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Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region

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2023 Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region

39 Schools Ranked
$21,034 Avg Student Debt

With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school or bootcamp that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Grad Degree Search has created its Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 39 schools in the Southwest Region to see which graduate certificate programs offered the best educational experiences for students.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Graduate Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region of the U.S.

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Texas A&M University - College Station

College Station, Texas
$10,733 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Texas A&M University - College Station to be the best school for students who want to pursue a graduate certificate in the Southwest Region .

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Texas A&M College Station. In fact, around 23% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Full Texas A&M University - College Station Report

#2

Arizona State University - Skysong

Scottsdale, Arizona
$9,982 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent graduate certificate programs at Arizona State University - Skysong helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the Southwest Region .

If you are interested in distance education, ASU - Skysong is an excellent choice, since graduate classes are offered online.

Read More…

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means The University of Texas at Austin is a great place for students working on their graduate certificate.

Online graduate courses are available at UT Austin, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 66% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on The University of Texas at Austin

#4

St. Mary's University

San Antonio, Texas
$19,846 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means St. Mary’s University is a great place for students working on their graduate certificate.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since St. Mary’s does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 84% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on St. Mary’s University

#5

Texas Christian University

Fort Worth, Texas
$32,268 Average Tuition & Fees
$19,027 Avg Student Debt

The excellent graduate certificate programs at Texas Christian University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the Southwest Region .

By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,027 in student loans.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since TCU does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 82% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Full Texas Christian University Report

$35,802 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #6, Southern Methodist University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their graduate certificate.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at SMU. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 40% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Southern Methodist University

University of Phoenix - Arizona did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #7 on the list.

One thing to take note of is that UOPX - Arizona does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In fact, around 99% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on University of Phoenix - Arizona

#8

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas
$9,518 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #8, Texas Tech University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their graduate certificate.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Texas Tech. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 49% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on Texas Tech University

$8,672 Average Tuition & Fees

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #9 on the list.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since OSU does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 60% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#10

Angelo State University

San Angelo, Texas
$7,246 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #10, Angelo State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their graduate certificate.

Online graduate courses are available at Angelo State, 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 88% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Angelo State University

$9,529 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Houston - Downtown landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate programs.

UH Downtown does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2019-2020 year, about 98% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on University of Houston - Downtown

#12

Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, Arizona
$11,538 Average Tuition & Fees

Grand Canyon University landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate programs.

Grand Canyon University does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 96% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#13

University of Tulsa

Tulsa, Oklahoma
$25,182 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #13, University of Tulsa did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their graduate certificate.

University of Tulsa does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 10% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on University of Tulsa

$10,853 Average Tuition & Fees

The University of Texas at Arlington did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #14 on the list.

UT Arlington does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 65% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Full The University of Texas at Arlington Report

#15

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, Texas
$8,666 Average Tuition & Fees

Sam Houston State University landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate programs.

SHSU does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 68% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on Sam Houston State University

$12,608 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #16, Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their graduate certificate.

One thing to take note of is that ASU - Tempe does offer online graduate classes in some areas. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 42% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Arizona State University - Tempe Report

#17

The University of Texas at Dallas

Richardson, Texas

The University of Texas at Dallas did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #17 on the list.

UT Dallas does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 83% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#18

Northeastern State University

Tahlequah, Oklahoma
$5,250 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #18, Northeastern State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their graduate certificate.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at NSU. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 76% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#19

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona
$13,460 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Arizona ranked #19 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region list.

University of Arizona does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 37% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

$8,333 Average Tuition & Fees

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #20 on the list.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at UT Rio Grande Valley. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 92% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

$8,814 Average Tuition & Fees
$26,469 Avg Student Debt

With a ranking of #21, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their graduate certificate.

Graduate Certificate recipients from University of Oklahoma accumulate an average of $26,469 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

One thing to take note of is that University of Oklahoma does offer online graduate classes in some areas. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 54% took at least some of their classes online.

Full University of Oklahoma Norman Campus Report

#22

Texas Woman's University

Denton, Texas
$7,704 Average Tuition & Fees

Texas Woman’s University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region ranking.

TWU does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 88% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Texas Woman’s University

#23

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona
$11,555 Average Tuition & Fees
$23,445 Avg Student Debt

Northern Arizona University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region list.

On average, graduate certificate students take out $23,445 in loans while pursuing their degree.

NAU does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 54% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Northern Arizona University

#24

Lamar University

Beaumont, Texas
$8,411 Average Tuition & Fees

Lamar University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region ranking.

One thing to take note of is that Lamar University does offer online graduate classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 95% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#25

University of North Texas

Denton, Texas
$8,256 Average Tuition & Fees

University of North Texas landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate programs.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at UNT. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 50% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on University of North Texas

View Best Graduate Certificate Graduate Certificate Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

References

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • 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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