It's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. College Factual has developed its Best Associate Degree Colleges in the Southwest Region ranking as one thing you can use to help make this decision.
We analyzed 117 colleges and universities across the Southwest Region to determine which ones have the best associate degree programs. Our ranking methodology focuses on different objective factors to make this determination of the best schools. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.
Early-Career Salaries Are Higher
To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving a associate degree from the school. A associate degree holder from a school in the Southwest Region makes an average starting salary of $35,810, but the students who attended schools in the top 23 of our list make an average of $38,793.
Starting Salary ( 28827 to 48013 )
Average Student Debt
In addition to average starting salaries, we also consider the average amount of student loans that students take on while pursuing their associate degree.
When attending a school in the Southwest Region , associate degree students accumulate an average of $18,681 in student debt before graduation.
The average amount taken out in student loans for graduates at a particular school may be crippling for those who earn less than average wages after graduation.
Other Ranking Factors in Our Methodology
We also analyze a number of other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt when coming up with our yearly Best Associate Degree Schools ranking.
Several other factors - such as how much the school spends on educational resources, the demand of the school, the availability of online learning options, and the student body caliber - go into our rankings.
If you'd rather work on your associate degree in a specific area of the country, you might be interested in our rankings by place. Also, check out our other college rankings to help you with your college decision.
Top Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region
Our 2024 rankings named University of Phoenix - Arizona the best school in the Southwest Region in terms of overall quality for students working on their associate degree. UOPX - Arizona is a private for-profit institution located in Phoenix, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3,574 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from UOPX - Arizona make an average of $31,738 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $24,680. Average monthly loan payments are around $141 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Out of the 117 associate degree schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Lee College landed the #2 spot on the list. Lee College is a medium-sized public school situated in Baytown, Texas. It awarded 1,223 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Lee College go into careers with an average salary of $62,127 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $11,617 after getting their degree.
The excellent associate degree programs at Texas State Technical College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the Southwest Region. TSTC is a fairly large public school situated in Waco, Texas. It awarded 1,697 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from TSTC is $37,346 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $14,597 after getting their degree.
The excellent associate degree programs at Tarleton State University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the Southwest Region. Tarleton is a fairly large public school situated in Stephenville, Texas. It awarded 24 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Tarleton make an average of $46,771 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $18,414 in student loans.
A rank of #5 on our Best Associate Degree in the Southwest Region list means Lamar Institute of Technology is a great place for students working on their degree. Beaumont, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 558 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $52,397 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $14,660.
Central Texas College landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Killeen, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,883 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Central Texas College make an average of $46,587 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $8,925 after getting their degree.
GateWay Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. This small public school is located in Phoenix, Arizona, and it awarded 588 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from GateWay Community College is $52,951 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $17,767 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #8, Houston Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. Houston Community College is located in Houston, Texas and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5,462 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Those who receive a associate degree from Houston Community College go into careers with an average salary of $38,797 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $22,025.
El Centro College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Dallas, Texas, the large public school handed out 9,894 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from El Centro College is $35,988 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $13,728.
With a ranking of #10, Northwest Vista College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in San Antonio, Texas, the fairly large public school awarded 2,706 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Northwest Vista College make an average of $21,654 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $9,251 after getting their degree.
American InterContinental University - Online did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #11. AIU Online is a private for-profit institution located in Chandler, Arizona. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 903 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $25,536 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $28,970 in student loans.
Wayland Baptist University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Plainview, Texas, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 144 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Collin County Community College District ranked #13 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. Collin County Community College District is a public institution located in McKinney, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4,408 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Collin County Community College District make an average of $42,890 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $11,949 in student loans.
South Texas College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in McAllen, Texas, the large public school handed out 3,920 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from South Texas College go into careers with an average salary of $29,582 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $6,607 in student loans.
Mesa Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Mesa Community College is a fairly large public school located in Mesa, Arizona that handed out 1,592 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $43,129 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $17,958 after getting their degree.
McLennan Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #16. MCC is a public institution located in Waco, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,351 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from MCC make an average of $37,742 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $14,462.
Central New Mexico Community College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Albuquerque, New Mexico is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 4,114 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from CNM make an average of $30,561 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $9,660 after getting their degree.
Central Arizona College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #18. Pinal County Community College is located in Coolidge, Arizona and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 587 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Pinal County Community College make an average of $30,579 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $12,222.
San Antonio College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. San Antonio College is located in San Antonio, Texas and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3,384 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Graduates with a associate degree from San Antonio College make an average of $26,177 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $11,209 after getting their degree.
Del Mar College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #20. This medium-sized public school is located in Corpus Christi, Texas, and it awarded 1,344 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from DMC is $43,464 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $7,968 in student loans.
With a ranking of #21, Austin Community College District did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. Austin Community College District is a large public school located in Austin, Texas that handed out 4,578 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Austin Community College District go into careers with an average salary of $38,097 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $13,818.
Rio Salado College landed the #22 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Tempe, Arizona, the fairly large public school awarded 795 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $9,375 after getting their degree.
Cochise County Community College District came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Cochise College is a public institution located in Sierra Vista, Arizona. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,521 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Cochise College make an average of $38,420 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $12,675 after getting their degree.
San Jacinto Community College landed the #24 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Pasadena, Texas, the large public school handed out 5,035 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from San Jacinto College make an average of $39,425 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $10,907 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #25, Tarrant County College District did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in Fort Worth, Texas, the large public school handed out 6,226 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Tarrant County College go into careers with an average salary of $40,273 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $14,398 after getting their degree.
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%.
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