2026 Best Value Community Health and Preventive Medicine Schools in the Southwest Region
[Community Health and Preventive Medicine](/majors/health-care-professions/public-health/community-health-and-preventive-medicine/) 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 19 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for community health and preventive medicine students.
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2026 Best Value Community Health and Preventive Medicine Schools in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in community health and preventive medicine, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Community Health and Preventive Medicine Schools
Central New Mexico Community College earned the #1 spot for value among community health and preventive medicine schools in the Southwest Region. Set in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,060, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. Typical student debt for community health and preventive medicine graduates is $10,112. Early-career community health and preventive medicine graduates make about $34,751. Set against $10,112 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in community health and preventive medicine will find it at Arizona Western College, which ranked #2. Arizona Western College is a large public school located in the city of Yuma. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,060, with out-of-state students paying around $9,870. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates of Arizona Western College earn a median of $44,895 early in their careers.
A rank of #3 makes The University Of Texas At San Antonio one of the best values for community health and preventive medicine. Located in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,326 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,249. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates carry a median of $24,885 in student loans. Soon after graduation, community health and preventive medicine degree recipients from The University Of Texas At San Antonio generally make around $33,514. That is a strong return on a $24,885 median debt. The University Of Texas At San Antonio admits about 87% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At El Paso is a great value for students pursuing a degree in community health and preventive medicine, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,544 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $25,502. Typical student debt for community health and preventive medicine graduates is $24,250. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates of The University Of Texas At El Paso earn a median of $48,335 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,250 median debt. The University Of Texas At El Paso admits about 100% of applicants.
Paradise Valley Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value community health and preventive medicine schools. Set in the city of Phoenix, Paradise Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates carry a median of $14,204 in student loans. Early-career community health and preventive medicine graduates make about $71,136. That is a strong return on a $14,204 median debt.
Arizona State University earned the #6 position for value in community health and preventive medicine this year. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates carry a median of $25,044 in student loans. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $55,083 early in their careers. Set against $25,044 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of The Incarnate Word placed #7 among the best values for community health and preventive medicine. Located in the city of San Antonio, University Of The Incarnate Word is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,090. Typical student debt for community health and preventive medicine graduates is $31,000. Soon after graduation, community health and preventive medicine degree recipients from University Of The Incarnate Word generally make around $37,319. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 19 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.
