2027 Best Value Value Schools in the Southeast Region

[Value](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-analytics/business-analytics/) 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.
College Factual analyzed 20 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value value schools.
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2027 Best Value Value Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Value Schools
For return on investment in value, no school beat University Of Florida this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $58,388. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 24%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida Atlantic University earned it the #2 place for value. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,879, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Value graduates carry a median of $20,212 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $49,340. That is a strong return on a $20,212 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
University Of North Florida came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Located in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,964, while out-of-state students pay about $19,407. Value graduates carry a median of $18,523 in student loans. Value graduates of University Of North Florida earn a median of $49,208 early in their careers. Set against $18,523 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 53%.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,058, while out-of-state students pay about $34,484. Typical student debt for value graduates is $24,323. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $83,560. Set against $24,323 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 14%.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Florida State University, which ranked #5. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,517, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Students borrow a median of $20,488 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $51,884 early in their careers. Set against $20,488 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
Florida Polytechnic University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Set in the rural area of Lakeland, Florida Polytechnic University is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,940, compared with $21,004 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,500 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Florida Polytechnic University earn a median of $64,823 early in their careers. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Florida earned the #7 position for value in value this year. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. Students from in state pay about $6,368 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $21,620 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $51,790. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Western Kentucky University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Western Kentucky University is a large public school located in the city of Bowling Green. Students from in state pay about $11,652 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,000. Students borrow a median of $24,499 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Western Kentucky University generally make around $44,778. That is a strong return on a $24,499 median debt. Western Kentucky University admits about 94% of applicants.
George Mason University came in at #9 for value in value this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,220, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $63,131. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. George Mason University admits about 88% of applicants.
Radford University earned the #10 position for value in value this year. Set in the town of Radford, Radford University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,548, compared with $25,633 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,514 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Radford University generally make around $47,271. Set against $25,514 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Radford University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Kentucky ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. 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, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $24,094 in student loans. Value graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $49,568 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,094 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia State University came in at #12 for value in value this year. Georgia State University is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,664, with out-of-state students paying around $24,840. Typical student debt for value graduates is $26,091. Early-career value graduates make about $51,103. That is a strong return on a $26,091 median debt. Georgia State University admits about 55% of applicants.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earned the #13 position for value in value this year. Located in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,954, while out-of-state students pay about $28,631. Typical student debt for value graduates is $21,348. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College generally make around $49,718. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Oglethorpe University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Oglethorpe University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Atlanta. Students from in state pay about $47,590 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,800 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $34,113. That is a strong return on a $26,800 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Regent University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Regent University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. Students from in state pay about $21,650 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,451 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Regent University earn a median of $50,406 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,451 median debt. Regent University admits about 38% of applicants.
University Of Charleston placed #16 among the best values for value. Set in the city of Charleston, University Of Charleston is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $22,617. Value graduates carry a median of $22,646 in student loans. Value graduates of University Of Charleston earn a median of $64,407 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Charleston admits about 62% of applicants.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,948, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Students borrow a median of $23,393 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $60,004. That is a strong return on a $23,393 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Florida Southern College landed the #18 spot for value value this year. Located in the city of Lakeland, Florida Southern College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,040. Value graduates carry a median of $25,357 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Florida Southern College generally make around $48,665. That is a strong return on a $25,357 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Marymount University earned the #19 position for value in value this year. Set in the city of Arlington, Marymount University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $40,120. Typical student debt for value graduates is $26,880. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Marymount University generally make around $58,028. That is a strong return on a $26,880 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
High Point University came in at #20 for value in value this year. High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of High Point. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,312. Value graduates carry a median of $23,785 in student loans. Value graduates of High Point University earn a median of $113,352 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. High Point University admits about 75% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 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.