2026 Best Value General Education Schools in the Southeast Region
[General Education](/majors/education/general-education/education-general/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 195 schools to find the best return on investment for general education students.
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2026 Best Value General Education Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Education Schools
University Of Florida Online earned the #1 spot for value among general education schools in the Southeast Region. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida Online is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,876, with out-of-state students paying around $16,579. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $17,779. General Education graduates of University Of Florida Online earn a median of $43,822 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Florida Online admits about 61% of applicants.
University Of Florida is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general education, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $58,388. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
Columbia State Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general education, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Columbia, Columbia State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,948, compared with $17,772 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $12,674. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Columbia State Community College generally make around $44,481. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in general education will find it at Roane State Community College, which ranked #4. Roane State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Harriman. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,998, while out-of-state students pay about $18,630. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $9,408. General Education graduates of Roane State Community College earn a median of $36,933 early in their careers. Set against $9,408 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Horry Georgetown Technical College earned it the #5 place for general education. Located in the city of Conway, Horry Georgetown Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,518, with out-of-state students paying around $10,978. Students borrow a median of $19,172 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $37,387. Set against $19,172 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florida Atlantic University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value general education schools. Florida Atlantic University is a very large public school located in the city of Boca Raton. In-state tuition and fees average $4,879, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $18,474. Early-career general education graduates make about $38,928. That is a strong return on a $18,474 median debt. Florida Atlantic University admits about 66% of applicants.
Blue Ridge Community And Technical College came in at #7 for value in general education this year. Blue Ridge Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Martinsburg. Students from in state pay about $4,752 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,808 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,402 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Blue Ridge Community And Technical College generally make around $41,032. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pellissippi State Community College placed #8 among the best values for general education. Pellissippi State Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Knoxville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,786, compared with $17,770 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,951 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of Pellissippi State Community College earn a median of $43,816 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,951 median debt.
Northern Virginia Community College came in at #9 for value in general education this year. Located in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,891, compared with $12,410 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $14,413. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Northern Virginia Community College generally make around $40,126. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northern Kentucky University earned the #10 position for value in general education this year. Set in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,088, while out-of-state students pay about $21,912. Students borrow a median of $25,572 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $52,565. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Walters State Community College earned the #11 position for value in general education this year. Located in the city of Morristown, Walters State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,752 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,736. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $10,210. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Walters State Community College generally make around $12,280. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chattanooga State Community College landed the #12 spot for general education value this year. Located in the city of Chattanooga, Chattanooga State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,772, with out-of-state students paying around $17,756. Students borrow a median of $12,079 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Chattanooga State Community College generally make around $37,252. Set against $12,079 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fairmont State University placed #13 among the best values for general education. Set in the town of Fairmont, Fairmont State University is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,708, while out-of-state students pay about $18,924. Students borrow a median of $22,760 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Fairmont State University generally make around $40,931. Set against $22,760 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Fairmont State University admits about 99% of applicants.
Nashville State Community College came in at #14 for value in general education this year. Nashville State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Nashville. Students from in state pay about $4,730 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,714. General Education graduates carry a median of $16,745 in student loans. General Education graduates of Nashville State Community College earn a median of $41,456 early in their careers. Set against $16,745 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Piedmont Virginia Community College came in at #15 for value in general education this year. Piedmont Virginia Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,072, while out-of-state students pay about $11,510. General Education graduates carry a median of $12,495 in student loans. General Education graduates of Piedmont Virginia Community College earn a median of $46,129 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,495 median debt.
Northeast State Community College placed #16 among the best values for general education. Set in the rural area of Blountville, Northeast State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,782, with out-of-state students paying around $17,766. Students borrow a median of $6,404 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of Northeast State Community College earn a median of $39,673 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,404 median debt.
University Of Central Florida ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value general education schools. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,368 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Students borrow a median of $21,620 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University Of Central Florida generally make around $61,179. That is a strong return on a $21,620 median debt. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College came in at #18 for value in general education this year. Set in the rural area of Perkinston, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,250, compared with $7,850 for out-of-state students. General Education graduates carry a median of $11,653 in student loans. General Education graduates of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College earn a median of $34,214 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,653 median debt.
Florida Gulf Coast University landed the #19 spot for general education value this year. Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public school located in the suburb of Fort Myers. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,118, with out-of-state students paying around $25,162. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $20,755. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Florida Gulf Coast University generally make around $38,392. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Marshall University landed the #20 spot for general education value this year. Marshall University is a large public school located in the city of Huntington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,162, with out-of-state students paying around $20,342. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of Marshall University earn a median of $49,939 early in their careers. Set against $25,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of North Alabama ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value general education schools. University Of North Alabama is a large public school located in the city of Florence. In-state tuition and fees average $12,120, compared with $22,320 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,291 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $41,357. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Motlow State Community College placed #22 among the best values for general education. Located in the rural area of Tullahoma, Motlow State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,738, while out-of-state students pay about $17,722. Students borrow a median of $6,470 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of Motlow State Community College earn a median of $43,750 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Georgia placed #23 among the best values for general education. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $21,792. Early-career general education graduates make about $69,003. That is a strong return on a $21,792 median debt. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Potomac State College Of West Virginia University placed #24 among the best values for general education. Potomac State College Of West Virginia University is a small public school located in the town of Keyser. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,280, while out-of-state students pay about $13,200. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $11,050. General Education graduates of Potomac State College Of West Virginia University earn a median of $42,670 early in their careers. Set against $11,050 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Louisiana Delta Community College landed the #25 spot for general education value this year. Louisiana Delta Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Monroe. Students from in state pay about $4,159 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $14,024 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of Louisiana Delta Community College earn a median of $35,839 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,024 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value General Education Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for general education this year:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 195 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 47 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.
