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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Best Schools in the Southwest Region

4 Colleges in the United States
330 Best Degrees Awarded
$49,925 Avg Early-Career Salary

Best degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their best programs.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools to find the best for best students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Best in the Southwest Region

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the best degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Best

1

Leading the list is University Of Arizona, our #1 school for best. This very large public university is located in the city of Tucson. University Of Arizona graduates 68% of students within six years. About 35 best degrees were awarded at University Of Arizona in the most recent year. Best graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $50,834 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,861 to complete this degree. Read more about the best program at University Of Arizona

2
Rose State College crest
Rose State College
Midwest City, OK

Rose State College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in best, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Midwest City, Rose State College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 127 best degrees were awarded at Rose State College in the most recent year. Best graduates of Rose State College earn a median of $58,988 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,286. Get the full best details for Rose State College

3

A rank of #3 makes Northeastern State University one of the top schools for best. Set in the town of Tahlequah, Northeastern State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 35% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northeastern State University awarded about 17 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Northeastern State University generally make around $49,353. Northeastern State University graduates carry a median of $23,465 in student loans. Read more about the best program at Northeastern State University

4

Grand Canyon University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in best, ranking #4. This very large private for-profit university is located in the city of Phoenix. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 24 best degrees were awarded at Grand Canyon University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Grand Canyon University generally make around $37,481. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Get the full best details for Grand Canyon University

5

A rank of #5 makes University Of Phoenix Arizona one of the top schools for best. Located in the city of Phoenix, University Of Phoenix Arizona is a very large private for-profit university. Roughly 16% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Phoenix Arizona awarded about 98 best degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from University Of Phoenix Arizona earn around $60,453 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $35,323. Get the full best details for University Of Phoenix Arizona

6

University Of Advancing Technology landed the #6 spot for best this year. University Of Advancing Technology is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Tempe. University Of Advancing Technology graduates 27% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of Advancing Technology in the most recent data year. Best graduates of University Of Advancing Technology earn a median of $40,489 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $29,802 to complete this degree. Read more about the best program at University Of Advancing Technology

7

University Of The Incarnate Word ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. University Of The Incarnate Word is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Antonio. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. About 10 best degrees were awarded at University Of The Incarnate Word in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of The Incarnate Word generally make around $51,876. University Of The Incarnate Word graduates carry a median of $28,028 in student loans. Get the full best details for University Of The Incarnate Word

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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 · 13 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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