2026 Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools in the Southeast Region
[Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/) 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 124 schools to find the best return on investment for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools
Leading the list is University Of Florida, our #1 best value for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $22,875. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $26,198 early in their careers. Set against $22,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned it the #2 place for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $12,988 in student loans. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $31,879 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 15%.
Students looking for strong value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies will find it at Florida International University, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,565, while out-of-state students pay about $18,964. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $21,544. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $19,457. Set against $21,544 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.
University Of Georgia is a great value for students pursuing a degree in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Students borrow a median of $21,792 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender 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 Mississippi Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Located in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,772, compared with $28,600 for out-of-state students. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $22,444 in student loans. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from University Of Mississippi Main Campus generally make around $50,876. That is a strong return on a $22,444 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro placed #6 among the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public school located in the city of Greensboro. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,661, with out-of-state students paying around $24,012. Students borrow a median of $27,210 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro generally make around $29,723. Set against $27,210 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,239, with out-of-state students paying around $22,492. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $37,411. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
University Of Kentucky came in at #8 for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Located in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,502 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,140. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $24,094 in student loans. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $49,568. Set against $24,094 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Kennesaw State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Set in the suburb of Kennesaw, Kennesaw State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,808, with out-of-state students paying around $17,736. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $27,004. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from Kennesaw State University generally make around $53,824. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Vanderbilt University came in at #10 for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Students from in state pay about $67,498 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. Set against $13,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Vanderbilt University admits about 6% of applicants.
Georgia State University came in at #11 for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University is a very large public institution. 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 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of Georgia State University earn a median of $27,932 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Virginia Commonwealth University came in at #12 for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $16,720 in tuition and fees, compared with $39,884 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,738 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University generally make around $34,991. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Clemson University came in at #13 for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,554, while out-of-state students pay about $40,866. Students borrow a median of $23,783 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of Clemson University earn a median of $53,834 early in their careers. Set against $23,783 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 38%.
The University Of Alabama ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,180, with out-of-state students paying around $34,172. Students borrow a median of $24,496 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of The University Of Alabama earn a median of $50,740 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
College Of William And Mary came in at #15 for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Set in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $25,734, while out-of-state students pay about $51,038. Students borrow a median of $15,250 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from College Of William And Mary generally make around $53,779. Set against $15,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 34% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Virginia Main Campus ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,118, while out-of-state students pay about $61,591. Students borrow a median of $22,153 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $34,266 early in their careers. Set against $22,153 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Virginia Main Campus admits about 17% of applicants.
Piedmont International University placed #17 among the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender 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. Students borrow a median of $28,154 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $61,421. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Piedmont International University admits about 40% of applicants.
University Of South Carolina Columbia earned the #18 position for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,688, compared with $36,298 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $20,125. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of University Of South Carolina Columbia earn a median of $32,064 early in their careers. Set against $20,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of South Carolina Columbia admits about 60% of applicants.
Duke University earned the #19 position for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. Students from in state pay about $68,758 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $13,296. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $83,388. That is a strong return on a $13,296 median debt. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Spelman College placed #20 among the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. Located in the city of Atlanta, Spelman College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,556. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from Spelman College generally make around $28,080. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 25%.
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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 · 124 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.
