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Our analysis found Bryan University to be the most geographically diverse college in Southwest. Bryan University scores 71.0 out of 100 for geographic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 69.5, with a gender-diversity score of 55.2.
by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re seeking a diverse and multi-faceted college experience, you’ve come to the right place. The ranking below was designed to help you find 470 institutions that stand out for their student bodies in Southwest, using our 2026 methodology.
Our ranking weighs the geographic origins of the student body (how widely students are drawn from across the country and the world). To arm you with the information you need, College Factual analyzed 470 colleges, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Your ideal mix depends on what matters most to you. Drill down by location, or explore the overall, racial-ethnic, gender, economic, and age diversity rankings, or other rankings below.
Looking to pit your favorite colleges against each other? We built a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter most to you.
Here are the top-ranked colleges:
Our analysis found Bryan University to be the most geographically diverse college in Southwest. Bryan University scores 71.0 out of 100 for geographic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 69.5, with a gender-diversity score of 55.2.
Sonoran Desert Institute earned the #2 place in Southwest. It scores 70.9 out of 100 for geographic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 46.6, and gender diversity 17.4.
American InterContinental University System came in at #3 on this year's Most Geographically Diverse Colleges ranking in Southwest. It scores 69.0 out of 100 for geographic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 69.7, with a gender-diversity score of 97.7.
You'll find a welcoming community at Arizona State University Digital Immersion, which ranked #4 this year. It scores 68.2 out of 100 for geographic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 68.0, with a gender-diversity score of 94.8.
Out of the 470 colleges in Southwest in this year's ranking, University of Phoenix-Arizona landed the #5 spot. It scores 63.3 out of 100 for geographic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 70.7, alongside a 88.0 gender-diversity score.
Universal Technical Institute-Phoenix ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the most geographically diverse colleges. On geographic diversity, it scores 61.6 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 62.0, alongside a 38.1 gender-diversity score.
Sessions College for Professional Design placed #7 among the most geographically diverse colleges in Southwest. The school's geographic diversity score is 58.2 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 62.0, alongside a 92.9 gender-diversity score.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott placed #8 among the most geographically diverse colleges in Southwest. It scores 57.2 out of 100 for geographic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 66.1, and gender diversity 85.2.
Grand Canyon University earned the #9 position in Southwest. It scores 57.1 out of 100 for geographic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 68.2, and gender diversity 83.9.
St. John's College came in at #10 in this year's ranking. The school's geographic diversity score is 56.9 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 57.7, alongside a 99.5 gender-diversity score.
Crestpoint University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. On geographic diversity, it scores 56.2 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 52.5, and gender diversity 64.6.
Rice University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the most geographically diverse colleges. The school's geographic diversity score is 54.0 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 77.8, with a gender-diversity score of 98.8.
Dallas Institute of Funeral Service ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the most geographically diverse colleges. On geographic diversity, it scores 52.8 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 54.9, alongside a 81.1 gender-diversity score.
The Recording Conservatory of Austin ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the most geographically diverse colleges. The school's geographic diversity score is 52.3 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 45.1, and gender diversity 51.9.
Oral Roberts University placed #15 among the most geographically diverse colleges in Southwest. Oral Roberts University scores 51.4 out of 100 for geographic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 82.3, with a gender-diversity score of 99.0.
Southern Methodist University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the most geographically diverse colleges. The school's geographic diversity score is 50.4 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 67.1, and gender diversity 100.0.
New Mexico Military Institute placed #17 among the most geographically diverse colleges in Southwest. New Mexico Military Institute scores 50.3 out of 100 for geographic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 81.0, and gender diversity 75.6.
University of Advancing Technology landed the #18 spot in Southwest this year. The school's geographic diversity score is 49.4 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 71.4, with a gender-diversity score of 76.5.
Texas Christian University placed #19 among the most geographically diverse colleges in Southwest. The school's geographic diversity score is 49.3 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 56.9, with a gender-diversity score of 96.3.
University of Dallas placed #20 among the most geographically diverse colleges in Southwest. University of Dallas scores 46.0 out of 100 for geographic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 63.6, alongside a 100.0 gender-diversity score.
CCI Training Center, Arlington landed the #21 spot in Southwest this year. On geographic diversity, it scores 46.0 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 58.3, and gender diversity 37.7.
University of Arizona earned the #22 position in Southwest. The school's geographic diversity score is 45.6 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 73.6, alongside a 99.4 gender-diversity score.
Justice University came in at #23 in this year's ranking. On geographic diversity, it scores 45.5 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 71.8, and gender diversity 94.9.
Arizona Christian University earned the #24 position in Southwest. On geographic diversity, it scores 44.3 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 69.1, and gender diversity 98.6.
College of Biomedical Equipment Technology ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the most geographically diverse colleges. College of Biomedical Equipment Technology scores 43.4 out of 100 for geographic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 63.0, with a gender-diversity score of 70.4.
These colleges also placed near the top this year:
To learn more about the colleges below, just click on their names:
| Rank | College | Geographic Diversity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | LeTourneau University | 26.9 |
| 52 | Trinity University | 26.0 |
| 53 | Huston-Tillotson University | 25.7 |
| 54 | New Mexico Highlands University | 25.5 |
| 55 | Southwestern Adventist University | 25.1 |
| 56 | Nelson University | 24.2 |
| 57 | Olympian Academy of Cosmetology | 24.1 |
| 58 | Oklahoma Baptist University | 23.8 |
| 59 | Wiley University | 23.8 |
| 60 | Jarvis Christian University | 23.1 |
| 61 | Texas Southern University | 22.8 |
| 62 | Arizona Culinary Institute | 22.6 |
| 63 | Central Texas College | 21.9 |
| 64 | Tohono O’odham Community College | 21.7 |
| 65 | Southwestern Christian University | 21.7 |
| Rank | College | Geographic Diversity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 66 | Northwestern Oklahoma State University | 21.6 |
| 67 | Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service | 21.6 |
| 68 | Northern Arizona University | 21.1 |
| 69 | Tulsa Welding School-Tulsa | 20.7 |
| 70 | Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus | 20.4 |
| 71 | Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College | 20.0 |
These schools also stood out:
| Rank | College | Geographic Diversity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 72 | San Juan College | 19.8 |
| 73 | CyberTex Institute of Technology | 19.6 |
| 74 | Universal Technical Institute of Texas Inc. | 19.5 |
| 75 | Texas College | 19.1 |
| 76 | Southeastern Oklahoma State University | 19.0 |
| 77 | Western New Mexico University | 18.8 |
| 78 | New Mexico State University-Main Campus | 18.4 |
| 79 | University of New Mexico-Main Campus | 18.4 |
| 80 | Western Oklahoma State College | 18.1 |
| 81 | Texas A&M University-Texarkana | 17.4 |
| 82 | University of the Southwest | 17.4 |
| 83 | Prairie View A & M University | 16.9 |
| 84 | Saint Edward’s University | 16.8 |
| 85 | New Mexico State University-Alamogordo | 16.1 |
| 86 | Arlington Career Institute | 16.1 |
| Rank | College | Geographic Diversity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 87 | Navajo Technical University | 15.6 |
| 88 | Clarendon College | 15.4 |
| 89 | Southwestern Christian College | 15.3 |
| 90 | Eastern Oklahoma State College | 15.1 |
| 91 | Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute | 15.0 |
| 92 | Ranger College | 14.9 |
| 93 | Abilene Christian University | 14.8 |
| 94 | Santa Fe Community College | 14.8 |
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
We measure this ranking on the geographic origins of the student body (how widely students are drawn from across the country and the world). The racial-ethnic minorities percentage is calculated by taking the total number of students, subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity is unknown, and dividing by total enrollment.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
