The Best Value Southwestern Colleges

Best Value Colleges in Southwest for 2025

Explore the colleges that provide the best value for your money in the Southwest based on academic quality, outcomes, net price and financial aid. The rankings are calculated using ratings from the 2025 CollegeSimply Best Colleges ranking factored against the typical net price paid by students - to identify the colleges that offer the best deals. Leading the list for 2025 as the overall best value college in the Southwest is Rice University with a 10 out of 10 academic rating for a comparatively affordable $20,587 average net price. The highest value public state college is New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. Learn how the Best Value Colleges are calculated and ranked on our methodology page.


76 results

Rice University
R
Houston, TX

Rice University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#1 Best Value 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

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
N
Socorro, NM

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Value 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

University of Tulsa
T
Tulsa, OK

University of Tulsa

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Value in the Southwest

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

Austin College
A
Sherman, TX

Austin College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Value in the Southwest

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

Applications Due Jul 31

Trinity University
T
San Antonio, TX

Trinity University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Value in the Southwest

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

Applications Due Jan 15

University of Arizona
A
Tucson, AZ

University of Arizona

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Value in the Southwest

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

Oklahoma City University
O
Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma City University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Value in the Southwest

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

The University of Texas at Austin
T
Austin, TX

The University of Texas at Austin

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#8 Best Value 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

The University of Texas at Dallas
T
Richardson, TX

The University of Texas at Dallas

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#9 Best Value 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

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus
O
Norman, OK

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#10 Best Value in the Southwest

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

Applications Due Feb 1

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

Texas A&M University College Station

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#11 Best Value 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

University of Dallas
D
Irving, TX

University of Dallas

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#12 Best Value in the Southwest

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

Applications Due Aug 1

Southwestern University
S
Georgetown, TX

Southwestern University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#13 Best Value in the Southwest

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

Applications Due Feb 1

University of Houston
H
Houston, TX

University of Houston

Public 4 Year

7 reviews

#14 Best Value in the Southwest

  • 46,676enrollment
  • $13,738net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1330SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

Applications Due May 31

University of St Thomas
S
Houston, TX

University of St Thomas

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Value in the Southwest

  • 3,813enrollment
  • $20,469net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 1075-1340SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

Texas Christian University
T
Fort Worth, TX

Texas Christian University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#16 Best Value 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

Arizona State University
A
Tempe, AZ

Arizona State University

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#17 Best Value in the Southwest

  • 79,593enrollment
  • $16,401net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1320SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Oklahoma State University Main Campus
O
Stillwater, OK

Oklahoma State University Main Campus

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#18 Best Value in the Southwest

  • 26,043enrollment
  • $18,291net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1240SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA