2027 Best Value Value Schools in the Southeast Region
[Value](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/security-science-and-technology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 60 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Value Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the value degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Value Schools
Hillsborough Community College earned the #1 spot for value among value schools in the Southeast Region. Hillsborough Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. In-state tuition and fees average $2,491, with out-of-state students paying around $9,088. Students borrow a median of $16,142 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Hillsborough Community College earn a median of $44,101 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,142 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at St Petersburg College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,682, compared with $9,286 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $24,385 in student loans. Value graduates of St Petersburg College earn a median of $48,218 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,385 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Chattahoochee Technical College one of the best values for value. Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Marietta. Students from in state pay about $3,540 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,108. Typical student debt for value graduates is $9,616. Value graduates of Chattahoochee Technical College earn a median of $44,673 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Johnston Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Set in the town of Smithfield, Johnston Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,756 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,900 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $9,490 in student loans. Value graduates of Johnston Community College earn a median of $37,472 early in their careers. Set against $9,490 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at West Georgia Technical College earned it the #5 place for value. Set in the rural area of Waco, West Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,410, while out-of-state students pay about $5,978. Students borrow a median of $12,651 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of West Georgia Technical College earn a median of $39,922 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,651 median debt.
Miami Dade College came in at #6 for value in value this year. Set in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,838 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,661. Typical student debt for value graduates is $11,967. Value graduates of Miami Dade College earn a median of $40,267 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pensacola State College landed the #7 spot for value value this year. Pensacola State College is a large public school located in the city of Pensacola. In-state tuition and fees average $2,361, while out-of-state students pay about $9,463. Value graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans. Value graduates of Pensacola State College earn a median of $45,811 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fayetteville Technical Community College earned the #8 position for value in value this year. Located in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,628, while out-of-state students pay about $8,772. Value graduates carry a median of $16,909 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Fayetteville Technical Community College generally make around $40,584. Set against $16,909 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Eastern Florida State College came in at #9 for value in value this year. Set in the city of Melbourne, Eastern Florida State College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,791, with out-of-state students paying around $10,976. Value graduates carry a median of $18,123 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $44,690. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Big Sandy Community And Technical College landed the #10 spot for value value this year. Set in the town of Prestonsburg, Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $11,588 in student loans. Value graduates of Big Sandy Community And Technical College earn a median of $33,956 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,588 median debt.
Southern Crescent Technical College earned the #11 position for value in value this year. Located in the town of Griffin, Southern Crescent Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,516, with out-of-state students paying around $6,084. Value graduates carry a median of $17,619 in student loans. Value graduates of Southern Crescent Technical College earn a median of $45,062 early in their careers. Set against $17,619 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Edison State College landed the #12 spot for value value this year. Set in the suburb of Fort Myers, Edison State College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,401, with out-of-state students paying around $12,979. Value graduates carry a median of $13,356 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $52,597. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwestern Community College Sylva landed the #13 spot for value value this year. Southwestern Community College Sylva is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Sylva. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,112, with out-of-state students paying around $13,184. Typical student debt for value graduates is $13,708. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Southwestern Community College Sylva generally make around $36,418. Set against $13,708 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florida International University came in at #14 for value in value this year. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,565, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Value graduates carry a median of $19,349 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Florida International University generally make around $52,517. That is a strong return on a $19,349 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Forsyth Technical Community College landed the #15 spot for value value this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,276, with out-of-state students paying around $6,884. Typical student debt for value graduates is $16,374. Value graduates of Forsyth Technical Community College earn a median of $38,094 early in their careers. Set against $16,374 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College landed the #16 spot for value value this year. Set in the rural area of Perkinston, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,250, with out-of-state students paying around $7,850. Value graduates carry a median of $11,653 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $34,214. That is a strong return on a $11,653 median debt.
Wake Technical Community College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Set in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,254, while out-of-state students pay about $6,862. Students borrow a median of $17,900 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $38,673. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida State University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,517, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Typical student debt for value graduates is $20,693. Value graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $58,249 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 24%.
University Of Central Florida came in at #19 for value in value this year. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,368, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $21,620. Value graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $51,790 early in their careers. Set against $21,620 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Central Florida admits about 40% of applicants.
Marshall University landed the #20 spot for value value this year. Set in the city of Huntington, Marshall University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,162 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,342. Typical student debt for value graduates is $25,250. Value graduates of Marshall University earn a median of $51,959 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
American Public University System landed the #21 spot for value value this year. Set in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,400. Value graduates carry a median of $32,294 in student loans. Value graduates of American Public University System earn a median of $49,622 early in their careers. Set against $32,294 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Savannah State University placed #22 among the best values for value. Located in the city of Savannah, Savannah State University is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,750, compared with $19,043 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $31,576 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $34,489. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cape Fear Community College landed the #23 spot for value value this year. Cape Fear Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Wilmington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,748, while out-of-state students pay about $8,892. Typical student debt for value graduates is $12,388. Value graduates of Cape Fear Community College earn a median of $42,889 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,388 median debt.
West Virginia University Institute Of Technology came in at #24 for value in value this year. Set in the city of Beckley, West Virginia University Institute Of Technology is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,424, with out-of-state students paying around $21,072. Students borrow a median of $24,324 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of West Virginia University Institute Of Technology earn a median of $44,255 early in their careers. Set against $24,324 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 37% of applicants are accepted.
Florida Gulf Coast University landed the #25 spot for value value this year. Set in the suburb of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,118, with out-of-state students paying around $25,162. Students borrow a median of $19,046 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Florida Gulf Coast University earn a median of $28,173 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Value Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value value ranking:
Narrow Value Schools by State
View All Value Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 60 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 60 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.
