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2023 Best Value Colleges for Education in the Southeast Region (With Aid)

266 Ranked Colleges
74,881 Degrees Awarded
$6,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking.

Education is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 4th of all the majors we analyze. In 2020-2021, 327,871 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2019-2020, education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $46,202 and had an average of $24,437 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southeast region, there were 74,881 education graduates with average earnings and debt of $43,366 and $24,123 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 266 colleges that offered a degree in education. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality education programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the education program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Education Schools

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The education school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid”.

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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for southeast region education students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Education in the Southeast Region (With Aid)

1
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

Out of the 266 schools in the Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Florida landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Florida is a public institution located in Gainesville, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 657 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UF also made our “Best Education Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend University of Florida is $5,135 for Southeast Region Education students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 Education at University of Florida

2

Out of the 266 schools in the Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill landed the #2 spot on the list. Chapel Hill, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 244 students in 2020-2021.

UNC Chapel Hill also made our “Best Education Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $12,469 for southeast region education students with aid per year to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Education at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

3

Out of the 266 schools in the Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of South Florida - Main Campus landed the #3 spot on the list. Tampa, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 745 students in 2020-2021.

USF Tampa also made our “Best Education Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #23. It costs about $8,346 for southeast region education students with aid per year to attend USF Tampa.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Education at University of South Florida - Main Campus

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Atlanta Technical College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Atlanta Area Tech is located in Atlanta, Georgia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 74 ’s education degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Atlanta Area Tech is $-209 for southeast region education students with aid. When an average net price is negative, it usually means that the student will receive more financial aid than it costs to attend the school.

Full Atlanta Area Tech Education Report

5
Appalachian State crest
Appalachian State University
Boone, North Carolina

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Appalachian State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid. This large school is located in Boone, North Carolina, and it awarded 808 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

Appalachian State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Education Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Appalachian State is $13,989 for southeast region education students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Education at Appalachian State

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Central Florida. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. UCF is a large school located in Orlando, Florida that handed out 1,635 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCF, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Education Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UCF is $8,618 for Southeast Region Education students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Education at UCF

7
SPC crest
St Petersburg College
Clearwater, Florida

With a ranking of #7, St Petersburg College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. St Petersburg College is a large public school situated in Clearwater, Florida. It awarded 227 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend St Petersburg College is $2,668 for southeast region education students with aid.

Full SPC Education Report

8
Palm Beach State College crest
Palm Beach State College
Lake Worth, Florida

Palm Beach State College landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Palm Beach State College is a large public school situated in Lake Worth, Florida. It awarded 58 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $9,481 for Southeast Region Education students with aid per year to attend Palm Beach State College.

Read more about Education at Palm Beach State College

9
Indian River State College crest
Indian River State College
Fort Pierce, Florida

With a ranking of #9, Indian River State College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Indian River State College is located in Fort Pierce, Florida and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 58 ’s education degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Indian River State College is $3,786 for Southeast Region Education students with aid.

Read more about Education at Indian River State College

10

With a ranking of #10, Albany Technical College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Albany Technical College is a small public school situated in Albany, Georgia. It awarded 61 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $663 for southeast region education students with aid per year to attend Albany Technical College.

Read full report on Education at Albany Technical College

11
ICC crest
Itawamba Community College
Fulton, Mississippi

Itawamba Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. ICC is a small public school situated in Fulton, Mississippi. It awarded 80 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for ICC is $4,086 for southeast region education students with aid.

Read more about Education at Itawamba Community College

12
Central Piedmont Community College crest
Central Piedmont Community College
Charlotte, North Carolina

Central Piedmont Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Charlotte, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 195 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $5,710 for Southeast Region Education students with aid per year to attend Central Piedmont Community College.

Read full report on Education at Central Piedmont Community College

13
FTCC crest
Fayetteville Technical Community College
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Fayetteville Technical Community College landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Fayetteville Technical Community College is located in Fayetteville, North Carolina and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 214 ’s education degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $4,337 for Southeast Region Education students with aid per year to attend Fayetteville Technical Community College.

Full Fayetteville Technical Community College Education Report

14
CGTC crest
Central Georgia Technical College
Warner Robins, Georgia

With a ranking of #14, Central Georgia Technical College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. CGTC is a medium-sized school located in Warner Robins, Georgia that handed out 54 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Central Georgia Technical College is $2,404 for Southeast Region Education students with aid.

Read more about Education at Central Georgia Technical College

15
MDC crest
Miami Dade College
Miami, Florida

Miami Dade College landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Miami Dade College is a public institution located in Miami, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 175 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Miami Dade College is $4,870 for Southeast Region Education students with aid.

Read more about Education at MDC

16

With a ranking of #16, Florida International University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. FIU is located in Miami, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 765 ’s education degrees to qualified students.

FIU also claimed a top spot on our “Best Education Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. It costs about $5,298 for southeast region education students with aid per year to attend Florida International University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Education at FIU

17
UGA crest
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

University of Georgia landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Athens, Georgia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 832 students in 2020-2021.

UGA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Education Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UGA is $14,257 for southeast region education students with aid.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Education at University of Georgia

18

The University of West Florida came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UWF is a fairly large school located in Pensacola, Florida that handed out 626 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $7,089 for Southeast Region Education students with aid per year to attend UWF.

Full The University of West Florida Education Report

19
Florida State crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida

Florida State University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Florida State University is a public institution located in Tallahassee, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 576 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our southeast region education students with aid list, Florida State has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Education Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Florida State is $9,946 for Southeast Region Education students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 Education at Florida State

20

Georgia Northwestern Technical College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Rome, Georgia, this medium-sized public school handed out 51 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Georgia Northwestern Technical College is $1,445 for Southeast Region Education students with aid.

Read more about Education at Georgia Northwestern Technical College

21
Georgia Military College crest
Georgia Military College
Milledgeville, Georgia

Georgia Military College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #21. Georgia Military College is a medium-sized school located in Milledgeville, Georgia that handed out 138 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Georgia Military College is $11,029 for Southeast Region Education students with aid.

Full Georgia Military College Education Report

22
Stanly Technical College crest
Stanly Community College
Albemarle, North Carolina

Stanly Community College landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Stanly Technical College is a small school located in Albemarle, North Carolina that handed out 165 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Stanly Technical College is $5,533 for southeast region education students with aid.

Full Stanly Technical College Education Report

23
Holmes Community College crest
Holmes Community College
Goodman, Mississippi

Holmes Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #23. Holmes Community College is a public institution located in Goodman, Mississippi. The school has a small population, and it awarded 69 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $5,978 for Southeast Region Education students with aid per year to attend Holmes Community College.

Full Holmes Community College Education Report

24
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College crest
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
Salisbury, North Carolina

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Salisbury, North Carolina is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 127 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is $2,602 for southeast region education students with aid.

Read full report on Education at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College

25
UNF crest
University of North Florida
Jacksonville, Florida

University of North Florida ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of North Florida is a public institution located in Jacksonville, Florida. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 326 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

On top of its placing in this ranking, UNF also did well on our “Best Education Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Education Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of North Florida is $8,865 for southeast region education students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Education at UNF

Rest of the Best 40 in Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid

Not only did these schools make the top 40 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
27
NC State crest
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina
28
ECU crest
East Carolina University
Greenville, North Carolina
29
FAU crest
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, Florida
30
UNG crest
University of North Georgia
Dahlonega, Georgia
31
32
University of Virginia crest
University of Virginia - Main Campus
Charlottesville, Virginia
33
William Carey University crest
William Carey University
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
34
NKU crest
Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights, Kentucky
35
Fayetteville State University crest
Fayetteville State University
Fayetteville, North Carolina
36
ECSU crest
Elizabeth City State University
Elizabeth City, North Carolina
37
Marshall University crest
Marshall University
Huntington, West Virginia
38
39
Wake Technical Community College crest
Wake Technical Community College
Raleigh, North Carolina
40
Georgia State crest
Georgia State University
Atlanta, Georgia

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