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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Economics (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region

15 Ranked Colleges
379 Degrees Awarded
$26,500 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Economics Schools for a Master's in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 379 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,078 and $37,227 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 15 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.

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

More Ways to Rank Economics Schools

The economics school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k”.

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 by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 15 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Economics (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region

#1

Rice University

Houston, Texas
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Rice University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k. This medium-sized school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 12 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Rice also took the #1 spot in our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Rice University are $47,913, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Rice Economics Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas at Austin. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. The University of Texas at Austin is a public institution located in Austin, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 55 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree economics students whose families make $48-$75k list, UT Austin has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Austin are $22,886, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UT Austin Economics Report

#2 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas A&M University - College Station landed the #3 spot on the list. Texas A&M College Station is a public institution located in College Station, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 109 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M College Station not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M College Station are $22,743.

Read more about Economics at Texas A&M College Station

#4

University of Houston

Houston, Texas

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Houston landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Houston, Texas, this large public school awarded 44 degrees to qualified masters’s economics students in 2019-2020.

UH not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UH are $18,689, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Economics at UH

#13 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas at San Antonio. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k. UTSA is a large public school situated in San Antonio, Texas. It awarded 19 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

UTSA also made our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #13. Average graduate tuition and fees at UTSA are $25,807, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Economics at UTSA

#7 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Dallas landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UT Dallas is located in Richardson, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17 masters’s economics degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Dallas, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Dallas are $28,610, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full The University of Texas at Dallas Economics Report

#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, University of North Texas did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of North Texas is a large school located in Denton, Texas that handed out 12 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

UNT not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UNT are $15,618, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of North Texas Economics Report

#8

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona

University of Arizona did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #8. This large school is located in Tucson, Arizona, and it awarded 31 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Arizona also took the #6 spot in our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Arizona are $33,399, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Arizona Economics Report

#10 in overall quality

Arizona State University - Tempe ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Arizona State University - Tempe is located in Tempe, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 masters’s economics degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree economics students whose families make $48-$75k list, ASU - Tempe has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Economics Master’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 Arizona State University - Tempe are $27,048.

Full ASU - Tempe Economics Report

#10

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

With a ranking of #10, Texas Tech University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Texas Tech University is located in Lubbock, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 masters’s economics degrees to qualified students.

Texas Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas Tech University are $17,530, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Texas Tech University Economics Report

#11 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Arlington did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #11. Arlington, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s economics degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

UT Arlington also made our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #11. Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Arlington are $23,376, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Economics at UT Arlington

New Mexico State University - Main Campus landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k 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 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

NMSU Main Campus did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at New Mexico State University - Main Campus are $18,275, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #13. University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a large public school situated in Norman, Oklahoma. It awarded 29 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree economics students whose families make $48-$75k list, University of Oklahoma has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Economics Master’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 University of Oklahoma Norman Campus are $23,236.

Read more about Economics at University of Oklahoma

#14

University of New Mexico - Main Campus

Albuquerque, New Mexico
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, University of New Mexico - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. UNM is a large public school situated in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It awarded 10 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

UNM not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of New Mexico - Main Campus are $19,890.

Full UNM Economics Report

#3 in overall quality

Southern Methodist University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. SMU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Dallas, Texas. It awarded 18 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

SMU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Methodist University are $47,478, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full SMU 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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