by our College Data Analytics Team
Looking for the best colleges for the money in the Southwest Region? This list ranks 508 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology. This is our No Aid ranking, which weighs each school’s published sticker price (tuition, fees, and room and board) before financial aid — see Customize Your Rankings below for aid-adjusted and by-degree views.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 508 schools to build this 2027 best-value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
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After analyzing 508 schools in the Southwest Region to find which ones offer the best value. We focus on objective measures, not subjective opinion.
The first step is the school’s combined average tuition, fees, and room and board — the published sticker price before any financial aid (the No Aid view). Cost alone isn’t enough — overall quality matters too. So we weigh that cost against outcomes like degree completion, educational resources, student-body caliber, and post-graduation earnings.
That balance of cost and outcomes is what drives the ranking below. See the full methodology.
Your ideal school depends on your goals and budget. Refine the list by location and field of study, or explore related rankings below. You can also browse by degree level:
Explore the best values below:
Texas A And M University Central Texas tops our 2027 list of the best colleges for the money in the Southwest Region. Set in Killeen, TX, Texas A And M University Central Texas is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,363, compared with $17,155 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $23,160 in student loans. The acceptance rate is 100%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of The Mainland earned it the #2 place in the Southwest Region. Set in Texas City, TX, College Of The Mainland is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,310, while out-of-state students pay about $4,140. College Of The Mainland students take on a median of $10,928 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $39,639. That is a strong return on a $10,928 median debt.
You'll get strong value at El Centro College, which ranked #3 this year. Based in Dallas, TX, El Centro College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,730, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. The median program debt is $14,557. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,714 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $14,557 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Texas A And M International University one of the best values in the Southwest Region. Texas A And M International University is a public school based in Laredo, TX. Students from in state pay about $7,894 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,454 for out-of-state students. The median program debt is $15,095. Texas A And M International University alumni report median earnings of $48,386 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas A And M International University has an acceptance rate of 44%.
Tarrant County College District came in at #5 on this year's best-value ranking in the Southwest Region. Based in Fort Worth, TX, Tarrant County College District is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,863, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $15,148 in student loans. Median earnings reach $42,727 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
New Mexico Military Institute came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. New Mexico Military Institute is a public school based in Roswell, NM. Students from in state pay about $7,190 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,156. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete their program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $57,410. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 53%.
Pima Community College placed #7 among the best values in the Southwest Region. Located in Tucson, AZ, Pima Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,442, compared with $7,758 for out-of-state students. The median program debt is $10,655. Pima Community College alumni report median earnings of $39,810 a decade after entry. Set against $10,655 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The University Of Texas Pan American offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. The University Of Texas Pan American is a public school based in Edinburg, TX. In-state tuition and fees average $9,799, with out-of-state students paying around $19,645. Graduates carry a median of $14,694 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,620 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Del Mar College landed the #9 spot for value in the Southwest Region this year. Del Mar College is a public school based in Corpus Christi, TX. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,500, while out-of-state students pay about $6,050. Del Mar College students take on a median of $7,476 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,656. Set against $7,476 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Brazosport College placed #10 among the best values in the Southwest Region. This public school is set in Lake Jackson, TX. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,388, while out-of-state students pay about $4,711. Brazosport College students take on a median of $6,625 in debt. Median earnings reach $45,910 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $6,625 median debt.
Victoria College placed #11 among the best values in the Southwest Region. This public school is set in Victoria, TX. Students from in state pay about $2,976 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,328. The median program debt is $10,910. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,382. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Midland College came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. Located in Midland, TX, Midland College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,180, with out-of-state students paying around $6,180. The median program debt is $9,000. Midland College alumni report median earnings of $43,958 a decade after entry. Set against $9,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wharton County Junior College placed #13 among the best values in the Southwest Region. Set in Wharton, TX, Wharton County Junior College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,192, with out-of-state students paying around $5,904. Wharton County Junior College students take on a median of $10,916 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,960 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Amarillo College landed the #14 spot for value in the Southwest Region this year. This public school is set in Amarillo, TX. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,136, with out-of-state students paying around $4,704. Amarillo College students take on a median of $15,720 in debt. Amarillo College alumni report median earnings of $41,302 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Texas College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best colleges for the money. Based in McAllen, TX, South Texas College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,920 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,620 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt is $6,868. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $36,788. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lamar State College Orange ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best colleges for the money. This public school is set in Orange, TX. In-state tuition and fees average $2,832, with out-of-state students paying around $13,824. Graduates carry a median of $18,506 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $36,587. Set against $18,506 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Austin Community College District offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. Located in Austin, TX, Austin Community College District is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,550, while out-of-state students pay about $10,590. The median program debt is $14,519. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $43,177. Set against $14,519 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus placed #18 among the best values in the Southwest Region. Located in Roswell, NM, Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,256, with out-of-state students paying around $5,616. Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus students take on a median of $11,110 in debt. Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus alumni report median earnings of $38,550 a decade after entry. Set against $11,110 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oklahoma City Community College placed #19 among the best values in the Southwest Region. This public school is set in Oklahoma City, OK. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,059, while out-of-state students pay about $9,810. The median program debt is $13,919. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,146. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The University Of Texas At Brownsville landed the #20 spot for value in the Southwest Region this year. This public school is set in Brownsville, TX. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,148, compared with $4,948 for out-of-state students. The median program debt is $10,058. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $41,900. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
St Philips College came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in San Antonio, TX. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Students borrow a median of $15,653 to complete their program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,224 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $15,653 median debt.
Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Campus landed the #22 spot for value in the Southwest Region this year. Based in Ruidoso, NM, Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,372, with out-of-state students paying around $3,268. Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Campus students take on a median of $11,110 in debt. Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Campus alumni report median earnings of $38,550 a decade after entry. Set against $11,110 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lee College offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. Lee College is a public school based in Baytown, TX. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,520, compared with $5,045 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt is $10,941. Median earnings reach $42,178 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $10,941 median debt.
Northwest Vista College offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. Northwest Vista College is a public school based in San Antonio, TX. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Students borrow a median of $9,189 to complete their program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $42,490. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central New Mexico Community College came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Albuquerque, NM. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,060, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. Graduates carry a median of $10,112 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $36,869 ten years after entry. Set against $10,112 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Not far behind, these schools also delivered strong value this year:
To learn more about the schools below, just click their names:
| Rank | College | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 76 | Oklahoma Panhandle State University | Goodwell, OK | Value Report |
| 77 | Northern New Mexico College | Espanola, NM | Value Report |
Also worth considering for the money:
*Averages shown above reflect the top 508 ranked schools only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: Region · 508 schools evaluated. References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.