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2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k

26 Ranked Colleges
2,224 Degrees Awarded
$13,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor's in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k

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 General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 31,150 people earned their degree in general economics, making the major the 22nd most popular in the United States.

Across the Southwest region, there were 2,387 general economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 2,224 general economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,896 and $23,899 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 26 colleges that offer a degree in general economics. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great general economics programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the general economics program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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 General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college 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 General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 26 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Economics (Income $30-$48k) in the Southwest Region

#1

Rice University

Houston, Texas
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 26 schools in the Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Rice University landed the #1 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 57 bachelors’s general economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Rice did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Rice University is $7,534 for southwest region bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Rice University General Economics Report

#23 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k. UT Rio Grande Valley is located in Edinburg, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 bachelors’s general economics degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k list, UT Rio Grande Valley has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UT Rio Grande Valley is $3,473 for southwest region bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

#17 in overall quality

Out of the 26 schools in the Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Texas landed the #3 spot on the list. UNT is a public institution located in Denton, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 47 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UNT also took the #17 spot in our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNT is $9,082 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree General Economics students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 full report on General Economics at UNT

#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas A&M University - College Station. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Texas A&M University - College Station is a large school located in College Station, Texas that handed out 276 bachelors’s general economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M College Station also took the #3 spot in our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $13,270 for southwest region bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Texas A&M University - College Station.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Texas A&M University - College Station General Economics Report

#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas at Austin. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k. UT Austin is a large school located in Austin, Texas that handed out 450 bachelors’s general economics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Austin, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UT Austin is $13,575 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree General Economics students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Economics at The University of Texas at Austin

#7 in overall quality

Arizona State University - Tempe ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. ASU - Tempe is a public institution located in Tempe, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 273 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

ASU - Tempe did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $8,921 for southwest region bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Arizona State University - Tempe.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about General Economics at ASU - Tempe

#7

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona
#10 in overall quality

University of Arizona ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Tucson, Arizona, and it awarded 233 bachelors’s general economics degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Arizona did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Arizona is $11,466 for southwest region bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on General Economics at University of Arizona

#8

University of Houston

Houston, Texas
#9 in overall quality

University of Houston did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. UH is a public institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 166 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UH did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $9,925 for southwest region bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UH.

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

Read more about General Economics at UH

#13 in overall quality

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s general economics degrees in 2019-2020.

OSU also took the #13 spot in our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $9,962 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree General Economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend OSU.

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 full report on General Economics at OSU

#10

Trinity University

San Antonio, Texas
#5 in overall quality

Trinity University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Trinity U is located in San Antonio, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 35 bachelors’s general economics degrees to qualified students.

Trinity U not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Trinity U is $12,991 for southwest region bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Economics at Trinity U

#11

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas
#11 in overall quality

Texas Tech University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Lubbock, Texas, this large public school awarded 78 degrees to qualified bachelors’s general economics students in 2019-2020.

Texas Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $13,326 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree General Economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Texas Tech.

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

Read more about General Economics at Texas Tech

#8 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Dallas ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UT Dallas is a public institution located in Richardson, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 58 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Dallas did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UT Dallas is $11,745 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree General Economics students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.9% 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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on General Economics at The University of Texas at Dallas

#13

Arizona State University - Skysong

Scottsdale, Arizona
#15 in overall quality

Arizona State University - Skysong landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. ASU - Skysong is a public institution located in Scottsdale, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 28 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

ASU - Skysong did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Arizona State University - Skysong is $12,020 for southwest region bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full ASU - Skysong General Economics Report

#13

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas
#20 in overall quality

Texas State University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Texas State University is located in San Marcos, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 41 bachelors’s general economics degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas State, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Texas State is $12,292 for southwest region bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Texas State General Economics Report

New Mexico State University - Main Campus ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. New Mexico State University - Main Campus is a fairly large public school situated in Las Cruces, New Mexico. It awarded 13 bachelors’s general economics degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for New Mexico State University - Main Campus is $7,006 for southwest region bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full NMSU Main Campus General Economics Report

#25 in overall quality

Stephen F Austin State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #15. This fairly large school is located in Nacogdoches, Texas, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s general economics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SFASU, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Stephen F Austin State University is $10,816 for southwest region bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full SFASU General Economics Report

#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, The University of Texas at Arlington did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UT Arlington is a large school located in Arlington, Texas that handed out 41 bachelors’s general economics degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Arlington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UT Arlington is $12,974 for southwest region bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full UT Arlington General Economics Report

#17

Austin College

Sherman, Texas
#16 in overall quality

Austin College landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Sherman, Texas, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 10 degrees to qualified bachelors’s general economics students in 2019-2020.

Austin College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $17,848 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree General Economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Austin College.

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%.

Read full report on General Economics at Austin College

#18

Texas Lutheran University

Seguin, Texas
#14 in overall quality

Texas Lutheran University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #18. TLU is located in Seguin, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 bachelors’s general economics degrees to qualified students.

TLU also took the #14 spot in our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Texas Lutheran University is $16,388 for southwest region bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Economics at TLU

#19

University of Dallas

Irving, Texas
#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, University of Dallas did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UD is a private not-for-profit institution located in Irving, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UD not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Dallas is $15,640 for southwest region bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.6% 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%.

Read full report on General Economics at University of Dallas

#20

University of New Mexico - Main Campus

Albuquerque, New Mexico
#24 in overall quality

University of New Mexico - Main Campus landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, this large public school awarded 48 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s general economics students in 2019-2020.

UNM also took the #24 spot in our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of New Mexico - Main Campus is $14,458 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree General Economics students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Economics at University of New Mexico - Main Campus

#21

St. Mary's University

San Antonio, Texas
#22 in overall quality

With a ranking of #21, St. Mary’s University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in San Antonio, Texas, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 4 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s general economics students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k list, St. Mary’s has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $17,581 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree General Economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend St. Mary’s University.

Read more about General Economics at St. Mary’s

#4 in overall quality

Southern Methodist University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. SMU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Dallas, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 165 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k list, SMU has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SMU is $27,331 for southwest region bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full SMU General Economics Report

#23

Southwestern University

Georgetown, Texas
#12 in overall quality

Southwestern University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #23. Southwestern is a small school located in Georgetown, Texas that handed out 12 bachelors’s general economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Southwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $21,578 for southwest region bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Southwestern University.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low student loan default rate of 3.9% 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%.

Read more about General Economics at Southwestern

#24

Texas Christian University

Fort Worth, Texas
#6 in overall quality

Texas Christian University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #24. This fairly large school is located in Fort Worth, Texas, and it awarded 113 bachelors’s general economics degrees in 2019-2020.

TCU also made our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #6. The estimated yearly cost for TCU is $23,246 for southwest region bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 3.4% 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%.

Read full report on General Economics at TCU

#25

Saint Edward's University

Austin, Texas
#21 in overall quality

Saint Edward’s University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Saint Edward’s University is a small school located in Austin, Texas that handed out 9 bachelors’s general economics degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Edward’s University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $20,024 for southwest region bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend St. Edward’s University.

Full St. Edward’s University General Economics 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.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to pixabay.

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