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2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Southwest Region

[Value](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/philosphy-politics-and-economics/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

College Factual analyzed 4 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

Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ

$12,619 In-State Tuition & Fees

$21,645 Avg Student Debt

$54,384 Median Earnings (10yr)

For return on investment in value, no school beat Northern Arizona University this year. Set in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,619 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,044. Typical student debt for value graduates is $21,645. Early-career value graduates make about $47,056. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northern Arizona University admits about 90% of applicants.

2

University Of Arizona
Tucson, AZ

$13,573 In-State Tuition & Fees

$21,861 Avg Student Debt

$59,979 Median Earnings (10yr)

University Of Arizona came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Value graduates carry a median of $21,861 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $50,834. That is a strong return on a $21,861 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.

View All Value Rankings >

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 · 4 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.