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2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Southwest Region

[Value](/majors/engineering-technologies/energy-systems/solar-energy-technology-technician/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong value education at a price that pays off.

College Factual analyzed 13 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value value schools.

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

Central New Mexico Community College
Albuquerque, NM

$2,060 In-State Tuition & Fees

$10,112 Avg Student Debt

$36,869 Median Earnings (10yr)

Central New Mexico Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value value schools in the Southwest Region. Set in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,060 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,684 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $10,112. Early-career value graduates make about $34,751. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

2

Texas State Technical College
Waco, TX

$7,212 In-State Tuition & Fees

$12,000 Avg Student Debt

$38,916 Median Earnings (10yr)

Texas State Technical College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Texas State Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Waco. Students from in state pay about $7,212 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,812 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Texas State Technical College generally make around $40,747. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 13 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.