2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region
Identifying High-Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
Today's nursing students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamps that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
The Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region ranking is one of many tools that Nursing Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 157 schools in the Southwest Region to see which programs offered the best value experiences for nursing students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
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Top Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named New Mexico Junior College the best value school in the Southwest Region for nursing students working on their degree. Located in Hobbs, New Mexico, the small public school handed out 33 degrees in 2020-2021.
New Mexico Junior College undergraduate students pay an average of $2,280 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,285 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, New Mexico Junior College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $43,137 during the early year of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Aspen University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region list. Aspen University is a medium-sized private for-profit school situated in Denver, Arizona. It awarded 1,910 degrees in 2020-2021.
Aspen University undergraduate students pay an average of $5,170 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $36,338 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Aspen University graduates make an average of $83,891 annually.
Aspen University did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region list.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Clovis Community College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region list. Clovis Community College is a public institution located in Clovis, New Mexico. The school has a small population, and it awarded 126 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Clovis Community College are $2,984 per year. On average, students take out $13,362 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Clovis Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $48,236 during the early year of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Central Arizona College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region list. Pinal County Community College is a small public school situated in Coolidge, Arizona. It awarded 53 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Pinal County Community College are $5,160 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,406 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Pinal County Community College graduates make an average of $35,004 annually.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Pinal County Community College also did well on our Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
The excellent programs at Panola College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best value nursing schools in the Southwest Region . Panola College is a small public school situated in Carthage, Texas. It awarded 67 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Panola College are $4,680 per year. Once they receive their degree, Panola College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,120 during the early year of their career.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Panola College also did well on our Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Amarillo College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Amarillo, Texas, and it awarded 262 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Amarillo College are $4,704 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,791 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Amarillo College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,621 during the early year of their career.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Amarillo College also did well on our Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
College of the Mainland landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. COM is located in Texas City, Texas and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 94 degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at COM are $3,873 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,935 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, COM graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,291 during the early year of their career.
South Plains College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Levelland, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 133 students in 2020-2021.
South Plains College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,276 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $15,786 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from South Plains College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $32,859 during the early years of their career.
Tyler Junior College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #9 on the list. Tyler Junior College is a fairly large public school situated in Tyler, Texas. It awarded 366 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Tyler Junior College are $4,440 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,583 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Tyler Junior College graduates make an average of $37,511 annually.
Alvin Community College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Alvin is located in Alvin, Texas and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 150 degrees to qualified students.
Alvin undergraduate students pay an average of $4,010 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $12,805 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Alvin, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,644 during the early years of their career.
New Mexico State University - Carlsbad did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #11 on the list. New Mexico State University - Carlsbad is a small public school located in Carlsbad, New Mexico that handed out 24 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at NMSU Carlsbad are $4,008 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $16,036 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, NMSU Carlsbad graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $31,288 during the early year of their career.
El Centro College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #12 on the list. Located in Dallas, Texas, the large public school handed out 231 degrees in 2020-2021.
El Centro College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,000 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $18,288 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from El Centro College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,417 during the early years of their career.
In addition to its great value ranking, El Centro College is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region list.
Clarendon College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Clarendon, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 61 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Clarendon College are $4,176 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $13,937 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Clarendon College graduates make an average of $35,756 annually.
San Jacinto Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in Pasadena, Texas, the large public school handed out 325 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at San Jacinto College are $5,040 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $14,185 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, San Jacinto College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,140 during the early year of their career.
Lee College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region list. Lee College is a medium-sized public school located in Baytown, Texas that handed out 43 degrees in 2020-2021.
Lee College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,302 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,232 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Lee College graduates make an average of $53,502 annually.
Wharton County Junior College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in Wharton, Texas, the medium-sized public school awarded 72 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Wharton County Junior College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,872 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $11,953 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Wharton County Junior College graduates make an average of $41,858 annually.
Victoria College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. This small public school is located in Victoria, Texas, and it awarded 110 degrees in 2020-2021.
Victoria College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,872 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $15,005 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Victoria College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $46,278 during the early year of their career.
Northeast Texas Community College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region list. NTCC is located in Mount Pleasant, Texas and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 62 degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at NTCC are $6,449 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,641 in student loans. During the early years of their career, NTCC graduates make an average of $38,602 annually.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, NTCC also did well on our Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Collin County Community College District ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in McKinney, Texas, the large public school handed out 154 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Collin County Community College District are $5,104 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,379 in student loans.After graduating from Collin County Community College District, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,890 during the early years of their career.
Lone Star College System came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. This large public school is located in The Woodlands, Texas, and it awarded 743 degrees in 2020-2021.
North Harris Montgomery undergraduate students pay an average of $6,168 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $14,481 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, North Harris Montgomery graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,839 during the early year of their career.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, North Harris Montgomery also is in the top 15% of our Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region ranking.
Houston Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #21 on the list. Houston, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 191 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Houston Community College are $5,460 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,482 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Houston Community College graduates make an average of $35,283 annually.
The University of Texas at Brownsville ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region list. Brownsville, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 36 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at The University of Texas at Brownsville are $4,948 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,811 in student loans. During the early years of their career, The University of Texas at Brownsville graduates make an average of $29,311 annually.
Del Mar College landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. DMC is a fairly large public school situated in Corpus Christi, Texas. It awarded 252 degrees in 2020-2021.
DMC undergraduate students pay an average of $5,930 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,725 in student loans. During the early years of their career, DMC graduates make an average of $40,941 annually.
Galveston College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region list. Galveston, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 70 students in 2020-2021.
Galveston College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,200 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,077 in student loans.After graduating from Galveston College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $49,840 during the early years of their career.
Odessa College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Odessa College is a medium-sized public school situated in Odessa, Texas. It awarded 115 degrees in 2020-2021.
Odessa College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,398 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $10,879 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Odessa College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,427 during the early years of their career.
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Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our best nursing schools ranking:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | University of New Mexico - Taos Campus | Ranchos de Taos, NM |
| 27 | University of New Mexico - Gallup Campus | Gallup, NM |
| 28 | Angelina College | Lufkin, TX |
| 29 | El Paso Community College | El Paso, TX |
| 30 | Laredo College | Laredo, TX |
| 31 | San Juan College | Farmington, NM |
| 32 | Temple College | Temple, TX |
More Southwest Rankings
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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