Southwestern University ranks #2 among small private universities in the Southwest, according to Money magazine’s seventh annual ranking of the Best Colleges for Your Money. Among all 739 colleges and universities included on the list, Southwestern ranks #8 in Texas and #296 in the nation.

“Choosing whether and where to go to college is one of the biggest financial decisions we make—and even more so this fall because of the pandemic. Our rankings can help parents and college-bound students make educated decisions about their future, even in these unpredictable times,” says Kaitlin Mulhere, lead editor of Best Colleges and education editor at Money.

To determine the ranking for each school, the Money team analyzed 28 data points, including graduation rates, the net price of a degree, and career earnings of graduates. The resulting list recognizes colleges where students are likely to graduate with affordable debt levels and go on to earn a livable wage.