2026 Best Value Engineering & Applied Physics Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the engineering & applied physics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Engineering & Applied Physics Schools
Our analysis ranked Murray State University the best value for a degree in engineering & applied physics in the Southeast Region. Set in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,900, compared with $19,836 for out-of-state students. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates carry a median of $19,521 in student loans. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates of Murray State University earn a median of $58,025 early in their careers. Set against $19,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
A rank of #2 makes Florida Polytechnic University one of the best values for engineering & applied physics. Located in the rural area of Lakeland, Florida Polytechnic University is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $4,940 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,004. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates of Florida Polytechnic University earn a median of $64,823 early in their careers. The acceptance rate is 58%.
A rank of #3 makes Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach one of the best values for engineering & applied physics. Located in the city of Daytona Beach, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,074. Students borrow a median of $23,667 to complete the engineering & applied physics program here. Early-career engineering & applied physics graduates make about $56,889. Set against $23,667 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach admits about 65% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Tulane University Of Louisiana one of the best values for engineering & applied physics. Located in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,678. Students borrow a median of $22,077 to complete the engineering & applied physics program here. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates of Tulane University Of Louisiana earn a median of $54,082 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,077 median debt. The acceptance rate is 14%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 3 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.
[Engineering & Applied Physics](/majors/engineering/engineering-physics/engineering-applied-physics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
