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2022 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Economics (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region

12 Ranked Colleges
80 Degrees Awarded
$27,700 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

Economics is the 18th most popular major in the country with 48,831 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, economics graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $47,295 and had an average of $21,978 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southwest region, there were 2,902 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $45,669 and $20,712 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 80 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $71,970 and $95,025 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 12 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in economics. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality economics programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the economics program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Economics Schools

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 Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region doctor’s degree economics students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 12 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Economics (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region

#1

Rice University

Houston, Texas
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Rice University landed the #1 spot on the list. Rice University is located in Houston, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 doctorate’s economics degrees to qualified students.

Rice did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Rice are $47,913, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Economics at Rice University

#2

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Arizona landed the #2 spot on the list. This large school is located in Tucson, Arizona, and it awarded 11 doctorate’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Arizona, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Arizona are $33,399, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Economics at University of Arizona

#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Texas A&M University - College Station. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Texas A&M College Station is a large public school situated in College Station, Texas. It awarded 11 doctorate’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M College Station also made our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M College Station are $22,743, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Texas A&M College Station Economics Report

#2 in overall quality

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate 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. Austin, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s economics degrees to 18 students in 2019-2020.

UT Austin also took the #2 spot in our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Austin are $22,886, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Economics at UT Austin

#6 in overall quality

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Arizona State University - Tempe landed the #5 spot on the list. This large school is located in Tempe, Arizona, and it awarded 7 doctorate’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region doctor’s degree economics students whose families make $0-$30k list, ASU - Tempe has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at ASU - Tempe are $27,048, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Economics at ASU - Tempe

#6

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas
#8 in overall quality

Texas Tech University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Lubbock, Texas, this large public school awarded 4 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s economics students in 2019-2020.

Texas Tech also took the #8 spot in our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Texas Tech University are $17,530.

Read full report on Economics at Texas Tech

#5 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Dallas ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. The University of Texas at Dallas is located in Richardson, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 doctorate’s economics degrees to qualified students.

UT Dallas not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Dallas are $28,610, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full The University of Texas at Dallas Economics Report

#8

University of Houston

Houston, Texas
#7 in overall quality

University of Houston landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Houston, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s economics degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

UH did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UH are $18,689, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Economics at UH

#10 in overall quality

New Mexico State University - Main Campus came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. New Mexico State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 4 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

NMSU Main Campus did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at NMSU Main Campus are $18,275, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full New Mexico State University - Main Campus Economics Report

#8 in overall quality

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Norman, Oklahoma, this large public school awarded 2 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s economics students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Oklahoma, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus are $23,236, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Oklahoma Norman Campus Economics Report

#11

University of New Mexico - Main Campus

Albuquerque, New Mexico
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, University of New Mexico - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, this large public school handed out 8 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s economics students in 2019-2020.

UNM also made our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #9. Average graduate tuition and fees at UNM are $19,890, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UNM Economics Report

#4 in overall quality

Southern Methodist University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Dallas, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s economics degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region doctor’s degree economics students whose families make $0-$30k list, SMU has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SMU are $47,478.

Read full report on Economics at Southern Methodist University

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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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