2027 Best Value Value Schools in the Southeast Region
[Value](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/veterinary-biomedical-and-clinical-sciences/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Value Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Value Schools
Leading the list is University Of Florida, our #1 best value for value in the Southeast Region. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans. Value graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $60,387 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tennessee Martin is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,560, while out-of-state students pay about $16,600. Value graduates carry a median of $23,770 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $40,400. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Lincoln Memorial University, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Harrogate, Lincoln Memorial University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $26,938. Students borrow a median of $20,693 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Lincoln Memorial University generally make around $64,307. Set against $20,693 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Southwest Florida College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Located in the city of Fort Myers, Southwest Florida College is a small private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,125. Typical student debt for value graduates is $23,641. Early-career value graduates make about $36,455. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,948 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $23,393 in student loans. Value graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $60,004 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,393 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, 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.
