2026 Best Value Hydrology & Water Resources Science Schools in the Southwest Region

[Hydrology & Water Resources Science](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/hydrology-and-water-resources-science/) 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 7 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value hydrology & water resources science schools.
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2026 Best Value Hydrology & Water Resources Science Schools in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in hydrology & water resources science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Hydrology & Water Resources Science Schools
University Of Arizona tops our 2026 list of the best value hydrology & water resources science schools in the Southwest Region. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,573 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Typical student debt for hydrology & water resources science graduates is $26,000. Hydrology & Water Resources Science graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $51,943 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Texas At Austin earned it the #2 place for hydrology & water resources science. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,688, compared with $44,908 for out-of-state students. Hydrology & Water Resources Science graduates carry a median of $16,487 in student loans. Hydrology & Water Resources Science graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $42,062 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 27%.
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value hydrology & water resources science schools. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,995, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Students borrow a median of $20,837 to complete the hydrology & water resources science program here. Hydrology & Water Resources Science graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $57,562 early in their careers. Set against $20,837 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 7 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.