2027 Best Best Schools in the Southwest Region
Best programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 31 schools to find the best for best students.
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Best Schools for Best in the Southwest Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the best degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Best
Our analysis ranked The University Of Texas At Austin the best school in the country for a degree in best. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 38 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $57,819 early in their careers. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $21,275 in student loans.
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A rank of #2 makes Texas A And M University College Station one of the top schools for best. This very large public university is located in the city of College Station. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 138 best students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $55,944. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $20,031 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong best program will find one at Arizona State University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 61 best degrees were awarded at Arizona State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $55,985. Arizona State University graduates carry a median of $21,842 in student loans.
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Texas Tech University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in best, ranking #4. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 best students who graduated with this degree at Texas Tech University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Texas Tech University earn around $50,332 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,271.
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Students looking for a strong best program will find one at The University Of Texas At Dallas, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Richardson, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public university. The University Of Texas At Dallas graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 73 best students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Dallas in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $46,992 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,961.
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Sam Houston State University placed #6 among the best best schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Huntsville. About 55% of students finish within six years. About 24 best degrees were awarded at Sam Houston State University in the most recent year. Best graduates of Sam Houston State University earn a median of $46,365 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,850 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Texas At Arlington ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best best schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Arlington. The University Of Texas At Arlington graduates 54% of students within six years. The University Of Texas At Arlington awarded about 115 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $64,946 in their early career. The University Of Texas At Arlington graduates carry a median of $21,632 in student loans.
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University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #8 spot for best this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Norman. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 25 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus in the most recent data year. Best graduates of University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn a median of $58,736 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,548 to complete this degree.
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University Of Houston earned the #9 position for best this year. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. University Of Houston graduates 65% of students within six years. About 12 best degrees were awarded at University Of Houston in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of Houston generally make around $57,529. University Of Houston graduates carry a median of $21,255 in student loans.
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Lamar University earned the #10 position for best this year. Lamar University is a very large public school located in the city of Beaumont. Roughly 37% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 26 best students who graduated with this degree at Lamar University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Lamar University generally make around $52,678. Lamar University graduates carry a median of $26,988 in student loans.
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Tarleton State University landed the #11 spot for best this year. Set in the town of Stephenville, Tarleton State University is a large public institution. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 72 best degrees were awarded at Tarleton State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from Tarleton State University earn around $67,986 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,222.
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University Of Arizona placed #12 among the best best schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tucson. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 29 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arizona in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $44,518. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin landed the #13 spot for best this year. Set in the city of Odessa, The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a moderately-sized public institution. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin graduates 40% of students within six years. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin awarded about 24 best degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin earn around $60,503 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,052.
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University Of North Texas landed the #14 spot for best this year. University Of North Texas is a very large public school located in the city of Denton. University Of North Texas graduates 61% of students within six years. About 35 best degrees were awarded at University Of North Texas in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from University Of North Texas earn around $55,873 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,817.
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Texas State University San Marcos placed #15 among the best best schools. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public institution. Texas State University San Marcos graduates 55% of students within six years. About 57 best degrees were awarded at Texas State University San Marcos in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $55,855 in their early career. Texas State University San Marcos graduates carry a median of $27,418 in student loans.
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Grand Canyon University landed the #16 spot for best this year. Grand Canyon University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. Grand Canyon University graduates 44% of students within six years. There were roughly 233 best students who graduated with this degree at Grand Canyon University in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Grand Canyon University earn a median of $63,014 early in their careers. Grand Canyon University graduates carry a median of $30,027 in student loans.
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University Of North Texas At Dallas ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best best schools. Located in the city of Dallas, University Of North Texas At Dallas is a mid-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. There were roughly 11 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Texas At Dallas in the most recent data year.
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Rio Salado College came in at #18 for best this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Rio Salado College is a very large public university. Rio Salado College awarded about 27 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $48,564 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,679 to complete this degree.
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West Texas A And M University came in at #19 for best this year. West Texas A And M University is a large public school located in the town of Canyon. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. About 10 best degrees were awarded at West Texas A And M University in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $43,515 in their early career. West Texas A And M University graduates carry a median of $24,798 in student loans.
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Wayland Baptist University earned the #20 position for best this year. Located in the town of Plainview, Wayland Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Wayland Baptist University graduates 19% of students within six years. Wayland Baptist University awarded about 17 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $59,730 in their early career. Wayland Baptist University graduates carry a median of $30,204 in student loans.
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University Of Central Oklahoma placed #21 among the best best schools. University Of Central Oklahoma is a large public school located in the suburb of Edmond. University Of Central Oklahoma graduates 37% of students within six years. About 23 best degrees were awarded at University Of Central Oklahoma in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $44,085 in their early career. University Of Central Oklahoma graduates carry a median of $23,321 in student loans.
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The University Of Texas At San Antonio landed the #22 spot for best this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. About 56 best degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At San Antonio in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from The University Of Texas At San Antonio earn around $49,385 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
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Northern Arizona University landed the #23 spot for best this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Flagstaff. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northern Arizona University awarded about 45 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Northern Arizona University earn a median of $47,056 early in their careers. Northern Arizona University graduates carry a median of $21,645 in student loans.
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University Of Houston Clear Lake landed the #24 spot for best this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Houston. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Houston Clear Lake awarded about 12 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of Houston Clear Lake generally make around $51,252. University Of Houston Clear Lake graduates carry a median of $21,100 in student loans.
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University Of New Mexico Main Campus landed the #25 spot for best this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Albuquerque. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 21 best degrees were awarded at University Of New Mexico Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from University Of New Mexico Main Campus earn around $61,253 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,738.
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Rest of the Top 31 Best Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s best ranking:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 31 schools evaluated.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
