by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the graduate school options in the Southwest Region, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Our ranking highlights 551 graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual analyzed graduate schools 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.
Not every student is looking for the same thing. Narrow your list by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. You can also browse by degree level:
Want to compare schools head to head? Check out College Combat to weigh schools on the factors you care about most.
Learn more about these excellent graduate schools below:
Leading the list is The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston, our #1 graduate school in the Southwest Region. Based in Houston, TX, The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,748, with out-of-state students paying around $43,132. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $101,165. Graduates carry a median of $21,988 in student loans.
Rice University came in at #2 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in the Southwest Region. Located in Houston, TX, Rice University is a private not-for-profit institution. Rice University graduates 95% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $61,247 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $75,299. The median student debt is $11,904.
You'll be in good company at The University Of Texas At Austin, which ranked #3 this year. Located in Austin, TX, The University Of Texas At Austin is a public institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,688, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates report median early-career earnings of $57,819. The median student debt is $21,275.
Out of the 551 graduate schools in the Southwest Region in this year's ranking, The University Of Texas Medical Branch landed the #4 spot. This public school is set in Galveston, TX. In-state tuition and fees average $12,402, while out-of-state students pay about $28,011. Median early-career earnings reach $79,793. The median student debt is $23,250.
You'll be in good company at Texas A And M University College Station, which ranked #5 this year. Set in College Station, TX, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. Texas A And M University College Station posts a six-year graduation rate of 84%. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,995, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $64,891. Texas A And M University College Station students take on a median of $20,031 in debt.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center came in at #6 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Lubbock, TX. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,214, with out-of-state students paying around $22,514. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $76,328. The median student debt is $24,889.
Texas Christian University placed #7 among the best graduate schools in the Southwest Region. This private not-for-profit school is set in Fort Worth, TX. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,740. Texas Christian University graduates report median early-career earnings of $60,035. Typical student debt is $22,960.
Southern Methodist University landed the #8 spot in the Southwest Region this year. Set in Dallas, TX, Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,040. Graduates go on to earn a median of $70,632 early in their careers. The median student debt is $20,712.
The University Of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio came in at #9 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in San Antonio, TX. Students from in state pay about $10,991 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,776 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $89,151. Graduates carry a median of $20,247 in student loans.
Baylor University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Waco, TX, Baylor University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,100. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,888. Typical student debt is $23,928.
The University Of Texas Md Anderson Cancer Center ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. The University Of Texas Md Anderson Cancer Center is a public school based in Houston, TX. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,511, with out-of-state students paying around $23,731. Median early-career earnings reach $79,657. The University Of Texas Md Anderson Cancer Center students take on a median of $20,667 in debt.
Trinity University placed #12 among the best graduate schools in the Southwest Region. Located in San Antonio, TX, Trinity University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $53,676. Median early-career earnings reach $57,496. Trinity University students take on a median of $23,314 in debt.
Midwestern University Glendale came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Midwestern University Glendale is a private not-for-profit school based in Glendale, AZ. Median early-career earnings reach $98,281.
The University Of Texas At Dallas landed the #14 spot in the Southwest Region this year. The University Of Texas At Dallas is a public school based in Richardson, TX. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. In-state tuition and fees average $14,644, compared with $40,144 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $58,507. Typical student debt is $20,531.
Arizona State University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Arizona State University is a public school based in Tempe, AZ. About 68% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Median early-career earnings reach $55,876. Students borrow a median of $21,842 to complete a degree here.
University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center came in at #16 in this year's ranking. University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center is a public school based in Dallas, TX. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $76,007.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus did well this year, earning the #17 position. Located in Norman, OK, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a public institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,797, compared with $27,377 for out-of-state students. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $58,084. The median student debt is $23,138.
University Of Arizona placed #18 among the best graduate schools in the Southwest Region. Set in Tucson, AZ, University Of Arizona is a public institution. University Of Arizona graduates 68% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,573, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $50,834. The median student debt is $21,861.
Texas Tech University landed the #19 spot in the Southwest Region this year. Based in Lubbock, TX, Texas Tech University is a public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $11,852, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $50,332. Graduates carry a median of $24,271 in student loans.
University Of Tulsa placed #20 among the best graduate schools in the Southwest Region. University Of Tulsa is a private not-for-profit school based in Tulsa, OK. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,546. Median early-career earnings reach $66,166. Graduates carry a median of $23,638 in student loans.
University Of Houston did well this year, earning the #21 position. Set in Houston, TX, University Of Houston is a public institution. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,717, compared with $22,547 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $57,529. Students borrow a median of $21,255 to complete a degree here.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in El Paso, TX, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,050, compared with $27,170 for out-of-state students. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso graduates report median early-career earnings of $67,322. Typical student debt is $25,000.
The University Of Texas At Arlington landed the #23 spot in the Southwest Region this year. The University Of Texas At Arlington is a public school based in Arlington, TX. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,950, compared with $29,582 for out-of-state students. The University Of Texas At Arlington graduates report median early-career earnings of $55,304. Typical student debt is $21,632.
University Of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center placed #24 among the best graduate schools in the Southwest Region. Based in Oklahoma City, OK, University Of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,925, while out-of-state students pay about $25,714. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $81,828. Graduates carry a median of $22,613 in student loans.
Northern Arizona University did well this year, earning the #25 position. Located in Flagstaff, AZ, Northern Arizona University is a public institution. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $12,619, while out-of-state students pay about $20,044. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $47,056. Students borrow a median of $21,645 to complete a degree here.
Not far behind, these graduate schools also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Graduate schools are scored on 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.
