2023 Best Value Colleges for Environmental Studies in the Southeast Region
24
Ranked Colleges
1,473
Degrees Awarded
$19,800
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
Environmental Studies is the 87th most popular major in the country with 9,899 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.
Across the Southeast region, there were 1,473 environmental studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking analyzed 24 colleges that offered a degree in environmental studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent environmental studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the environmental studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
More Ways to Rank Environmental Studies Schools
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Southeast Region
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Southeast Region.
Top 24 Best Value Colleges for Environmental Studies in the Southeast Region
Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Columbia Southern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Columbia Southern University is a private for-profit institution located in Orange Beach, Alabama. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 106 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Columbia Southern University, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Columbia Southern University is $11,241 for southeast region ecosystem studies students.
Read full report on Environmental Studies at Columbia Southern University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend North Carolina State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Southeast Region. NC State is a large public school situated in Raleigh, North Carolina. It awarded 19 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.
NC State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $16,411 for Southeast Region Ecosystem Studies students per year to attend NC State.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Environmental Studies at North Carolina State University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Appalachian State University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Southeast Region list. Appalachian State University is a large public school situated in Boone, North Carolina. It awarded 97 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Appalachian State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $13,989 for southeast region ecosystem studies students per year to attend Appalachian State.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Environmental Studies at Appalachian State University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Georgia. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Southeast Region list. This fairly large school is located in Dahlonega, Georgia, and it awarded 15 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.
UNG also made our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #14. The yearly cost to attend UNG is $10,444 for southeast region ecosystem studies students.
Read full report on Environmental Studies at University of North Georgia
Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Carolina at Wilmington landed the #5 spot on the list. UNCW is located in Wilmington, North Carolina and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 12 ’s ecosystem studies degrees to qualified students.
UNCW also made our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #12. The yearly cost to attend UNCW is $19,136 for southeast region ecosystem studies students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Environmental Studies at University of North Carolina at Wilmington
With a ranking of #6, Tennessee Technological University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Southeast Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Cookeville, Tennessee, and it awarded 12 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Tennessee Tech University also took the #20 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $15,932 for southeast region ecosystem studies students per year to attend Tennessee Technological University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Environmental Studies at Tennessee Tech University
Virginia Tech came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Virginia Tech is located in Blacksburg, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 23 ’s ecosystem studies degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Virginia Tech, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Virginia Tech is $21,301 for southeast region ecosystem studies students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.
Read full report on Environmental Studies at Virginia Tech
University of Virginia - Main Campus ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Southeast Region list. Charlottesville, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ecosystem studies degrees to 35 students in 2020-2021.
University of Virginia did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $22,006 for southeast region ecosystem studies students per year to attend University of Virginia - Main Campus.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full University of Virginia Environmental Studies Report
Florida International University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Miami, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ecosystem studies degrees to 28 students in 2020-2021.
FIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $5,298 for southeast region ecosystem studies students per year to attend Florida International University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Read more about Environmental Studies at Florida International University
Florida Gulf Coast University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Florida Gulf Coast University is a public institution located in Fort Myers, Florida. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 55 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
FGCU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $11,299 for southeast region ecosystem studies students per year to attend FGCU.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Florida Gulf Coast University Environmental Studies Report
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Southeast Region list. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 75 ’s ecosystem studies degrees to qualified students.
UNC Chapel Hill also took the #2 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is $12,469 for Southeast Region Ecosystem Studies students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Environmental Studies at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
With a ranking of #12, University of North Carolina at Asheville did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Southeast Region list. Asheville, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ecosystem studies degrees to 60 students in 2020-2021.
UNCA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UNCA is $12,551 for southeast region ecosystem studies students.
Read more about Environmental Studies at University of North Carolina at Asheville
University of South Carolina - Columbia ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Southeast Region list. UofSC is located in Columbia, South Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 25 ’s ecosystem studies degrees to qualified students.
UofSC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of South Carolina - Columbia is $20,559 for Southeast Region Ecosystem Studies students.
With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of South Carolina - Columbia Environmental Studies Report
Shepherd University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Shepherd University is located in Shepherdstown, West Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 13 ’s ecosystem studies degrees to qualified students.
Shepherd University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Shepherd University is $10,983 for southeast region ecosystem studies students.
Full Shepherd University Environmental Studies Report
University of Kentucky came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. UK is located in Lexington, Kentucky and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 17 ’s ecosystem studies degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our southeast region ecosystem studies students list, UK has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $18,203 for Southeast Region Ecosystem Studies students per year to attend University of Kentucky.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Environmental Studies at UK
Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Southeast Region list. Virginia Commonwealth University is a large school located in Richmond, Virginia that handed out 75 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at VCU, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Virginia Commonwealth University is $20,490 for southeast region ecosystem studies students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Virginia Commonwealth University Environmental Studies Report
College of Charleston ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Southeast Region list. Charleston, South Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ecosystem studies degrees to 28 students in 2020-2021.
C of C not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $19,654 for Southeast Region Ecosystem Studies students per year to attend C of C.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full College of Charleston Environmental Studies Report
Warren Wilson College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #18. Swannanoa, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s ecosystem studies degrees to 28 students in 2020-2021.
Warren Wilson not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Warren Wilson is $24,696 for Southeast Region Ecosystem Studies students.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read full report on Environmental Studies at Warren Wilson College
Eckerd College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Southeast Region list. Eckerd College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Petersburg, Florida. It awarded 59 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Eckerd, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Eckerd is $36,531 for Southeast Region Ecosystem Studies students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Environmental Studies at Eckerd
Roanoke College landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Roanoke College is a small school located in Salem, Virginia that handed out 17 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Roanoke did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $26,997 for southeast region ecosystem studies students per year to attend Roanoke College.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Environmental Studies at Roanoke
Emory University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Southeast Region list. Atlanta, Georgia is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s ecosystem studies degrees to 35 students in 2020-2021.
Emory also made our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #4. The estimated yearly cost for Emory is $22,597 for southeast region ecosystem studies students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Emory Environmental Studies Report
With a ranking of #22, Rollins College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Southeast Region list. Rollins College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Winter Park, Florida. It awarded 23 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Rollins also took the #15 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $29,562 for southeast region ecosystem studies students per year to attend Rollins.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Read full report on Environmental Studies at Rollins
Duke University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #23. Duke is a fairly large school located in Durham, North Carolina that handed out 59 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our southeast region ecosystem studies students list, Duke has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Duke University is $32,459 for southeast region ecosystem studies students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Environmental Studies at Duke
With a ranking of #24, Tulane University of Louisiana did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Southeast Region list. Tulane University of Louisiana is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in New Orleans, Louisiana. It awarded 35 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our southeast region ecosystem studies students list, Tulane has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Tulane University of Louisiana is $39,749 for Southeast Region Ecosystem Studies students.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Environmental Studies at Tulane University of Louisiana
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Notes and References
References
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Lynn Betts.
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