2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Southeast Region
[Value](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/security-science-and-technology/criminalistics-and-criminal-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 9 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value value schools.
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2026 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
Our analysis ranked Florida International University the best value for a degree in value in the Southeast Region. 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, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $19,349. Value graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $52,517 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.
Florida Gulf Coast University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,118, compared with $25,162 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $19,046. Early-career value graduates make about $28,173. Set against $19,046 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Alabama State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Located in the city of Montgomery, Alabama State University is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $11,248 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,576 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $33,709 in student loans. Value graduates of Alabama State University earn a median of $37,721 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Jacksonville State University one of the best values for value. Jacksonville State University is a large public school located in the suburb of Jacksonville. In-state tuition and fees average $12,894, compared with $23,334 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $24,250. Early-career value graduates make about $27,926. That is a strong return on a $24,250 median debt. Jacksonville State University admits about 78% of applicants.
Glenville State College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Set in the rural area of Glenville, Glenville State College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,578, while out-of-state students pay about $11,354. Typical student debt for value graduates is $29,750. Value graduates of Glenville State College earn a median of $38,237 early in their careers. Set against $29,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
