Best Southwestern Colleges

Ranked list of Colleges and Universities in the Southwest for 2025

There are 316 colleges and universities in the Southwest enrolling 2,648,178 students. Explore the list of top colleges in the Southwest below to begin your college search. The CollegeSimply rankings are objective and data-driven in order to help you find good matches for you. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page. Whether you're searching for a good public, private or community college, this guide to universities in Southwest offers a comprehensive view to the state's higher education options.

The  Southwest is home to nationally ranked institutions like Rice University, Trinity University, Southern Methodist University and The University of Texas at Austin. The highest ranked college in the Southwest is Rice University and the top rated public state college is The University of Texas at Austin.

Southwest Public Private For-Profit 4 year 2 year

316 results

List of the Best Southwest Colleges

Rice University
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R
Houston, TX

Rice University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#1 Best Colleges in the Southwest

  • 8,556enrollment
  • $20,587net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1570SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
  • 3.96Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Trinity University
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T
San Antonio, TX

Trinity University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in the Southwest

  • 2,694enrollment
  • $32,264net price
  • 28%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1465SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Southern Methodist University
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S
Dallas, TX

Southern Methodist University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in the Southwest

  • 11,842enrollment
  • $45,792net price
  • 61%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1480SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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The University of Texas at Austin
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T
Austin, TX

The University of Texas at Austin

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#4 Best Colleges in the Southwest

  • 53,082enrollment
  • $18,036net price
  • 29%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1490SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
  • 3.8Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

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University of Tulsa
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T
Tulsa, OK

University of Tulsa

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Colleges in the Southwest

  • 3,559enrollment
  • $23,681net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1490SAT range
  • 24-33ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

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Texas Christian University
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T
Fort Worth, TX

Texas Christian University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#6 Best Colleges in the Southwest

  • 12,785enrollment
  • $39,005net price
  • 43%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1375SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.68Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Texas A&M University College Station
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T
College Station, TX

Texas A&M University College Station

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#7 Best Colleges in the Southwest

  • 76,633enrollment
  • $21,610net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1380SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.68Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

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Austin College
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A
Sherman, TX

Austin College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Colleges in the Southwest

  • 1,136enrollment
  • $24,777net price
  • 47%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1340SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 31

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Baylor University
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B
Waco, TX

Baylor University

Private 4 Year

14 reviews

#9 Best Colleges in the Southwest

  • 20,824enrollment
  • $49,727net price
  • 51%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1400SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.74Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Southwestern University
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S
Georgetown, TX

Southwestern University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#10 Best Colleges in the Southwest

  • 1,457enrollment
  • $30,687net price
  • 39%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1340SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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University of Dallas
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D
Irving, TX

University of Dallas

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#11 Best Colleges in the Southwest

  • 2,182enrollment
  • $31,221net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1370SAT range
  • 25-32ACT range
  • 3.9Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
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N
Socorro, NM

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Colleges in the Southwest

  • 1,713enrollment
  • $9,133net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1290SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.63Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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University of Oklahoma Norman Campus
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O
Norman, OK

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#13 Best Colleges in the Southwest

  • 29,145enrollment
  • $19,900net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1330SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Oklahoma City University
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O
Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma City University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#14 Best Colleges in the Southwest

  • 2,763enrollment
  • $23,143net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1233SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

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The University of Texas at Dallas
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T
Richardson, TX

The University of Texas at Dallas

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#15 Best Colleges in the Southwest

  • 30,885enrollment
  • $13,464net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1410SAT range
  • 25-32ACT range
  • 3.78Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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University of Arizona
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A
Tucson, AZ

University of Arizona

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#16 Best Colleges in the Southwest

  • 53,001enrollment
  • $18,144net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1420SAT range
  • 21-30ACT range
  • 3.48Avg GPA

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Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott
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E
Prescott, AZ

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#17 Best Colleges in the Southwest

  • 3,286enrollment
  • $41,209net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1360SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.82Avg GPA

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LeTourneau University
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L
Longview, TX

LeTourneau University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#18 Best Colleges in the Southwest

  • 3,389enrollment
  • $27,007net price
  • 41%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1370SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

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