by our College Data Analytics TeamUniversity Of North Texas ranks #1 of 221 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Associate’s Degree Colleges in the Southwest Region ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 25 colleges average a 50% six-year graduation rate and $62,021 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
With all of the college options in the Southwest Region, narrowing things down is no easy task. Our ranking highlights **221** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual evaluated 221 colleges using more than 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
University Of North Texas leads the 221 ranked colleges in the Southwest Region, followed by West Texas A And M University (#2) and University Of St Thomas Texas (#3). Explore the leading colleges below:
Leading the list is University Of North Texas, our #1 college in the Southwest Region. This public school is set in Denton, TX. University Of North Texas posts a six-year graduation rate of 61%. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,309, compared with $21,149 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,157 early in their careers. University Of North Texas students take on a median of $21,817 in debt.
West Texas A And M University came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in the Southwest Region. Located in Canyon, TX, West Texas A And M University is a public institution. West Texas A And M University posts a six-year graduation rate of 48%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,101, while out-of-state students pay about $10,996. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,515 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,333 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at University Of St Thomas Texas, which ranked #3 this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Houston, TX. University Of St Thomas Texas graduates 69% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $34,634. University Of St Thomas Texas graduates report median early-career earnings of $58,265. The median student debt is $23,628.
The strong outcomes at Southern Nazarene University earned it the #4 place in the Southwest Region. Set in Bethany, OK, Southern Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit institution. Southern Nazarene University posts a six-year graduation rate of 49%. In-state tuition and fees run about $31,190. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,851. Typical student debt is $29,684.
The strong outcomes at Alvin Community College earned it the #5 place in the Southwest Region. Located in Alvin, TX, Alvin Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,906, compared with $4,402 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $55,057. Graduates carry a median of $8,600 in student loans.
Lee College placed #6 among the best colleges in the Southwest Region. Set in Baytown, TX, Lee College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,520, compared with $5,045 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,448 early in their careers. Lee College students take on a median of $10,941 in debt.
Arizona State University Skysong ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Scottsdale, AZ. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,627, while out-of-state students pay about $13,925. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,394 early in their careers. Arizona State University Skysong students take on a median of $22,870 in debt.
Collin County Community College District came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Collin County Community College District is a public school based in McKinney, TX. Students from in state pay about $2,014 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,064. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $42,177. Graduates carry a median of $9,716 in student loans.
Austin Community College District did well this year, earning the #9 position. Based in Austin, TX, Austin Community College District is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,550, while out-of-state students pay about $10,590. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,895 early in their careers. The median student debt is $14,519.
Sam Houston State University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Based in Huntsville, TX, Sam Houston State University is a public institution. About 55% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $9,228 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,068. Early-career graduates earn a median of $46,365. Graduates carry a median of $24,850 in student loans.
Galen College Of Nursing San Antonio ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in San Antonio, TX, Galen College Of Nursing San Antonio is a private for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,048. Median early-career earnings reach $63,726. Galen College Of Nursing San Antonio students take on a median of $32,425 in debt.
Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Okmulgee, OK, Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,774, compared with $11,384 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $52,354. Students borrow a median of $13,356 to complete a degree here.
Parker University landed the #13 spot in the Southwest Region this year. Based in Dallas, TX, Parker University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,904. Parker University graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,758. Typical student debt is $23,988.
Gateway Community College Phoenix landed the #14 spot in the Southwest Region this year. Set in Phoenix, AZ, Gateway Community College Phoenix is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Median early-career earnings reach $50,350. Typical student debt is $15,736.
Chandler Gilbert Community College did well this year, earning the #15 position. Chandler Gilbert Community College is a public school based in Chandler, AZ. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Chandler Gilbert Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,943. Students borrow a median of $10,447 to complete a degree here.
Texas State Technical College did well this year, earning the #16 position. Located in Waco, TX, Texas State Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,212, compared with $11,812 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,747 early in their careers. The median student debt is $12,953.
Tarleton State University came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Based in Stephenville, TX, Tarleton State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. Students from in state pay about $8,302 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,142. Tarleton State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,532. Tarleton State University students take on a median of $23,222 in debt.
Oklahoma Christian University did well this year, earning the #18 position. Located in Edmond, OK, Oklahoma Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. Oklahoma Christian University graduates 56% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $27,180. Median early-career earnings reach $49,615. The median student debt is $24,721.
Tarrant County College District placed #19 among the best colleges in the Southwest Region. Set in Fort Worth, TX, Tarrant County College District is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,863, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Early-career graduates earn a median of $45,158. The median student debt is $15,148.
El Centro College came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Based in Dallas, TX, El Centro College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,730, compared with $6,900 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $41,295. El Centro College students take on a median of $14,557 in debt.
Glendale Community College Glendale Az landed the #21 spot in the Southwest Region this year. Set in Glendale, AZ, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,483 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $15,996.
Central Texas College did well this year, earning the #22 position. This public school is set in Killeen, TX. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,750, compared with $7,500 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $53,086. Central Texas College students take on a median of $11,290 in debt.
Wayland Baptist University came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Based in Plainview, TX, Wayland Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 19%. In-state tuition and fees run about $23,782. Wayland Baptist University graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,930. The median student debt is $30,204.
New Mexico Military Institute landed the #24 spot in the Southwest Region this year. This public school is set in Roswell, NM. Students from in state pay about $7,190 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,156 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $10,627. Typical student debt is $5,500.
San Jacinto Community College did well this year, earning the #25 position. San Jacinto Community College is a public school based in Pasadena, TX. In-state tuition and fees average $2,490, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. San Jacinto Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $38,107. San Jacinto Community College students take on a median of $11,376 in debt.
These 25 colleges rank #26 through #50 of 221 in the Southwest Region. These colleges also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.