2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Southeast Region
[Value](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/security-science-and-technology/financial-forensics-and-fraud-investigation/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong value education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 9 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for value students.
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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
For return on investment in value, no school beat West Virginia University this year. Located in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,104, while out-of-state students pay about $28,608. Value graduates carry a median of $24,324 in student loans. Value graduates of West Virginia University earn a median of $59,347 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Pfeiffer University, which ranked #2. Pfeiffer University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Misenheimer. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,070. Typical student debt for value graduates is $26,375. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Pfeiffer University generally make around $54,891. That is a strong return on a $26,375 median debt. Pfeiffer University admits about 96% of applicants.
Keiser University Ft Lauderdale is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Keiser University Ft Lauderdale is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,056. Students borrow a median of $30,326 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $45,965. Set against $30,326 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, 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 1 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.
