2027 Best Value Aquaculture Schools in the Southeast Region
[Aquaculture](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/agricultural-production/aquaculture/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong aquaculture education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for aquaculture students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Aquaculture Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the aquaculture degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Aquaculture Schools
For return on investment in aquaculture, no school beat Kentucky State University this year. Located in the town of Frankfort, Kentucky State University is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,387, while out-of-state students pay about $13,578. Students borrow a median of $29,774 to complete the aquaculture program here. Aquaculture graduates of Kentucky State University earn a median of $28,497 early in their careers. Set against $29,774 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Carteret Community College earned it the #2 place for aquaculture. Carteret Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Morehead City. In-state tuition and fees average $2,310, while out-of-state students pay about $8,222. Typical student debt for aquaculture graduates is $5,566. Early-career aquaculture graduates make about $48,953. Set against $5,566 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in aquaculture will find it at University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Pine Bluff, University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,375, with out-of-state students paying around $17,955. Students borrow a median of $26,267 to complete the aquaculture program here. Early-career aquaculture graduates make about $35,490. That is a strong return on a $26,267 median debt. Roughly 41% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Clemson University one of the best values for aquaculture. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,554, compared with $40,866 for out-of-state students. Aquaculture graduates carry a median of $25,125 in student loans. Aquaculture graduates of Clemson University earn a median of $30,825 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,125 median debt. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Students looking for strong value in aquaculture will find it at Auburn University, which ranked #5. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. In-state tuition and fees average $12,890, while out-of-state students pay about $34,922. Students borrow a median of $22,803 to complete the aquaculture program here. Aquaculture graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $37,698 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,803 median debt. The acceptance rate is 46%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
