2026 Best Best Schools in the Southwest Region

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.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for best students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

• Best Best Schools in the Southwest Region

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

Tarleton State University
Stephenville, TX

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

10 Best Degrees Awarded

$50,532 Median Starting Salary

Our analysis ranked Tarleton State University the best school in the country for a degree in best. This large public university is located in the town of Stephenville. About 48% of students finish within six years. Tarleton State University awarded about 10 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $50,532 in their early career. Tarleton State University graduates carry a median of $23,222 in student loans. Read more about the best program at Tarleton State University

2

Texas State University San Marcos
San Marcos, TX

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

31 Best Degrees Awarded

$44,774 Median Starting Salary

A rank of #2 makes Texas State University San Marcos one of the top schools for best. This very large public university is located in the city of San Marcos. Texas State University San Marcos graduates 55% of students within six years. Texas State University San Marcos awarded about 31 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Texas State University San Marcos earn a median of $44,774 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in best from Texas State University San Marcos

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 5 schools evaluated.

• 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.