Best Southwestern Colleges
There are 76 ranked four-year colleges in the Southwest, evaluated with the same methodology used for our national rankings. Only nonprofit, selective four-year schools are included.
Leading our 2027 rankings is Rice University in Houston, Texas, topping our list in the Southwest. The top rated public university is The University of Texas at Austin. Also highly ranked: Trinity University, Southern Methodist University and The University of Texas at Austin.
Compare tuition, acceptance rates, and enrollment across the colleges below. See how rankings are calculated on our methodology page. Explore the regional list below or browse individual states.
Northeastern State University
- Public 4 Year
- Tahlequah, OK
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4.5 | 2 reviews
Northeastern State is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education and Native American studies. The Tahlequah campus sits in the capital of the Cherokee Nation.
- SAT Range 866-1136
- Avg GPA 3.49
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $12,410
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.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.53
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $14,410
Our Lady of the Lake University
- Private 4 Year
- San Antonio, TX
-
| 0 reviews
Our Lady of the Lake is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate social work and education. The urban San Antonio campus is a Hispanic-Serving Institution.
- SAT Range 890-1070
- Avg GPA 3.55
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $16,999
The University of Texas at El Paso
- Public 4 Year
- El Paso, TX
-
| 0 reviews
- May 1 application deadline
UTEP is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering. The campus features distinctive Bhutanese-style architecture in El Paso near the U.S.-Mexico border.
- SAT Range 860-1080
- Avg GPA 3.3
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $9,305