2027 Best Value Value Schools in the Southeast Region
[Value](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/stem-educational-methods/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong value education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for value students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Value Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the value degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Value Schools
Leading the list is University Of South Florida Main Campus, our #1 best value for value in the Southeast Region. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,410, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Value graduates carry a median of $20,995 in student loans. Value graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $52,885 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 43%.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Coastal Carolina University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Conway, Coastal Carolina University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,640 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,628. Typical student debt for value graduates is $27,000. Value graduates of Coastal Carolina University earn a median of $38,272 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kennesaw State University earned it the #3 place for value. Set in the suburb of Kennesaw, Kennesaw State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,808, with out-of-state students paying around $17,736. Typical student debt for value graduates is $27,000. Value graduates of Kennesaw State University earn a median of $63,630 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes North Carolina State University At Raleigh one of the best values for value. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. Students from in state pay about $8,799 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $44,877 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at University Of Louisville, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Louisville, University Of Louisville is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,136 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,482 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $23,584 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $58,534. That is a strong return on a $23,584 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
University Of Kentucky ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. Students from in state pay about $13,502 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $42,048. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern Mississippi landed the #7 spot for value value this year. Located in the city of Hattiesburg, University Of Southern Mississippi is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,998 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,998 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Value graduates of University Of Southern Mississippi earn a median of $38,766 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Southern Mississippi admits about 99% of applicants.
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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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
