College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Best Schools in the Southeast Region

4 Colleges in the United States
866 Best Degrees Awarded
$56,133 Avg Early-Career Salary

Best is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 80 schools to find the best for best students.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Best in the Southeast Region

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the best degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Best

1

Leading the list is Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus, our #1 school for best. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 20 best degrees were awarded at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent year. Best graduates of Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn a median of $83,560 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete this degree. Get the full best details for Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus

2

A rank of #2 makes Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University one of the top schools for best. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 30 best degrees were awarded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $60,004. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates carry a median of $23,393 in student loans. More information about a degree in best from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University

3

A rank of #3 makes George Mason University one of the top schools for best. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fairfax. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. George Mason University awarded about 97 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $63,131 early in their careers. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. See the full best program report for George Mason University

4

University Of South Carolina Columbia came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public institution. About 79% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 38 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Carolina Columbia in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from University Of South Carolina Columbia earn around $54,087 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,472 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in best from University Of South Carolina Columbia

5

University Of Kentucky came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public institution. University Of Kentucky graduates 71% of students within six years. About 35 best degrees were awarded at University Of Kentucky in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of Kentucky generally make around $49,568. Typical student debt for the program is $24,094. See the full best program report for University Of Kentucky

6

Virginia Commonwealth University earned the #6 position for best this year. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 47 best students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Commonwealth University in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $57,000 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,813. See the full best program report for Virginia Commonwealth University

7
Florida State University crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL

Florida State University placed #7 among the best best schools. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 11 best students who graduated with this degree at Florida State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $51,884. Florida State University graduates carry a median of $20,488 in student loans. See the full best program report for Florida State University

8

University Of North Carolina At Wilmington landed the #8 spot for best this year. Set in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public institution. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington graduates 71% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington awarded about 50 best degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earn around $46,164 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,013. See the full best program report for University Of North Carolina At Wilmington

9

Florida Polytechnic University landed the #9 spot for best this year. Located in the rural area of Lakeland, Florida Polytechnic University is a small public university. Florida Polytechnic University graduates 55% of students within six years. Florida Polytechnic University awarded about 22 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $64,823 in their early career. Florida Polytechnic University graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in best from Florida Polytechnic University

10

East Carolina University earned the #10 position for best this year. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. East Carolina University graduates 63% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 best students who graduated with this degree at East Carolina University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from East Carolina University earn around $51,931 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,747. Read more about the best program at East Carolina University

11

University Of Mississippi Main Campus landed the #11 spot for best this year. University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of University. About 72% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 46 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of Mississippi Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of Mississippi Main Campus generally make around $50,876. Students borrow a median of $22,444 to complete this degree. See the full best program report for University Of Mississippi Main Campus

12

Florida Atlantic University earned the #12 position for best this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Boca Raton. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. Florida Atlantic University awarded about 63 best degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Florida Atlantic University earn around $49,340 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,212 to complete this degree. Get the full best details for Florida Atlantic University

13

University Of North Florida placed #13 among the best best schools. Located in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public university. University Of North Florida graduates 65% of students within six years. There were roughly 46 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Florida in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $49,208 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,523 to complete this degree. Read more about the best program at University Of North Florida

14

Kennesaw State University earned the #14 position for best this year. Set in the suburb of Kennesaw, Kennesaw State University is a very large public institution. Kennesaw State University graduates 52% of students within six years. About 14 best degrees were awarded at Kennesaw State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Kennesaw State University generally make around $53,824. Typical student debt for the program is $27,004. See the full best program report for Kennesaw State University

15
High Point University crest
High Point University
High Point, NC

High Point University placed #15 among the best best schools. Set in the city of High Point, High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. About 14 best degrees were awarded at High Point University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from High Point University generally make around $113,352. High Point University graduates carry a median of $23,785 in student loans. See the full best program report for High Point University

16

Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College came in at #16 for best this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Baton Rouge. About 66% of students finish within six years. About 16 best degrees were awarded at Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College generally make around $49,718. Typical student debt for the program is $21,348. More information about a degree in best from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College

17
Western Kentucky University crest
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, KY

Western Kentucky University placed #17 among the best best schools. This large public university is located in the city of Bowling Green. Western Kentucky University graduates 58% of students within six years. Western Kentucky University awarded about 158 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Western Kentucky University earn a median of $44,778 early in their careers. Western Kentucky University graduates carry a median of $24,499 in student loans. Get the full best details for Western Kentucky University

18

Georgia State University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Atlanta. Georgia State University graduates 53% of students within six years. About 17 best degrees were awarded at Georgia State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $51,103 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,091. See the full best program report for Georgia State University

19

Oglethorpe University earned the #19 position for best this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Atlanta. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 18 best degrees were awarded at Oglethorpe University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Oglethorpe University generally make around $34,113. Students borrow a median of $26,800 to complete this degree. Get the full best details for Oglethorpe University

20

Miami Dade College placed #20 among the best best schools. Set in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public institution. About 29 best degrees were awarded at Miami Dade College in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $40,267 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,967. Get the full best details for Miami Dade College

21

University Of Charleston ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Charleston. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Charleston awarded about 28 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of Charleston generally make around $64,407. Students borrow a median of $22,646 to complete this degree. Get the full best details for University Of Charleston

22

University Of Central Florida landed the #22 spot for best this year. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. University Of Central Florida graduates 78% of students within six years. There were roughly 56 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of Central Florida in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from University Of Central Florida earn around $51,790 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,620. Get the full best details for University Of Central Florida

View All Best Rankings >

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 80 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options