2023 Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Southwest Region
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices
There are so many computer science programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. 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 Computer Science Schools in the Southwest Region ranking is one of many tools that Computer Science Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 64 schools in the Southwest Region to see which ones offered the best value programs for computer science students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.
For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
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Top Value Computer Science Schools in the Southwest Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Collin County Community College District the best value school in the Southwest Region for computer science students working on their degree. Collin County Community College District is located in McKinney, Texas and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 305 degrees to qualified students.
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. During the early years of their career, Collin County Community College District graduates make an average of $42,890 annually.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Collin County Community College District also is in the top 10% of our Best Computer Science Schools in the Southwest Region ranking.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend El Centro College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Southwest Region list. Dallas, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 578 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at El Centro College are $6,000 a year. On average, students take out $18,288 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, El Centro College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,417 during the early year of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Amarillo College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Southwest Region list. Amarillo College is a medium-sized public school located in Amarillo, Texas that handed out 115 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Amarillo College are $4,704 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $17,791 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. 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.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Phoenix - Arizona. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Southwest Region list. This large private for-profit school is located in Tempe, Arizona, and it awarded 2,729 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UOPX - Arizona are $9,552 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $33,058 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $146.After graduating from UOPX - Arizona, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $50,608 during the early years of their career.
UOPX - Arizona also took the #5 spot in our Best Computer Science Schools in the Southwest Region rankings.
Out of the 64 schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Lone Star College System landed the # 5 spot on the list. Lone Star College System is a large public school located in The Woodlands, Texas that handed out 376 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at North Harris Montgomery are $6,168 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $14,481 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from North Harris Montgomery, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,839 during the early years of their career.
Tarrant County College District did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for computer science students. It came in at #6 on the list. Tarrant County College is located in Fort Worth, Texas and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 668 degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Tarrant County College are $8,235 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,851 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Tarrant County College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,816 during the early year of their career.
In addition to its great value ranking, Tarrant County College is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Computer Science Schools in the Southwest Region list.
Pima Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Pima County Community College District is located in Tucson, Arizona and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 75 degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Pima County Community College District are $7,566 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $14,657 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Pima County Community College District, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $34,116 during the early years of their career.
Oklahoma City Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the fairly large public school awarded 155 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at OCCC are $9,810 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,664 in student loans.After graduating from OCCC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $34,940 during the early years of their career.
Austin Community College District ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Southwest Region list. Austin Community College District is a public institution located in Austin, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 453 degrees in 2020-2021.
Austin Community College District undergraduate students pay an average of $10,590 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $16,267 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Austin Community College District graduates make an average of $39,063 annually.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Austin Community College District also is in the top 20% of our Best Computer Science Schools in the Southwest Region ranking.
Arizona State University - Skysong landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value computer science programs. Scottsdale, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 300 students in 2020-2021.
ASU - Skysong undergraduate students pay an average of $13,092 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $25,869 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $304.After graduating from ASU - Skysong, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $48,067 during the early years of their career.
ASU - Skysong excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Computer Science Schools in the Southwest Region list.
Tulsa Community College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value computer science programs. Located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the fairly large public school awarded 126 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Tulsa Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,845 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $20,049 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Tulsa Community College graduates make an average of $35,249 annually.
Central New Mexico Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. CNM is a fairly large public school situated in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It awarded 177 degrees in 2020-2021.
CNM undergraduate students pay an average of $7,540 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,850 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, CNM graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $30,582 during the early year of their career.
South Texas College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Southwest Region list. South Texas College is located in McAllen, Texas and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 317 degrees to qualified students.
South Texas College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,920 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $8,601 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from South Texas College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $29,327 during the early years of their career.
Texas State Technical College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value computer science programs. Located in Waco, Texas, the fairly large public school handed out 169 degrees in 2020-2021.
TSTC undergraduate students pay an average of $11,369 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,121 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, TSTC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,389 during the early year of their career.
West Texas A&M University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Canyon, Texas, the medium-sized public school awarded 40 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at West Texas A&M University are $11,208 a year. On average, students take out $24,348 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, West Texas A&M University graduates make an average of $38,762 annually.
Grand Canyon University landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value computer science programs. Grand Canyon University is located in Phoenix, Arizona and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 714 degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Grand Canyon University are $17,189 a year. On average, students take out $31,746 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $174. Once they receive their degree, Grand Canyon University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $48,396 during the early year of their career.
Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Southwest Region list. OSU-OKC is located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 25 degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at OSU-OKC are $10,908 a year. On average, students take out $20,719 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, OSU-OKC graduates make an average of $42,026 annually.
MSU Texas landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value computer science programs. Located in Wichita Falls, Texas, the medium-sized public school awarded 28 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at MSU Texas are $11,726 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $26,931 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $193, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, MSU Texas graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $44,328 during the early year of their career.
DeVry University - Arizona landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value computer science programs. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, the very small private for-profit school handed out 36 degrees in 2020-2021.
DeVry University - Arizona undergraduate students pay an average of $15,032 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $42,145 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $163, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, DeVry University - Arizona graduates make an average of $51,609 annually.
The University of Texas at Austin landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value computer science programs. Located in Austin, Texas, the large public school handed out 1,060 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at UT Austin are $40,996 a year. On average, students take out $20,281 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $270. During the early years of their career, UT Austin graduates make an average of $53,632 annually.
UT Austin not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #3 on our Best Computer Science Schools in the Southwest Region list.
Texas Tech University landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value computer science programs. Texas Tech is a public institution located in Lubbock, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 376 degrees in 2020-2021.
Texas Tech undergraduate students pay an average of $24,121 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $24,578 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $273, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Texas Tech graduates make an average of $45,903 annually.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Texas Tech also is in the top 15% of our Best Computer Science Schools in the Southwest Region ranking.
Texas Woman’s University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for computer science students. It came in at #22 on the list. Denton, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 70 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at TWU are $18,186 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $26,747 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $82. Once they receive their degree, TWU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $44,718 during the early year of their career.
Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Corpus Christi, Texas, the fairly large public school handed out 102 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Texas A&M Corpus Christi are $20,745 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $26,048 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $249 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Texas A&M Corpus Christi graduates make an average of $42,236 annually.
University of Central Oklahoma landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value computer science programs. Located in Edmond, Oklahoma, the fairly large public school awarded 110 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
UCO undergraduate students pay an average of $18,917 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $25,293 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $173 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, UCO graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,113 during the early year of their career.
Rice University landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value computer science programs. Rice is located in Houston, Texas and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 297 degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Rice are $52,895 per year. On average, students take out $13,206 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Rice graduates make an average of $64,867 annually.
Rice also took the #1 spot in our Best Computer Science Schools in the Southwest Region rankings.
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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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