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

55 Ranked Colleges
2,865 Degrees Awarded
$9,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Sociology is the 24th most popular major in the country with 37,807 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, sociology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $29,727 and had an average of $23,622 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southwest region, there were 2,865 sociology graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,586 and $23,139 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 55 colleges that offer a degree in sociology. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great sociology programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the sociology program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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

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

Top 26 Best Value Colleges for Sociology (Income $30-$48k) in the Southwest Region

#1

Rice University

Houston, Texas

Out of the 55 schools in the Best Value Sociology Schools 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 43 ’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

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

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Full Rice Sociology Report

#2

Central New Mexico Community College

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Out of the 55 schools in the Best Value Sociology 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 108 ’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

CNM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $3,626 for southwest region sociology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Central New Mexico Community College.

Read full report on Sociology at CNM

#3

Oklahoma City Community College

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Out of the 55 schools in the Best Value Sociology 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. Oklahoma City Community College is a public institution located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 39 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

OCCC also took the #8 spot in our “Best Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $5,981 for Southwest Region Sociology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend OCCC.

Read more about Sociology at OCCC

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Edinburg, Texas, this large public school handed out 53 degrees to qualified ’s sociology students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $3,473 for Southwest Region Sociology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

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 more about Sociology at UT Rio Grande Valley

Out of the 55 schools in the Best Value Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas A&M International University landed the #5 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Laredo, Texas, and it awarded 22 ’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

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

Full Texas A&M International University Sociology Report

University of North Texas landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UNT is located in Denton, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 80 ’s sociology degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNT, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UNT is $9,082 for southwest region sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

Full University of North Texas Sociology Report

The University of Texas at San Antonio did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. The University of Texas at San Antonio is located in San Antonio, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 132 ’s sociology degrees to qualified students.

UTSA also made our “Best Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #19. It costs about $11,109 for southwest region sociology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UTSA.

Read more about Sociology at The University of Texas at San Antonio

University of North Texas at Dallas came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Dallas, Texas, this small public school handed out 34 diplomas to qualified ’s sociology students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNT Dallas, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $8,141 for Southwest Region Sociology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UNT Dallas.

Read full report on Sociology at University of North Texas at Dallas

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. OSU is a public institution located in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The school has a large population, and it awarded 43 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

OSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for OSU is $9,962 for southwest region sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

Full OSU Sociology Report

#10

Texas Woman's University

Denton, Texas

With a ranking of #10, Texas Woman’s University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Denton, Texas, and it awarded 72 ’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

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

Read full report on Sociology at Texas Woman’s University

#11

Texas A&M University - College Station

College Station, Texas

Texas A&M University - College Station ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Texas A&M College Station is located in College Station, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 191 ’s sociology degrees to qualified students.

Texas A&M College Station not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Texas A&M College Station is $13,270 for Southwest Region Sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Sociology at Texas A&M University - College Station

The University of Texas of the Permian Basin landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Odessa, Texas, this medium-sized public school handed out 13 diplomas to qualified ’s sociology students in 2019-2020.

UT Permian Basin also took the #20 spot in our “Best Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UT Permian Basin is $10,221 for Southwest Region Sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Sociology at The University of Texas of the Permian Basin

Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. This large school is located in Tempe, Arizona, and it awarded 106 ’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region sociology students whose families make $30-$48k list, ASU - Tempe has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Arizona State University - Tempe is $8,921 for Southwest Region Sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

Full ASU - Tempe Sociology Report

With a ranking of #14, The University of Texas at Austin did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Austin, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s sociology degrees to 173 students in 2019-2020.

UT Austin not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas at Austin is $13,575 for southwest region sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

Read full report on Sociology at The University of Texas at Austin

#15

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

Texas Tech University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Lubbock, Texas, this large public school handed out 85 diplomas to qualified ’s sociology students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas Tech, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Texas Tech is $13,326 for Southwest Region Sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

Read full report on Sociology at Texas Tech

#16

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona

University of Arizona did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. University of Arizona is a large school located in Tucson, Arizona that handed out 80 ’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region sociology students whose families make $30-$48k list, University of Arizona has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Arizona is $11,466 for Southwest Region Sociology 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 Sociology at University of Arizona

#17

University of Houston

Houston, Texas

University of Houston did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. Houston, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s sociology degrees to 57 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region sociology students whose families make $30-$48k list, UH has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Houston is $9,925 for southwest region sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

Read more about Sociology at University of Houston

Southeastern Oklahoma State University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a medium-sized school located in Durant, Oklahoma that handed out 5 ’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Southeastern Oklahoma State University is $6,704 for Southwest Region Sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Sociology at Southeastern Oklahoma State University

#19

East Central University

Ada, Oklahoma

East Central University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. ECU is located in Ada, Oklahoma and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 ’s sociology degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $8,259 for southwest region sociology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend East Central University.

Read full report on Sociology at East Central University

#20

Trinity University

San Antonio, Texas

Trinity University landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. San Antonio, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s sociology degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

Trinity U also made our “Best Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend Trinity University is $12,991 for southwest region sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Sociology at Trinity University

#21

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas

With a ranking of #21, Texas State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Texas State is located in San Marcos, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 98 ’s sociology degrees to qualified students.

Texas State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Texas State is $12,292 for Southwest Region Sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Texas State Sociology Report

#22

Tulsa Community College

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Tulsa Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #22. Tulsa Community College is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 ’s sociology degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Tulsa Community College is $5,092 for southwest region sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Sociology at Tulsa Community College

With a ranking of #23, The University of Texas at El Paso did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. El Paso, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s sociology degrees to 36 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas at El Paso is $7,427 for Southwest Region Sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full UTEP Sociology Report

#23

Arizona State University - Skysong

Scottsdale, Arizona

With a ranking of #23, Arizona State University - Skysong did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Scottsdale, Arizona, this large public school awarded 245 degrees to qualified ’s sociology students in 2019-2020.

ASU - Skysong also took the #11 spot in our “Best Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Arizona State University - Skysong is $12,020 for Southwest Region Sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Sociology at ASU - Skysong

The University of Texas at Dallas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #24. The University of Texas at Dallas is a large public school situated in Richardson, Texas. It awarded 14 ’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Dallas did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UT Dallas is $11,745 for Southwest Region Sociology 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%.

Read more about Sociology at UT Dallas

#25

Angelo State University

San Angelo, Texas

Angelo State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #25. This fairly large school is located in San Angelo, Texas, and it awarded 6 ’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Angelo State University is $11,516 for Southwest Region Sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Sociology at Angelo State

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 Kontos.

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