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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Best Schools in the Southwest Region

8 Colleges in the United States
1,078 Best Degrees Awarded
$57,368 Avg Early-Career Salary

Best is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their best programs.

College Factual analyzed 22 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best best schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Best in the Southwest Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall best education in the Southwest Region.

Top Schools in Best

1

Leading the list is The University Of Texas At Austin, our #1 school for best. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 174 best students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $57,819 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,275. Get the full best details for The University Of Texas At Austin

2
Rice University crest
Rice University
Houston, TX

Rice University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in best, landing the #2 spot this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Houston. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 52 best degrees were awarded at Rice University in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from Rice University earn around $75,299 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,904 to complete this degree. Read more about the best program at Rice University

3

Texas A And M University College Station is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in best, ranking #3. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 28 best students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $64,891. Typical student debt for the program is $20,031. See the full best program report for Texas A And M University College Station

4

Students looking for a strong best program will find one at The University Of Texas At Dallas, which ranked #4. The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public school located in the city of Richardson. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 35 best degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Dallas in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from The University Of Texas At Dallas earn around $58,507 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,531 to complete this degree. Read more about the best program at The University Of Texas At Dallas

5

Students looking for a strong best program will find one at Arizona State University, which ranked #5. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Arizona State University awarded about 47 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $55,876. Typical student debt for the program is $21,842. See the full best program report for Arizona State University

6

Southern Methodist University earned the #6 position for best this year. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 69 best students who graduated with this degree at Southern Methodist University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Southern Methodist University generally make around $70,632. Southern Methodist University graduates carry a median of $20,712 in student loans. Get the full best details for Southern Methodist University

7

Baylor University landed the #7 spot for best this year. Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waco. Baylor University graduates 80% of students within six years. Baylor University awarded about 16 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Baylor University earn a median of $49,888 early in their careers. Baylor University graduates carry a median of $23,928 in student loans. See the full best program report for Baylor University

8

Texas Tech University earned the #8 position for best this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Lubbock. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 107 best degrees were awarded at Texas Tech University in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from Texas Tech University earn around $50,332 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,271. Read more about the best program at Texas Tech University

9

Arizona State University Skysong came in at #9 for best this year. Set in the city of Scottsdale, Arizona State University Skysong is a very large public institution. Arizona State University Skysong awarded about 57 best degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Arizona State University Skysong earn around $55,793 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,742 to complete this degree. Read more about the best program at Arizona State University Skysong

10

University Of North Texas placed #10 among the best best schools. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. University Of North Texas awarded about 376 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $49,157 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,817 to complete this degree. Read more about the best program at University Of North Texas

11

University Of Arizona earned the #11 position for best this year. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 45 best degrees were awarded at University Of Arizona in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $50,834. Typical student debt for the program is $21,861. Get the full best details for University Of Arizona

12

University Of Houston Downtown ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Downtown is a large public university. University Of Houston Downtown graduates 33% of students within six years. About 27 best degrees were awarded at University Of Houston Downtown in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $46,298 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,925. Get the full best details for University Of Houston Downtown

13

University Of Phoenix Arizona came in at #13 for best this year. This very large private for-profit university is located in the city of Phoenix. University Of Phoenix Arizona graduates 16% of students within six years. University Of Phoenix Arizona awarded about 45 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of University Of Phoenix Arizona earn a median of $60,453 early in their careers. University Of Phoenix Arizona graduates carry a median of $35,323 in student loans. More information about a degree in best from University Of Phoenix Arizona

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 22 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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