Best Value Southwestern Colleges

There are 76 colleges in the Southwest ranked by value using the same methodology as our national list. Rankings balance academic quality with the net price students typically pay.

University of Tulsa leads Southwest value rankings for 2027 with a 10 out of 10 academic rating and an average net price of $13,095. The top value public university is New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. Also high value: Rice University, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology and Trinity University.

Compare net price, aid, and academic ratings across the colleges below. See how value scores are calculated on our methodology page. Explore the regional list below or browse individual states.

76 Results
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Southwest Public Private 4 Year

University of Tulsa

  • Private 4 Year
  • Tulsa, OK
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

University of Tulsa is a private university known for undergraduate petroleum engineering and energy programs. The compact urban campus sits in midtown Tulsa.

#1 Best Value in the Southwest 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1223-1530
  • Avg GPA 3.97
  • Acceptance Rate 62%
  • Net Price $13,095
Details

Rice University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Houston, TX
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • Jan 1 application deadline

Rice is a highly selective private university known for undergraduate engineering, architecture, and the natural sciences. Most undergraduates live in residential colleges that organize dining and social life on the urban Houston campus.

#2 Best Value in the Southwest 10/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1510-1570
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.96
  • Acceptance Rate 8%
  • Net Price $23,589
Details

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

  • Public 4 Year
  • Socorro, NM
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

New Mexico Tech is a small public technological university known for undergraduate engineering, earth sciences, and physics. The campus is in the small town of Socorro in central New Mexico.

#3 Best Value in the Southwest 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1080-1310
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.63
  • Acceptance Rate 44%
  • Net Price $11,551
Details

Trinity University

  • Private 4 Year
  • San Antonio, TX
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Trinity is a private university known for undergraduate business, communication, and the sciences. Most students live on a residential hilltop campus overlooking downtown San Antonio.

#4 Best Value in the Southwest 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1340-1500
  • Avg GPA 3.68
  • Acceptance Rate 26%
  • Net Price $32,224
Details

Austin College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Sherman, TX
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jul 31 application deadline

Austin College is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate sciences and international studies. Most undergrads live on the residential campus in Sherman, north of Dallas.

#5 Best Value in the Southwest 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1100-1310
  • Avg GPA 3.63
  • Acceptance Rate 48%
  • Net Price $23,462
Details

The University of Texas at Austin

  • Public 4 Year
  • Austin, TX
  • 5.0 | 3 reviews
  • Dec 1 application deadline

UT Austin is a highly selective public university known for undergraduate business, engineering, and computer science. The urban campus occupies a large site in central Austin.

#6 Best Value in the Southwest 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1250-1510
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.8
  • Acceptance Rate 27%
  • Net Price $17,942
Details

The University of Texas at Dallas

  • Public 4 Year
  • Richardson, TX
  • 4.3 | 3 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

UT Dallas is a public university known for undergraduate computer science, engineering, and business. The suburban Richardson campus sits in the Dallas area's tech corridor.

#7 Best Value in the Southwest 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1410
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.78
  • Acceptance Rate 65%
  • Net Price $14,916
Details

University of Dallas

  • Private 4 Year
  • Irving, TX
  • 4.2 | 5 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

University of Dallas is a private Catholic university known for a Great Books core curriculum and undergraduate work in philosophy, politics, and the humanities. The suburban campus sits in Irving just outside Dallas.

#8 Best Value in the Southwest 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1120-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.9
  • Acceptance Rate 53%
  • Net Price $29,209
Details

Texas A&M University College Station

  • Public 4 Year
  • College Station, TX
  • 5.0 | 6 reviews
  • Dec 1 application deadline

Texas A&M is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering, agriculture, and business. A large Corps of Cadets gives the College Station campus a long-standing military tradition.

#9 Best Value in the Southwest 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1150-1400
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.68
  • Acceptance Rate 57%
  • Net Price $21,437
Details

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

  • Public 4 Year
  • Norman, OK
  • 4.0 | 2 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

OU is a large public university known for undergraduate meteorology and petroleum engineering. Norman is a classic college town built around the campus.

#10 Best Value in the Southwest 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.66
  • Acceptance Rate 77%
  • Net Price $18,574
Details

University of Houston

  • Public 4 Year
  • Houston, TX
  • 4.0 | 7 reviews
  • May 31 application deadline

University of Houston is a large public university known for undergraduate hospitality management, business, and engineering. The urban campus sits in southeast Houston.

#11 Best Value in the Southwest 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1340
  • Avg GPA 3.46
  • Acceptance Rate 74%
  • Net Price $14,309
Details

University of Arizona

  • Public 4 Year
  • Tucson, AZ
  • | 0 reviews

Arizona is a large public university known for undergraduate astronomy, optical sciences, and planetary science. The main campus sits in the Sonoran Desert in Tucson.

#12 Best Value in the Southwest 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1150-1420
  • Avg GPA 3.48
  • Acceptance Rate 86%
  • Net Price $19,055
Details

Southwestern University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Georgetown, TX
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Southwestern is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate study in the arts and sciences. Most students live on the residential campus in historic Georgetown, north of Austin.

#13 Best Value in the Southwest 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1130-1300
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 43%
  • Net Price $32,228
Details

Oklahoma City University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Oklahoma City, OK
  • | 0 reviews

Oklahoma City University is a private university known for undergraduate dance, music, and theater. The urban campus is affiliated with the United Methodist Church.

#14 Best Value in the Southwest 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1050-1260
  • Avg GPA 3.77
  • Acceptance Rate 77%
  • Net Price $24,051
Details

Saint Edward's University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Austin, TX
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Saint Edward's is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate liberal arts, business, and education. The hilltop campus in South Austin overlooks the downtown skyline.

#15 Best Value in the Southwest 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1240
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.53
  • Acceptance Rate 81%
  • Net Price $28,766
Details

St. Mary's University

  • Private 4 Year
  • San Antonio, TX
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

St. Mary's is a private Marianist Catholic university known for undergraduate business and criminal justice. The urban campus sits on San Antonio's near West Side.

#16 Best Value in the Southwest 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 900-1310
  • Avg GPA 3.61
  • Acceptance Rate 98%
  • Net Price $20,412
Details

Arizona State University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Tempe, AZ
  • 3.8 | 5 reviews

ASU is a large public university known for undergraduate journalism, business, and sustainability. The Tempe campus sits in the Phoenix metro area.

#17 Best Value in the Southwest 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1100-1320
  • Avg GPA 3.54
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $17,779
Details

Texas Christian University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Fort Worth, TX
  • 4.8 | 4 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

TCU is a private university known for undergraduate business and communications. The residential campus sits a few miles from downtown Fort Worth.

#18 Best Value in the Southwest 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1350
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.68
  • Acceptance Rate 44%
  • Net Price $41,848
Details