2026 Best Value Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region
[Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering](/majors/engineering/aerospace-and-aeronautical-engineering/aerospace-aeronautical-space-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 25 schools to find the best return on investment for aerospace & aeronautical engineering students.
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2026 Best Value Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in aerospace & aeronautical engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering Schools
University Of Florida earned the #1 spot for value among aerospace & aeronautical engineering schools in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,573 in student loans. Soon after graduation, aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $81,851. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in aerospace & aeronautical engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,058 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,484 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates is $22,750. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates of Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn a median of $91,589 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,750 median debt. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in aerospace & aeronautical engineering will find it at University Of Central Florida, which ranked #3. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,368, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,875 in student loans. Early-career aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates make about $82,898. Set against $27,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Central Florida admits about 40% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Morehead State University one of the best values for aerospace & aeronautical engineering. Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Morehead. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,024, compared with $14,980 for out-of-state students. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,896 in student loans. Early-career aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates make about $41,046. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in aerospace & aeronautical engineering will find it at West Virginia University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,104, while out-of-state students pay about $28,608. Students borrow a median of $27,242 to complete the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program here. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates of West Virginia University earn a median of $72,210 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,242 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #6 spot for aerospace & aeronautical engineering value this year. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,799, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. Typical student debt for aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates is $21,574. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $70,820 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,574 median debt. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants.
Mississippi State University landed the #7 spot for aerospace & aeronautical engineering value this year. Mississippi State University is a very large public school located in the town of Mississippi State. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,202, with out-of-state students paying around $27,637. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree recipients from Mississippi State University generally make around $69,056. Set against $17,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Mississippi State University admits about 78% of applicants.
The University Of Tennessee earned the #8 position for value in aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,812, while out-of-state students pay about $33,256. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,243 in student loans. Soon after graduation, aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $49,826. That is a strong return on a $25,243 median debt. The University Of Tennessee admits about 42% of applicants.
University Of Alabama At Huntsville came in at #9 for value in aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. Located in the city of Huntsville, University Of Alabama At Huntsville is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,132, with out-of-state students paying around $26,408. Typical student debt for aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates is $25,000. Early-career aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates make about $70,383. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide placed #10 among the best values for aerospace & aeronautical engineering. Located in the city of Daytona Beach, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,097. Typical student debt for aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates is $26,995. Early-career aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates make about $75,483. Set against $26,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
The University Of Alabama earned the #11 position for value in aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. The University Of Alabama is a very large public school located in the city of Tuscaloosa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,180, with out-of-state students paying around $34,172. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,787 in student loans. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates of The University Of Alabama earn a median of $73,887 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
University Of Virginia Main Campus landed the #12 spot for aerospace & aeronautical engineering value this year. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $23,118, with out-of-state students paying around $61,591. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates carry a median of $14,214 in student loans. Soon after graduation, aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $77,922. Set against $14,214 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 17%.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #13 for value in aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,948, with out-of-state students paying around $37,764. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program here. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $76,856 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Auburn University came in at #14 for value in aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,890 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,458 in student loans. Early-career aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates make about $68,607. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
University Of South Carolina Columbia earned the #15 position for value in aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,688, with out-of-state students paying around $36,298. Students borrow a median of $24,472 to complete the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Columbia generally make around $54,087. Set against $24,472 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of South Carolina Columbia admits about 60% of applicants.
Florida Institute Of Technology came in at #16 for value in aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. Located in the city of Melbourne, Florida Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,900 in tuition and fees. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,982 in student loans. Early-career aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates make about $84,540. That is a strong return on a $26,982 median debt. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Miami came in at #17 for value in aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $62,616 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates is $17,750. Early-career aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates make about $57,234. Set against $17,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 19% of applicants are accepted.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach came in at #18 for value in aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. Located in the city of Daytona Beach, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $44,074. Students borrow a median of $26,995 to complete the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program here. Early-career aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates make about $75,483. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 25 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.
