# Best Colleges in Southwest

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-06-12 | Schools: 50 | Category: By Region
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-colleges-southwest

## Methodology

Colleges in the Southwest region ranked by graduate outcomes — earnings, mobility, and value.

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

The colleges in the Southwest offer a blend of academic rigor, diverse programs, and unique campus experiences. Whether you're looking for a traditional university or a specialized institution, these schools represent some of the best choices in the region. With an average earnings potential of $54,396, these institutions can pave the way for meaningful careers.

What sets apart the top schools in this list are their strong graduation rates, earning potential, and manageable debt levels. For instance, Rice University stands out with a remarkable 95% graduation rate, while institutions like New Mexico Military Institute have a much lower 41% rate. This data can help you sift through the options and identify which schools align with your career aspirations and financial situation.

Take Rice University and Texas A&M University-College Station, for example. Rice boasts earnings of $89,718 and a low debt of $11,000, while Texas A&M has earnings of $72,097 and a higher debt of $17,804. This contrast highlights the trade-off between immediate earning potential and financial burden, giving you key insights as you consider your own goals.

## Key Findings

- Rice University graduates earn an average of $89,718, the highest in the region.
- New Mexico Military Institute has a graduation rate of just 41%, signaling potential challenges.
- Texas A&M graduates face an average debt of $17,804, which is higher than other top schools.
- The average graduation rate across these schools is only 53%, suggesting that not all institutions support student success equally.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Rice University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/rice-university) | Houston, TX | 95% | $89,718 | $13,370 | $11,000 | 0.12x |
| 2 | [The University of Texas at Austin](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-university-of-texas-at-austin) | Austin, TX | 88% | $75,121 | $19,857 | $20,500 | 0.27x |
| 3 | [New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/new-mexico-institute-of-mining-and-technology) | Socorro, NM | 57% | $76,489 | $9,873 | $19,085 | 0.25x |
| 4 | [Trinity University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/trinity-university) | San Antonio, TX | 83% | $71,668 | $23,464 | $22,954 | 0.32x |
| 5 | [The University of Texas at Dallas](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-university-of-texas-at-dallas) | Richardson, TX | 75% | $68,227 | $18,267 | $18,000 | 0.26x |
| 6 | [University of Tulsa](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-tulsa) | Tulsa, OK | 73% | $61,408 | $15,000 | $21,500 | 0.35x |
| 7 | [The University of Texas at Tyler](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-university-of-texas-at-tyler) | Tyler, TX | 51% | $57,053 | $13,323 | $17,137 | 0.3x |
| 8 | [Texas Woman's University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/texas-womans-university) | Denton, TX | 47% | $56,544 | $11,963 | $19,218 | 0.34x |
| 9 | [East Texas A&M University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/east-texas-am-university) | Commerce, TX | 44% | $50,296 | $11,841 | $20,500 | 0.41x |
| 10 | [University of North Texas](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-north-texas) | Denton, TX | 60% | $57,010 | $15,649 | $19,250 | 0.34x |
| 11 | [The University of Texas Permian Basin](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-university-of-texas-permian-basin) | Odessa, TX | 42% | $56,073 | $12,723 | $17,750 | 0.32x |
| 12 | [The University of Texas at Arlington](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-university-of-texas-at-arlington) | Arlington, TX | 55% | $63,199 | $13,951 | $17,527 | 0.28x |
| 13 | [Southeastern Oklahoma State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southeastern-oklahoma-state-university) | Durant, OK | 32% | $45,079 | $8,039 | $17,000 | 0.38x |
| 14 | [Western Texas College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/western-texas-college) | Snyder, TX | 56% | $42,508 | $3,562 | $7,515 | 0.18x |
| 15 | [Texas Christian University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/texas-christian-university) | Fort Worth, TX | 86% | $68,424 | $36,660 | $21,500 | 0.31x |
| 16 | [Texas State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/texas-state-university) | San Marcos, TX | 56% | $56,906 | $16,805 | $21,000 | 0.37x |
| 17 | [Austin College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/austin-college) | Sherman, TX | 68% | $61,296 | $21,107 | $24,500 | 0.4x |
| 18 | [Texas A&M University-College Station](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/texas-am-university-college-station) | College Station, TX | 84% | $72,097 | $21,315 | $17,804 | 0.25x |
| 19 | [Sam Houston State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/sam-houston-state-university) | Huntsville, TX | 55% | $54,211 | $16,404 | $21,983 | 0.41x |
| 20 | [The University of Texas at San Antonio](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-university-of-texas-at-san-antonio) | San Antonio, TX | 52% | $57,131 | $10,836 | $20,500 | 0.36x |
| 21 | [Texas Tech University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/texas-tech-university) | Lubbock, TX | 68% | $62,454 | $19,070 | $21,500 | 0.34x |
| 22 | [New Mexico Military Institute](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/new-mexico-military-institute) | Roswell, NM | 41% | $57,410 | $4,571 | $5,500 | 0.1x |
| 23 | [Lamar University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lamar-university) | Beaumont, TX | 37% | $49,652 | $9,366 | $21,250 | 0.43x |
| 24 | [Northeastern State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northeastern-state-university) | Tahlequah, OK | 36% | $45,379 | $12,710 | $17,367 | 0.38x |
| 25 | [Angelo State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/angelo-state-university) | San Angelo, TX | 42% | $50,116 | $15,091 | $20,000 | 0.4x |
| 26 | [Stephen F Austin State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/stephen-f-austin-state-university) | Nacogdoches, TX | 53% | $49,634 | $14,260 | $23,409 | 0.47x |
| 27 | [Northwestern Oklahoma State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northwestern-oklahoma-state-university) | Alva, OK | 33% | $44,358 | $10,104 | $17,355 | 0.39x |
| 28 | [University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-science-and-arts-of-oklahoma) | Chickasha, OK | 41% | $41,913 | $6,624 | $21,750 | 0.52x |
| 29 | [Northern Oklahoma College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northern-oklahoma-college) | Tonkawa, OK | 44% | $37,566 | $5,625 | $11,000 | 0.29x |
| 30 | [Southern Methodist University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southern-methodist-university) | Dallas, TX | 84% | $78,354 | $40,892 | $19,500 | 0.25x |
| 31 | [University of Dallas](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-dallas) | Irving, TX | 70% | $58,285 | $22,610 | $23,117 | 0.4x |
| 32 | [Concordia University Texas](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/concordia-university-texas) | Austin, TX | 42% | $60,883 | $23,131 | $21,852 | 0.36x |
| 33 | [Brazosport College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/brazosport-college) | Lake Jackson, TX | 47% | $45,910 | $4,732 | $5,641 | 0.12x |
| 34 | [The University of Texas at El Paso](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-university-of-texas-at-el-paso) | El Paso, TX | 48% | $50,923 | $9,403 | $18,000 | 0.35x |
| 35 | [Midwestern State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/midwestern-state-university) | Wichita Falls, TX | 42% | $55,747 | $11,656 | $21,030 | 0.38x |
| 36 | [Temple College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/temple-college) | Temple, TX | 29% | $38,678 | $10,682 | $12,813 | 0.33x |
| 37 | [Oklahoma City University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/oklahoma-city-university) | Oklahoma City, OK | 65% | $54,655 | $22,857 | $20,835 | 0.38x |
| 38 | [Southwestern Oklahoma State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southwestern-oklahoma-state-university) | Weatherford, OK | 37% | $45,744 | $14,459 | $15,954 | 0.35x |
| 39 | [University of Central Oklahoma](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-central-oklahoma) | Edmond, OK | 37% | $48,351 | $18,309 | $21,000 | 0.43x |
| 40 | [North Central Texas College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/north-central-texas-college) | Gainesville, TX | 35% | $45,809 | $6,587 | $11,250 | 0.25x |
| 41 | [Northeast Texas Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northeast-texas-community-college) | Mount Pleasant, TX | 46% | $37,870 | $6,706 | $10,946 | 0.29x |
| 42 | [Wharton County Junior College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wharton-county-junior-college) | Wharton, TX | 24% | $44,960 | $4,666 | $7,703 | 0.17x |
| 43 | [Tarleton State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/tarleton-state-university) | Stephenville, TX | 50% | $53,040 | $20,783 | $19,606 | 0.37x |
| 44 | [Tulsa Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/tulsa-community-college) | Tulsa, OK | 28% | $39,746 | $6,288 | $12,223 | 0.31x |
| 45 | [New Mexico Junior College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/new-mexico-junior-college) | Hobbs, NM | 42% | $34,233 | $6,524 | $11,313 | 0.33x |
| 46 | [Baylor University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/baylor-university) | Waco, TX | 80% | $65,793 | $41,104 | $23,000 | 0.35x |
| 47 | [Amarillo College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/amarillo-college) | Amarillo, TX | 31% | $41,302 | $4,600 | $15,000 | 0.36x |
| 48 | [Eastern Oklahoma State College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/eastern-oklahoma-state-college) | Wilburton, OK | 29% | $38,658 | $10,830 | $11,900 | 0.31x |
| 49 | [Odessa College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/odessa-college) | Odessa, TX | 32% | $42,026 | $6,368 | $7,750 | 0.18x |
| 50 | [Tarrant County College District](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/tarrant-county-college-district) | Fort Worth, TX | 29% | $42,727 | $4,337 | $9,104 | 0.21x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Best Colleges in Southwest." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-06-12. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-colleges-southwest

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.