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2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Southwest Region

[Value](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/business-administration-and-management/science-technology-management/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for value students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Value Schools in the Southwest Region

2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Southwest Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Value Schools

1

Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ

$12,223 In-State Tuition & Fees

$15,781 Avg Student Debt

$62,668 Median Earnings (10yr)

Arizona State University tops our 2026 list of the best value value schools in the Southwest Region. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Value graduates carry a median of $15,781 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $73,030. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.

2

University Of North Texas
Denton, TX

$11,309 In-State Tuition & Fees

$21,500 Avg Student Debt

$57,010 Median Earnings (10yr)

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Texas earned it the #2 place for value. Located in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,309 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,149 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $66,005. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 4 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.

• The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
• Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).

More about our data sources and methodologies.