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2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k

79 Ranked Colleges
4,037 Degrees Awarded
$9,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2020-2021, 29,810 people earned their degree in general education, making the major the 41st most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, general education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $48,719 and had an average of $23,394 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southeast region, there were 4,037 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $45,577 and $24,252 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 79 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general education. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general education programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the general education program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for southeast region education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for General Education (Income $30-$48k) in the Southeast Region

1
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

Out of the 79 schools in the Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Florida landed the #1 spot on the list. Gainesville, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 38 students in 2020-2021.

UF also made our “Best General Education Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend University of Florida is $2,857 for Southeast Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Education at University of Florida

2
Vanderbilt crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Vanderbilt University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Vanderbilt is located in Nashville, Tennessee and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 11 ’s education degrees to qualified students.

Vanderbilt not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $4,652 for Southeast Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Vanderbilt University.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about General Education at Vanderbilt

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public institution located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 22 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNC Chapel Hill, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $5,729 for Southeast Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.

Full University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill General Education Report

4

Out of the 79 schools in the Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Central Florida landed the #4 spot on the list. This large school is located in Orlando, Florida, and it awarded 82 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

UCF also made our “Best General Education Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for UCF is $6,256 for southeast region education students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UCF General Education Report

5
University of Virginia crest
University of Virginia - Main Campus
Charlottesville, Virginia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Virginia - Main Campus. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Charlottesville, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 159 students in 2020-2021.

University of Virginia did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $10,063 for Southeast Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Virginia - Main Campus.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Full University of Virginia General Education Report

6
NC State crest
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina

North Carolina State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. North Carolina State University is located in Raleigh, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 ’s education degrees to qualified students.

NC State also took the #3 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for North Carolina State University is $9,448 for southeast region education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full NC State General Education Report

7
UGA crest
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

University of Georgia landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Georgia is a large public school situated in Athens, Georgia. It awarded 39 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our southeast region education students whose families make $30-$48k list, UGA has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $10,688 for southeast region education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UGA.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on General Education at University of Georgia

8
FAU crest
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, Florida

Florida Atlantic University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. FAU is a public institution located in Boca Raton, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 61 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

FAU also took the #16 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for FAU is $8,262 for southeast region education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full FAU General Education Report

9

With a ranking of #9, Florida Gulf Coast University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. FGCU is located in Fort Myers, Florida and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 49 ’s education degrees to qualified students.

FGCU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for FGCU is $7,969 for southeast region education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full FGCU General Education Report

10
Berea crest
Berea College
Berea, Kentucky

With a ranking of #10, Berea College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Berea, Kentucky, and it awarded 6 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Berea College is $5,313 for Southeast Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about General Education at Berea College

11
Marshall University crest
Marshall University
Huntington, West Virginia

Marshall University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Marshall University is a fairly large school located in Huntington, West Virginia that handed out 68 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Marshall University is $6,254 for Southeast Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about General Education at Marshall University

12

University of South Florida - Main Campus landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Tampa, Florida, this large public school handed out 3 diplomas to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend USF Tampa is $5,632 for southeast region education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full USF Tampa General Education Report

13
Bob Jones University crest
Bob Jones University
Greenville, South Carolina

Bob Jones University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Bob Jones University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Greenville, South Carolina. It awarded 19 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Bob Jones University, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $11,346 for southeast region education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Bob Jones University.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read more about General Education at Bob Jones University

14
NKU crest
Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights, Kentucky

Northern Kentucky University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. NKU is located in Highland Heights, Kentucky and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 ’s education degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend NKU is $5,947 for southeast region education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Northern Kentucky University General Education Report

15
WVU crest
West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia

West Virginia University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Morgantown, West Virginia, this large public school handed out 77 diplomas to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.

WVU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend WVU is $10,250 for southeast region education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Education at West Virginia University

16

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Perkinston, Mississippi, this medium-sized public school handed out 110 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is $7,941 for Southeast Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College General Education Report

17
Augusta University crest
Augusta University
Augusta, Georgia

Augusta University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Augusta, Georgia, and it awarded 30 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $10,221 for southeast region education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Augusta University.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Education at Augusta University

18
Clemson crest
Clemson University
Clemson, South Carolina

Clemson University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Clemson University is located in Clemson, South Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 153 ’s education degrees to qualified students.

Clemson did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $16,650 for southeast region education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Clemson.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Clemson General Education Report

19

The University of Tennessee - Knoxville landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Knoxville, Tennessee, and it awarded 35 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

UT Knoxville also made our “Best General Education Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #15. It costs about $13,970 for southeast region education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UT Knoxville.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read full report on General Education at The University of Tennessee - Knoxville

20
JMU crest
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, Virginia

With a ranking of #20, James Madison University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, this large public school awarded 295 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at JMU, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend James Madison University is $14,985 for southeast region education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full JMU General Education Report

21
Shepherd University crest
Shepherd University
Shepherdstown, West Virginia

Shepherd University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Shepherd University is located in Shepherdstown, West Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 12 ’s education degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Shepherd University is $9,126 for southeast region education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Education at Shepherd University

22
Ole Miss crest
University of Mississippi
University, Mississippi

With a ranking of #22, University of Mississippi did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University, Mississippi is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 27 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Ole Miss is $9,489 for Southeast Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full Ole Miss General Education Report

23

With a ranking of #23, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College is a large public school situated in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It awarded 77 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

Louisiana State University also made our “Best General Education Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #21. The yearly cost to attend Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College is $15,403 for Southeast Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read more about General Education at Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

24
Fairmont State crest
Fairmont State University
Fairmont, West Virginia

Fairmont State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Fairmont, West Virginia, and it awarded 32 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Fairmont State University is $9,871 for Southeast Region Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Fairmont State University General Education Report

25
UARK crest
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas

With a ranking of #25, University of Arkansas did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Arkansas is a large school located in Fayetteville, Arkansas that handed out 24 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UARK is $13,690 for southeast region education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on General Education at UARK

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