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
Northwestern Oklahoma State University Campus
 

Northwestern Oklahoma State University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Alva, OK
  • | 0 reviews

Northwestern Oklahoma State is a small public university known for undergraduate education, nursing, and business. The residential campus sits in the small college town of Alva in northwestern Oklahoma.

#37 Best Value in the Southwest 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 803-1036
  • Avg GPA 3.42
  • Acceptance Rate 65%
  • Net Price $10,492
Details

Oklahoma Christian University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Edmond, OK
  • | 0 reviews

Oklahoma Christian is a private university affiliated with the Churches of Christ and known for undergraduate engineering, nursing, and business. The campus is in the Oklahoma City suburb of Edmond.

#38 Best Value in the Southwest 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1010-1270
  • Avg GPA 3.62
  • Acceptance Rate 97%
  • Net Price $22,391
Details

Oklahoma Baptist University

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

Oklahoma Baptist is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and music. The residential campus sits in the smaller city of Shawnee east of Oklahoma City.

#39 Best Value in the Southwest 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1240
  • Avg GPA 3.68
  • Acceptance Rate 49%
  • Net Price $23,839
Details

Oral Roberts University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Tulsa, OK
  • 3.3 | 3 reviews

Oral Roberts is a private Christian university known for undergraduate ministry, nursing, and business. The Tulsa campus centers on the Prayer Tower and a distinctive modernist architectural style.

#40 Best Value in the Southwest 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1120-1310
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 99%
  • Net Price $25,808
Details

Southeastern Oklahoma State University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Durant, OK
  • | 0 reviews

Southeastern Oklahoma State is a public university known for undergraduate education and aviation. The small-city campus in Durant lies near the Oklahoma-Texas border.

#41 Best Value in the Southwest 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1186
  • Avg GPA 3.53
  • Acceptance Rate 76%
  • Net Price $9,075
Details

Southwestern Oklahoma State University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Weatherford, OK
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews

SWOSU is a public university known for undergraduate pharmacy, nursing, and education. The campus is in the small college town of Weatherford in western Oklahoma.

#42 Best Value in the Southwest
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 3.53
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $14,410
Details

Angelo State University

  • Public 4 Year
  • San Angelo, TX
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews

Angelo State is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and agriculture. The campus is in the West Texas city of San Angelo.

#43 Best Value in the Southwest 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 910-1150
  • Avg GPA 3.71
  • Acceptance Rate 83%
  • Net Price $14,048
Details

Concordia University Texas

  • Private 4 Year
  • Austin, TX
  • 4.0 | 2 reviews

Concordia Texas is a private Lutheran university with undergraduate programs in nursing, business, and education. The campus is in northwest Austin.

#44 Best Value in the Southwest 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 860-1100
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 91%
  • Net Price $24,723
Details

Texas A & M University Corpus Christi

  • Public 4 Year
  • Corpus Christi, TX
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jul 1 application deadline

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is a public university known for undergraduate marine science, coastal biology, and environmental science. The campus sits on Ward Island along Corpus Christi Bay.

#45 Best Value in the Southwest 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1193
  • Avg GPA 3.41
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $15,233
Details

East Texas A&M University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Commerce, TX
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Aug 15 application deadline

East Texas A&M is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education, business, and agricultural sciences. The residential campus sits in the small college town of Commerce in Northeast Texas.

#46 Best Value in the Southwest 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 910-1150
  • Avg GPA 3.36
  • Acceptance Rate 92%
  • Net Price $12,327
Details

Hardin Simmons University

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

Hardin-Simmons is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate nursing, music, and education. The residential campus is located in Abilene in West Texas.

#47 Best Value in the Southwest 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1010-1190
  • Avg GPA 3.43
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $19,811
Details

Houston Christian University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Houston, TX
  • 1.0 | 1 reviews

Houston Christian is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The campus is in southwest Houston.

#48 Best Value in the Southwest 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 990-1190
  • Avg GPA 3.46
  • Acceptance Rate 84%
  • Net Price $21,282
Details

University of Houston Downtown

  • Public 4 Year
  • Houston, TX
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jun 1 application deadline

UHD is a public university known for undergraduate business and criminal justice. The urban campus sits in downtown Houston near the city's business district.

#49 Best Value in the Southwest
  • SAT Range 940-1110
  • Avg GPA 3.29
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $10,832
Details

University of the Incarnate Word

  • Private 4 Year
  • San Antonio, TX
  • | 0 reviews

UIW is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing and the health sciences. The urban campus is in San Antonio.

#50 Best Value in the Southwest 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 900-1140
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 98%
  • Net Price $23,363
Details

Lamar University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Beaumont, TX
  • 1.7 | 3 reviews

Lamar is a public university known for undergraduate engineering and nursing. The campus is located in Beaumont in southeast Texas.

#51 Best Value in the Southwest 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1140
  • Avg GPA 3.4
  • Acceptance Rate 86%
  • Net Price $9,814
Details

Texas A & M International University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Laredo, TX
  • | 0 reviews

Texas A&M International is a public university known for undergraduate international business and nursing. Its campus is in Laredo on the U.S.-Mexico border.

#52 Best Value in the Southwest 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 890-1090
  • Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 44%
  • Net Price $5,644
Details

University of Mary Hardin Baylor

  • Private 4 Year
  • Belton, TX
  • | 0 reviews

Mary Hardin-Baylor is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The residential campus is in Belton in Central Texas.

#53 Best Value in the Southwest 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1200
  • Avg GPA 3.53
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $27,651
Details

McMurry University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Abilene, TX
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Aug 15 application deadline

McMurry is a private university known for undergraduate business, education, and nursing. The residential campus in Abilene is affiliated with the United Methodist Church.

#54 Best Value in the Southwest 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 950-1160
  • Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 57%
  • Net Price $20,723
Details