2027 Best Value Value Schools in the Southeast Region
[Value](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/marketing/digital-marketing/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 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
For return on investment in value, no school beat Atlanta Technical College this year. Atlanta Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Atlanta. In-state tuition and fees average $3,382, compared with $5,950 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,655 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Atlanta Technical College earn a median of $35,441 early in their careers. Set against $17,655 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Chattahoochee Technical College earned it the #2 place for value. Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Marietta. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,540, compared with $6,108 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,616 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Chattahoochee Technical College earn a median of $44,673 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Georgia Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #3 spot this year. South Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Americus. In-state tuition and fees average $3,992, while out-of-state students pay about $7,202. Typical student debt for value graduates is $10,423. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from South Georgia Technical College generally make around $40,497. That is a strong return on a $10,423 median debt.
Miami Dade College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #4 spot this year. Miami Dade College is a very large public school located in the city of Miami. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,838, with out-of-state students paying around $9,661. Value graduates carry a median of $11,967 in student loans. Value graduates of Miami Dade College earn a median of $40,267 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,967 median debt.
Gwinnett Technical College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Set in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Gwinnett Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,524, while out-of-state students pay about $6,092. Students borrow a median of $18,048 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Gwinnett Technical College earn a median of $39,288 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Meridian Community College earned the #6 position for value in value this year. Located in the town of Meridian, Meridian Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,078, with out-of-state students paying around $6,478. Value graduates carry a median of $10,368 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Meridian Community College generally make around $34,846. Set against $10,368 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Arkansas Fort Smith landed the #7 spot for value value this year. Set in the city of Fort Smith, University Of Arkansas Fort Smith is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,334, with out-of-state students paying around $12,182. Typical student debt for value graduates is $20,333. Early-career value graduates make about $39,204. Set against $20,333 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Augusta Technical College placed #8 among the best values for value. Set in the city of Augusta, Augusta Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,282, compared with $7,492 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $11,400 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $41,892. That is a strong return on a $11,400 median debt.
Arkansas Tech University came in at #9 for value in value this year. Located in the town of Russellville, Arkansas Tech University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,674, with out-of-state students paying around $14,668. Typical student debt for value graduates is $23,257. Value graduates of Arkansas Tech University earn a median of $45,115 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Georgia Piedmont Technical College earned the #10 position for value in value this year. Georgia Piedmont Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Clarkston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,404, compared with $5,954 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $15,716. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Georgia Piedmont Technical College generally make around $42,073. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tennessee Wesleyan College placed #11 among the best values for value. Set in the town of Athens, Tennessee Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,814. Value graduates carry a median of $29,750 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $58,859. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
East Tennessee State University earned the #12 position for value in value this year. Located in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,216, with out-of-state students paying around $13,726. Students borrow a median of $21,819 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from East Tennessee State University generally make around $35,632. Set against $21,819 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. East Tennessee State University admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham earned the #13 position for value in value this year. Set in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,098, while out-of-state students pay about $22,562. Value graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans. Value graduates of University Of Alabama At Birmingham earn a median of $39,348 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,750 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Alabama earned the #14 position for value in value this year. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,180, compared with $34,172 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $23,071. Early-career value graduates make about $50,740. Set against $23,071 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Alabama admits about 77% of applicants.
Reinhardt University earned the #15 position for value in value this year. Located in the rural area of Waleska, Reinhardt University is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,074. Value graduates carry a median of $27,860 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Reinhardt University generally make around $52,837. Set against $27,860 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Wake Forest University placed #16 among the best values for value. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,642 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $67,369. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 22% of applicants are accepted.
High Point University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Located in the city of High Point, High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,312. Value graduates carry a median of $23,785 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from High Point University generally make around $113,352. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
