2027 Best Value Ethnic Studies Schools in the Southeast Region
[Ethnic Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for ethnic studies students.
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2027 Best Value Ethnic Studies Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in ethnic studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Ethnic Studies Schools
For return on investment in ethnic studies, no school beat University Of Florida this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Typical student debt for ethnic studies graduates is $22,875. Ethnic Studies graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $26,198 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,875 median debt. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill one of the best values for ethnic studies. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Typical student debt for ethnic studies graduates is $12,870. Ethnic Studies graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $26,342 early in their careers. Set against $12,870 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida International University earned it the #3 place for ethnic studies. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,565, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for ethnic studies graduates is $19,349. Early-career ethnic studies graduates make about $52,517. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.
Western Kentucky University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in ethnic studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,652, with out-of-state students paying around $27,000. Typical student debt for ethnic studies graduates is $24,499. Soon after graduation, ethnic studies degree recipients from Western Kentucky University generally make around $44,778. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western Kentucky University admits about 94% of applicants.
University Of Georgia came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value ethnic studies schools. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Typical student debt for ethnic studies graduates is $21,792. Ethnic Studies graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $53,546 early in their careers. Set against $21,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro landed the #6 spot for ethnic studies value this year. Set in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,661, while out-of-state students pay about $24,012. Ethnic Studies graduates carry a median of $27,210 in student loans. Ethnic Studies graduates of University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn a median of $29,723 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,210 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Vanderbilt University came in at #7 for value in ethnic studies this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,498. Ethnic Studies graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. Soon after graduation, ethnic studies degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Memphis placed #8 among the best values for ethnic studies. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,728, compared with $15,384 for out-of-state students. Ethnic Studies graduates carry a median of $32,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, ethnic studies degree recipients from University Of Memphis generally make around $48,890. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte placed #9 among the best values for ethnic studies. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,239, while out-of-state students pay about $22,492. Typical student debt for ethnic studies graduates is $31,000. Soon after graduation, ethnic studies degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte generally make around $37,411. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte admits about 80% of applicants.
Georgia State University came in at #10 for value in ethnic studies this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,664, while out-of-state students pay about $24,840. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the ethnic studies program here. Soon after graduation, ethnic studies degree recipients from Georgia State University generally make around $27,932. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
University Of Louisville landed the #11 spot for ethnic studies value this year. Located in the city of Louisville, University Of Louisville is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,136, compared with $29,482 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $32,181 to complete the ethnic studies program here. Ethnic Studies graduates of University Of Louisville earn a median of $29,990 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Emory University landed the #12 spot for ethnic studies value this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Emory University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,280. Students borrow a median of $19,610 to complete the ethnic studies program here. Early-career ethnic studies graduates make about $67,840. That is a strong return on a $19,610 median debt. Emory University admits about 11% of applicants.
The University Of Alabama ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value ethnic studies schools. The University Of Alabama is a very large public school located in the city of Tuscaloosa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,180, while out-of-state students pay about $34,172. Students borrow a median of $24,496 to complete the ethnic studies program here. Ethnic Studies graduates of The University Of Alabama earn a median of $50,740 early in their careers. Set against $24,496 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Virginia Commonwealth University earned the #14 position for value in ethnic studies this year. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,720, compared with $39,884 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the ethnic studies program here. Soon after graduation, ethnic studies degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University generally make around $29,607. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Virginia Commonwealth University admits about 93% of applicants.
Piedmont International University placed #15 among the best values for ethnic studies. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Piedmont International University is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,575. Typical student debt for ethnic studies graduates is $28,154. Early-career ethnic studies graduates make about $61,421. That is a strong return on a $28,154 median debt. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Duke University landed the #16 spot for ethnic studies value this year. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,758. Ethnic Studies graduates carry a median of $13,296 in student loans. Ethnic Studies graduates of Duke University earn a median of $83,388 early in their careers. Set against $13,296 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Spelman College placed #17 among the best values for ethnic studies. Set in the city of Atlanta, Spelman College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,556. Ethnic Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Ethnic Studies graduates of Spelman College earn a median of $28,080 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Spelman College admits about 25% of applicants.
Tulane University Of Louisiana came in at #18 for value in ethnic studies this year. 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 ethnic studies program here. Soon after graduation, ethnic studies degree recipients from Tulane University Of Louisiana generally make around $53,507. Set against $22,077 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Tulane University Of Louisiana admits about 14% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
