2026 Best Value General Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region
[General Materials Engineering](/majors/engineering/materials-engineering/general-materials-engineering/) 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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 24 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general materials engineering students.
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2026 Best Value General Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general materials engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Materials Engineering Schools
University Of Florida tops our 2026 list of the best value general materials engineering schools in the Southeast Region. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Typical student debt for general materials engineering graduates is $17,669. Early-career general materials engineering graduates make about $88,363. Set against $17,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 24%.
University Of Central Florida came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value general materials engineering schools. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,368, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. General Materials Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,620 in student loans. Early-career general materials engineering graduates make about $51,790. That is a strong return on a $21,620 median debt. University Of Central Florida admits about 40% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general materials engineering will find it at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,058, with out-of-state students paying around $34,484. Typical student debt for general materials engineering graduates is $17,123. General Materials Engineering graduates of Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn a median of $76,488 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 14%.
A rank of #4 makes North Carolina State University At Raleigh one of the best values for general materials engineering. 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, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general materials engineering graduates is $21,111. Soon after graduation, general materials engineering degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $74,058. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general materials engineering will find it at University Of Kentucky, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,502 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,140. Typical student debt for general materials engineering graduates is $24,094. Soon after graduation, general materials engineering degree recipients from University Of Kentucky generally make around $49,568. Set against $24,094 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tennessee placed #6 among the best values for general materials engineering. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,812 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,256. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the general materials engineering program here. General Materials Engineering graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $63,505 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Tennessee admits about 42% of applicants.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham came in at #7 for value in general materials engineering this year. Located in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,098, with out-of-state students paying around $22,562. Students borrow a median of $26,162 to complete the general materials engineering program here. Early-career general materials engineering graduates make about $69,498. Set against $26,162 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Clemson University landed the #8 spot for general materials engineering value this year. Clemson University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Clemson. In-state tuition and fees average $15,554, while out-of-state students pay about $40,866. General Materials Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,243 in student loans. Early-career general materials engineering graduates make about $69,763. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 38%.
University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #9 position for value in general materials engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $23,118 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $61,591. Students borrow a median of $18,627 to complete the general materials engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general materials engineering degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $69,126. Set against $18,627 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 17%.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #10 for value in general materials engineering this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. General Materials Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career general materials engineering graduates make about $66,888. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Auburn University placed #11 among the best values for general materials engineering. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. Students from in state pay about $12,890 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. General Materials Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,803 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general materials engineering degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $55,422. That is a strong return on a $22,803 median debt. Auburn University admits about 46% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
