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2022 Best Value Colleges for Social Sciences (Income $30-$48k) in the Southwest Region

63 Ranked Colleges
14,301 Degrees Awarded
$9,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Social Sciences Schools 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 Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Social Sciences is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 5th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 205,726 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2017-2018, social sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $34,801 and had an average of $23,466 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southwest region, there were 14,301 social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,155 and $22,401 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 63 colleges that offer a degree in social sciences. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent social sciences programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the social sciences program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Social Sciences Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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 Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Social Sciences (Income $30-$48k) in the Southwest Region

#1

Rice University

Houston, Texas

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 Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Houston, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s social sciences degrees to 227 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Rice, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Rice University is $7,534 for southwest region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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%. 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.

Full Rice University Social Sciences Report

#2

Central New Mexico Community College

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Out of the 63 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Central New Mexico Community College landed the #2 spot on the list. CNM is a large school located in Albuquerque, New Mexico that handed out 236 ’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

CNM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend CNM is $3,626 for southwest region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Social Sciences at CNM

#3

Oklahoma City Community College

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Out of the 63 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Oklahoma City Community College landed the #3 spot on the list. OCCC is located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 50 ’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

OCCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend OCCC is $5,981 for Southwest Region Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Oklahoma City Community College

#4

Rose State College

Midwest City, Oklahoma

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Rose State College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Midwest City, Oklahoma, this medium-sized public school awarded 121 diplomas to qualified ’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

RSC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $8,276 for southwest region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Rose State College.

Full RSC Social Sciences Report

Out of the 63 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley landed the #5 spot on the list. This large school is located in Edinburg, Texas, and it awarded 158 ’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UT Rio Grande Valley is $3,473 for Southwest Region Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.8% 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 Social Sciences at UT Rio Grande Valley

With a ranking of #6, Texas A&M International University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Texas A&M International University is a public institution located in Laredo, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 46 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Texas A&M International University is $2,298 for Southwest Region Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Social Sciences at Texas A&M International University

University of North Texas came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Denton, Texas, and it awarded 411 ’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UNT also took the #21 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Texas is $9,082 for Southwest Region Social Sciences 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 Social Sciences at UNT

The University of Texas at San Antonio did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. San Antonio, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social sciences degrees to 352 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas at San Antonio is $11,109 for southwest region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Social Sciences at UTSA

Texas A&M University - College Station came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in College Station, Texas, and it awarded 1,185 ’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M College Station did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $13,270 for southwest region social sciences 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 College Station Social Sciences Report

University of North Texas at Dallas ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UNT Dallas is a small public school situated in Dallas, Texas. It awarded 39 ’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of North Texas at Dallas is $8,141 for Southwest Region Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full UNT Dallas Social Sciences Report

With a ranking of #11, Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Tempe, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social sciences degrees to 1,096 students in 2019-2020.

ASU - Tempe also took the #10 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Arizona State University - Tempe is $8,921 for Southwest Region Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

Read full report on Social Sciences at ASU - Tempe

#12

Texas Woman's University

Denton, Texas

With a ranking of #12, Texas Woman’s University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. TWU is a public institution located in Denton, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 105 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Texas Woman’s University is $7,050 for Southwest Region Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Social Sciences at TWU

The University of Texas at Austin came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. The University of Texas at Austin is located in Austin, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1,246 ’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

UT Austin also made our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $13,575 for southwest region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend The University of Texas at Austin.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read full report on Social Sciences at UT Austin

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Stillwater, Oklahoma is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social sciences degrees to 135 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k list, OSU has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Oklahoma State University - Main Campus is $9,962 for southwest region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

Read more about Social Sciences at OSU

The University of Texas of the Permian Basin landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UT Permian Basin is a medium-sized school located in Odessa, Texas that handed out 54 ’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Permian Basin, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $10,221 for southwest region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UT Permian Basin.

Read full report on Social Sciences at UT Permian Basin

#16

University of Houston

Houston, Texas

With a ranking of #16, University of Houston did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 544 ’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UH not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Houston is $9,925 for southwest region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Social Sciences at UH

#17

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona

With a ranking of #17, University of Arizona did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Arizona is a large public school situated in Tucson, Arizona. It awarded 811 ’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Arizona also took the #16 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $11,466 for Southwest Region Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Arizona.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Full University of Arizona Social Sciences Report

#18

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

Texas Tech University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Lubbock, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social sciences degrees to 356 students in 2019-2020.

Texas Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $13,326 for Southwest Region Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Texas Tech University.

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

Read full report on Social Sciences at Texas Tech University

The University of Texas at Tyler came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UT Tyler is a medium-sized public school situated in Tyler, Texas. It awarded 31 ’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas at Tyler is $7,058 for Southwest Region Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full UT Tyler Social Sciences Report

#20

East Central University

Ada, Oklahoma

East Central University landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. East Central University is located in Ada, Oklahoma and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 ’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for ECU is $8,259 for southwest region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Social Sciences at ECU

#21

Trinity University

San Antonio, Texas

Trinity University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. San Antonio, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s social sciences degrees to 94 students in 2019-2020.

Trinity U also made our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $12,991 for Southwest Region Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Trinity University.

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 low student loan default rate of 1.8% 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 impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Trinity University

The University of Texas at Dallas ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UT Dallas is a large public school situated in Richardson, Texas. It awarded 288 ’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k list, UT Dallas has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas at Dallas is $11,745 for Southwest Region Social Sciences 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 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%.

Full The University of Texas at Dallas Social Sciences Report

Southeastern Oklahoma State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Durant, Oklahoma. It awarded 6 ’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $6,704 for Southwest Region Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

Read more about Social Sciences at Southeastern Oklahoma State University

#24

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas

Texas State University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Texas State is a large school located in San Marcos, Texas that handed out 519 ’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas State also took the #20 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $12,292 for southwest region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Texas State.

Read more about Social Sciences at Texas State

#25

Angelo State University

San Angelo, Texas

Angelo State University landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. San Angelo, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social sciences degrees to 80 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Angelo State University is $11,516 for southwest region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Angelo State University Social Sciences 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.

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