2026 Best Value General Health & Wellness Schools in the Southwest Region

[General Health & Wellness](/majors/health-care-professions/health-services-sciences/health-and-wellness-general/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 33 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general health & wellness students.
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2026 Best Value General Health & Wellness Schools in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general health & wellness, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Health & Wellness Schools
Pima Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value general health & wellness schools in the Southwest Region. Pima Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Students from in state pay about $2,442 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,758. General Health & Wellness graduates carry a median of $10,655 in student loans. Early-career general health & wellness graduates make about $40,977. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The University Of Texas Pan American came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value general health & wellness schools. Set in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,799 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,645. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete the general health & wellness program here. General Health & Wellness graduates of The University Of Texas Pan American earn a median of $50,037 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Lone Star College System came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value general health & wellness schools. Set in the city of The Woodlands, Lone Star College System is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,664, with out-of-state students paying around $7,512. General Health & Wellness graduates carry a median of $10,425 in student loans. Early-career general health & wellness graduates make about $39,954. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Texas Womans University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general health & wellness, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,640 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,480. Typical student debt for general health & wellness graduates is $25,000. Early-career general health & wellness graduates make about $34,755. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Tyler Junior College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general health & wellness, landing the #5 spot this year. Tyler Junior College is a large public school located in the city of Tyler. Students from in state pay about $2,424 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,536 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general health & wellness graduates is $14,869. Early-career general health & wellness graduates make about $43,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rice University landed the #6 spot for general health & wellness value this year. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,247. Students borrow a median of $11,904 to complete the general health & wellness program here. General Health & Wellness graduates of Rice University earn a median of $75,299 early in their careers. Set against $11,904 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 8%.
The University Of Texas At San Antonio came in at #7 for value in general health & wellness this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,326, compared with $22,249 for out-of-state students. General Health & Wellness graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Early-career general health & wellness graduates make about $34,454. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Lamar University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value general health & wellness schools. Lamar University is a very large public school located in the city of Beaumont. Students from in state pay about $8,905 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,745. Typical student debt for general health & wellness graduates is $31,000. Early-career general health & wellness graduates make about $31,061. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center earned the #9 position for value in general health & wellness this year. Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center is a small public school located in the rural area of Choctaw. Median earnings reach $49,311 ten years out.
Arizona State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value general health & wellness schools. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Students from in state pay about $12,223 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Typical student debt for general health & wellness graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, general health & wellness degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $37,967. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Tulsa Technology Center ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value general health & wellness schools. Tulsa Technology Center is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Tulsa. Typical student debt for general health & wellness graduates is $11,384. Early-career general health & wellness graduates make about $32,406. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Houston ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value general health & wellness schools. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,717, with out-of-state students paying around $22,547. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete the general health & wellness program here. Soon after graduation, general health & wellness degree recipients from University Of Houston generally make around $32,447. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Tyler placed #13 among the best values for general health & wellness. Located in the city of Tyler, The University Of Texas At Tyler is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,512, while out-of-state students pay about $24,512. Students borrow a median of $23,931 to complete the general health & wellness program here. Soon after graduation, general health & wellness degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Tyler generally make around $34,350. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Prairie View A And M University came in at #14 for value in general health & wellness this year. Located in the rural area of Prairie View, Prairie View A And M University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,299 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,874. Students borrow a median of $29,457 to complete the general health & wellness program here. General Health & Wellness graduates of Prairie View A And M University earn a median of $32,266 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arizona earned the #15 position for value in general health & wellness this year. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,573, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Typical student debt for general health & wellness graduates is $21,861. Early-career general health & wellness graduates make about $50,834. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants.
Sam Houston State University landed the #16 spot for general health & wellness value this year. Located in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,228 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,068. Typical student debt for general health & wellness graduates is $25,000. General Health & Wellness graduates of Sam Houston State University earn a median of $27,611 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Texas Southern University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value general health & wellness schools. Located in the city of Houston, Texas Southern University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,637 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,473 for out-of-state students. General Health & Wellness graduates carry a median of $29,625 in student loans. General Health & Wellness graduates of Texas Southern University earn a median of $20,655 early in their careers. Set against $29,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Mcmurry University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value general health & wellness schools. Located in the city of Abilene, Mcmurry University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $32,100 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general health & wellness graduates is $29,276. Early-career general health & wellness graduates make about $41,609. That is a strong return on a $29,276 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University College Station landed the #19 spot for general health & wellness value this year. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,995, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,543 to complete the general health & wellness program here. Soon after graduation, general health & wellness degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $37,331. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Grand Canyon University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value general health & wellness schools. Located in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $18,508 in tuition and fees. General Health & Wellness graduates carry a median of $30,027 in student loans. General Health & Wellness graduates of Grand Canyon University earn a median of $56,285 early in their careers. Set against $30,027 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Grand Canyon University admits about 79% of applicants.
Paul Quinn College landed the #21 spot for general health & wellness value this year. Paul Quinn College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dallas. In-state tuition and fees average $13,498. Graduates go on to earn a median of $29,288 ten years after entry. Paul Quinn College admits about 40% of applicants.
Parker University came in at #22 for value in general health & wellness this year. Set in the city of Dallas, Parker University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,904. Students borrow a median of $23,988 to complete the general health & wellness program here. Early-career general health & wellness graduates make about $46,758. That is a strong return on a $23,988 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 · 33 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.