2023 Best Value Teaching Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region
Identifying High-Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
There are so many teaching programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Teaching Degree Search has created the Best Value Teaching Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 17 schools in the Southwest Region to see which associate degree programs offered the best value experiences for teaching students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. 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.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
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Top Value Teaching Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Santa Fe Community College to be the best value school for teaching students who want to pursue a associate degree in the Southwest Region . Santa Fe Community College is a small public school located in Santa Fe, New Mexico that handed out 20 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SFCC are $4,995 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,693 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since SFCC does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 90% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, SFCC is ranked #4 for overall quality in the Southwest Region .
Out of the 17 schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s value ranking, El Centro College landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in Dallas, Texas, the large public school handed out 306 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at El Centro College are $6,000 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $18,961 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that El Centro College does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 92% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, El Centro College is ranked #3 for overall quality in the Southwest Region .
Out of the 17 schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s value ranking, Lone Star College System landed the # 3 spot on the list. North Harris Montgomery is a public institution located in The Woodlands, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 265 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
North Harris Montgomery undergraduate students pay an average of $6,168 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $15,481 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at North Harris Montgomery, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 72% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means South Texas College is a great place for teaching students working on their associate degree who want the most bang for their educational buck. McAllen, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 352 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at South Texas College are $7,920 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $8,401 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at South Texas College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 94% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, South Texas College is ranked #2 for overall quality in the Southwest Region .
The excellent associate degree programs at Amarillo College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best value teaching schools in the Southwest Region . Located in Amarillo, Texas, the medium-sized public school awarded 13 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Amarillo College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,704 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,641 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Amarillo College. In fact, around 57% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
El Paso Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Teaching Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. El Paso Community College is located in El Paso, Texas and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 202 associate degrees to qualified students.
El Paso Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,314 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $10,989 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since El Paso Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 97% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree teaching programs. OSU Institute of Technology is a public institution located in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. The school has a small population, and it awarded 17 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at OSU Institute of Technology are $11,384 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $15,790 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since OSU Institute of Technology does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 90% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
OSU Institute of Technology also made our Best Teaching Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list, coming in at #1.
Full Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology Report
Tarrant County College District landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree teaching programs. Tarrant County College District is a large public school located in Fort Worth, Texas that handed out 127 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Tarrant County College are $8,235 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $17,198 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Tarrant County College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 97% took at least some of their classes online.
Central New Mexico Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Teaching Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. CNM is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 137 associate degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at CNM are $7,540 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $13,658 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at CNM. During the 2019-2020 year, about 90% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Pima Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Teaching Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. Pima County Community College District is a public institution located in Tucson, Arizona. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 14 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Pima County Community College District are $7,566 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $15,202 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Pima County Community College District. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 52% took at least some of their classes online.
Carl Albert State College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for teaching students to get an associate degree. It came in at #11 on the list. Located in Poteau, Oklahoma, the small public school handed out 21 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Carl Albert State College are $7,942 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $12,020 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Carl Albert State College. In fact, around 15% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #12, Palo Alto College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for teaching students working on their associate degree. Palo Alto College is located in San Antonio, Texas and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 98 associate degrees to qualified students.
Palo Alto College undergraduate students pay an average of $14,122 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,496 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Palo Alto College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 58% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Tulsa Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for teaching students to get an associate degree. It came in at #13 on the list. Tulsa Community College is a public institution located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 20 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Tulsa Community College are $8,845 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $20,665 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Tulsa Community College. In fact, around 80% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Northwest Vista College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree teaching programs. Northwest Vista College is a public institution located in San Antonio, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 173 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Northwest Vista College undergraduate students pay an average of $14,122 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,060 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Northwest Vista College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 42% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Southwestern Assemblies of God University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for teaching students to get an associate degree. It came in at #15 on the list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Waxahachie, Texas, and it awarded 5 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Southwestern Assemblies of God University are $17,404 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $29,477 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Southwestern Assemblies of God University. In 2019-2020 about 67% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Southwestern Assemblies of God University did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our Best Teaching Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list.
Read full report on Southwestern Assemblies of God University
University of Phoenix - Arizona landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree teaching programs. Tempe, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 7 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UOPX - Arizona are $9,552 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $23,839 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at UOPX - Arizona. In 2019-2020 about 100% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
LeTourneau University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for teaching students to get an associate degree. It came in at #17 on the list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Longview, Texas, and it awarded 4 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at LETU are $33,490 a year.
One thing to take note of is that LETU does offer online classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 64% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 17 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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