2026 Best Value Real Estate Schools in the Southwest Region
[Real Estate](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/real-estate/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong real estate education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 30 schools to find the best return on investment for real estate students.
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2026 Best Value Real Estate Schools in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in real estate, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Real Estate Schools
El Centro College tops our 2026 list of the best value real estate schools in the Southwest Region. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,730, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $17,063 in student loans. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from El Centro College generally make around $34,398. That is a strong return on a $17,063 median debt.
Austin Community College District is a great value for students pursuing a degree in real estate, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,550, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $9,500. Early-career real estate graduates make about $36,939. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Lamar State College Orange one of the best values for real estate. Lamar State College Orange is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Orange. In-state tuition and fees average $2,832, while out-of-state students pay about $13,824. Students borrow a median of $18,506 to complete the real estate program here. Early-career real estate graduates make about $45,299. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in real estate will find it at San Antonio College, which ranked #4. Located in the city of San Antonio, San Antonio College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,412, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $11,839. Early-career real estate graduates make about $37,855. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tarrant County College District came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value real estate schools. Tarrant County College District is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Worth. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,863, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $15,003 in student loans. Early-career real estate graduates make about $45,158. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mclennan Community College placed #6 among the best values for real estate. Set in the city of Waco, Mclennan Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,660 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,910 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $7,496. Real Estate graduates of Mclennan Community College earn a median of $40,499 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,496 median debt.
El Paso Community College placed #7 among the best values for real estate. Set in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,274, while out-of-state students pay about $5,314. Students borrow a median of $8,542 to complete the real estate program here. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from El Paso Community College generally make around $29,086. Set against $8,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Jacinto Community College came in at #8 for value in real estate this year. San Jacinto Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,490, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $11,376. Early-career real estate graduates make about $38,107. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Plains College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value real estate schools. South Plains College is a large public school located in the town of Levelland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,733, with out-of-state students paying around $5,157. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $13,788 in student loans. Early-career real estate graduates make about $30,949. Set against $13,788 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Houston Community College came in at #10 for value in real estate this year. Located in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,040, while out-of-state students pay about $5,460. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $22,743 in student loans. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from Houston Community College generally make around $40,365. Set against $22,743 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Collin County Community College District landed the #11 spot for real estate value this year. Located in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,014, while out-of-state students pay about $6,064. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $9,716 in student loans. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from Collin County Community College District generally make around $42,177. Set against $9,716 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Angelina College placed #12 among the best values for real estate. Set in the town of Lufkin, Angelina College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,430, with out-of-state students paying around $6,490. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $7,828. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from Angelina College generally make around $50,767. That is a strong return on a $7,828 median debt.
The University Of Texas At San Antonio came in at #13 for value in real estate this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,326, compared with $22,249 for out-of-state students. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $21,485 in student loans. Early-career real estate graduates make about $41,965. Set against $21,485 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At San Antonio admits about 87% of applicants.
Cisco College came in at #14 for value in real estate this year. Located in the rural area of Cisco, Cisco College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,710, with out-of-state students paying around $7,140. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $10,875 in student loans. Real Estate graduates of Cisco College earn a median of $17,820 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mesa Community College landed the #15 spot for real estate value this year. Mesa Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Mesa. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from Mesa Community College generally make around $54,730. That is a strong return on a $13,750 median debt.
University Of North Texas placed #16 among the best values for real estate. Located in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,309, while out-of-state students pay about $21,149. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $15,251. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from University Of North Texas generally make around $44,124. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Scottsdale Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value real estate schools. Scottsdale Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Scottsdale. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $13,084 in student loans. Early-career real estate graduates make about $48,039. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The University Of Texas At Arlington came in at #18 for value in real estate this year. Set in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,950, with out-of-state students paying around $29,582. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $21,632 in student loans. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Arlington generally make around $55,304. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus landed the #19 spot for real estate value this year. Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Stillwater. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,110, with out-of-state students paying around $25,630. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $22,337. Early-career real estate graduates make about $50,993. Set against $22,337 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Blinn College landed the #20 spot for real estate value this year. Located in the town of Brenham, Blinn College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,890, with out-of-state students paying around $11,370. Students borrow a median of $16,465 to complete the real estate program here. Real Estate graduates of Blinn College earn a median of $43,408 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Texas Tech University placed #21 among the best values for real estate. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,852, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $24,271. Early-career real estate graduates make about $50,332. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Texas A And M University College Station earned the #22 position for value in real estate this year. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,995, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $20,031. Early-career real estate graduates make about $82,111. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas A And M University College Station admits about 57% of applicants.
Texas Christian University came in at #23 for value in real estate this year. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,740. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $24,282. Real Estate graduates of Texas Christian University earn a median of $68,246 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 44% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Methodist University earned the #24 position for value in real estate this year. Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. In-state tuition and fees average $67,040. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $20,712. Real Estate graduates of Southern Methodist University earn a median of $113,369 early in their careers. Set against $20,712 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Methodist University admits about 63% of applicants.
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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 · 30 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
