schools in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in philosophy, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Philosophy Schools
Our analysis ranked The University Of Texas Pan American the best value for a degree in philosophy in the Southwest Region. The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public school located in the city of Edinburg. In-state tuition and fees average $9,799, compared with $19,645 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for philosophy graduates is $13,000. Early-career philosophy graduates make about $14,151. Set against $13,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas Pan American admits about 94% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in philosophy will find it at The University Of Texas At San Antonio, which ranked #2. Located in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,326, with out-of-state students paying around $22,249. Philosophy graduates carry a median of $20,542 in student loans. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from The University Of Texas At San Antonio generally make around $49,955. Set against $20,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at New Mexico State University Main Campus earned it the #3 place for philosophy. Located in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,183, with out-of-state students paying around $25,307. Philosophy graduates carry a median of $19,026 in student loans. Philosophy graduates of New Mexico State University Main Campus earn a median of $41,860 early in their careers. Set against $19,026 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. New Mexico State University Main Campus admits about 89% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in philosophy will find it at Arizona State University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for philosophy graduates is $26,250. Philosophy graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $40,286 early in their careers. Set against $26,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Houston came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value philosophy schools. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. Students from in state pay about $9,717 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,547. Typical student debt for philosophy graduates is $23,650. Early-career philosophy graduates make about $57,529. Set against $23,650 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Houston admits about 74% of applicants.
University Of North Texas came in at #6 for value in philosophy this year. University Of North Texas is a very large public school located in the city of Denton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,309, with out-of-state students paying around $21,149. Typical student debt for philosophy graduates is $17,750. Philosophy graduates of University Of North Texas earn a median of $37,231 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,750 median debt. University Of North Texas admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of Arizona came in at #7 for value in philosophy this year. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Philosophy graduates carry a median of $21,250 in student loans. Early-career philosophy graduates make about $34,289. Set against $21,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Dallas ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value philosophy schools. The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public school located in the city of Richardson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,644, with out-of-state students paying around $40,144. Philosophy graduates carry a median of $20,531 in student loans. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Dallas generally make around $58,507. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At Dallas admits about 65% of applicants.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value philosophy schools. Set in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,140, while out-of-state students pay about $33,060. Students borrow a median of $24,095 to complete the philosophy program here. Early-career philosophy graduates make about $26,205. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus earned the #10 position for value in philosophy this year. Located in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,110, while out-of-state students pay about $25,630. Philosophy graduates carry a median of $22,337 in student loans. Philosophy graduates of Oklahoma State University Main Campus earn a median of $50,993 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Oklahoma State University Main Campus admits about 75% of applicants.
Texas State University San Marcos earned the #11 position for value in philosophy this year. Located in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, compared with $22,930 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for philosophy graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos generally make around $27,893. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Texas Tech University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value philosophy schools. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,852, while out-of-state students pay about $24,157. Students borrow a median of $24,271 to complete the philosophy program here. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $50,332. Set against $24,271 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Oklahoma landed the #13 spot for philosophy value this year. University Of Central Oklahoma is a large public school located in the suburb of Edmond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,818, while out-of-state students pay about $19,704. Typical student debt for philosophy graduates is $23,321. Philosophy graduates of University Of Central Oklahoma earn a median of $44,085 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #14 spot for philosophy value this year. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. Philosophy graduates carry a median of $18,676 in student loans. Early-career philosophy graduates make about $40,881. That is a strong return on a $18,676 median debt. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants.
Texas A And M University College Station placed #15 among the best values for philosophy. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,995, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Philosophy graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Philosophy graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $30,058 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Dallas ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value philosophy schools. Located in the city of Irving, University Of Dallas is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $53,930. Philosophy graduates carry a median of $23,411 in student loans. Early-career philosophy graduates make about $58,396. Set against $23,411 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 53% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Methodist University landed the #17 spot for philosophy value this year. Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,040. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the philosophy program here. Philosophy graduates of Southern Methodist University earn a median of $42,334 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Baylor University placed #18 among the best values for philosophy. Located in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,100. Philosophy graduates carry a median of $23,928 in student loans. Early-career philosophy graduates make about $49,888. That is a strong return on a $23,928 median debt. Baylor University admits about 51% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
