2026 Best Value Applied Psychology Schools in the Southeast Region
[Applied Psychology](/majors/psychology/clinical-counseling-applied-psychology/applied-psychology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 24 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for applied psychology students.
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2026 Best Value Applied Psychology Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in applied psychology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Applied Psychology Schools
For return on investment in applied psychology, no school beat University Of South Florida Main Campus this year. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,410, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Students borrow a median of $21,829 to complete the applied psychology program here. Soon after graduation, applied psychology degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $65,597. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at North Carolina A And T State University earned it the #2 place for applied psychology. Set in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,813, with out-of-state students paying around $20,673. Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $29,078 in student loans. Soon after graduation, applied psychology degree recipients from North Carolina A And T State University generally make around $50,715. That is a strong return on a $29,078 median debt. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Students looking for strong value in applied psychology will find it at Francis Marion University, which ranked #3. Francis Marion University is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Florence. Students from in state pay about $11,170 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,544. Students borrow a median of $30,577 to complete the applied psychology program here. Applied Psychology graduates of Francis Marion University earn a median of $41,456 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,577 median debt. Francis Marion University admits about 86% of applicants.
George Mason University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in applied psychology, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,220, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Applied Psychology graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $60,240 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia Southern University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value applied psychology schools. Georgia Southern University is a very large public school located in the town of Statesboro. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,022, compared with $17,734 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for applied psychology graduates is $26,500. Applied Psychology graduates of Georgia Southern University earn a median of $45,531 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Austin Peay State University earned the #6 position for value in applied psychology this year. Located in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,006, compared with $14,766 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for applied psychology graduates is $24,530. Soon after graduation, applied psychology degree recipients from Austin Peay State University generally make around $57,354. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Mount Olive College earned the #7 position for value in applied psychology this year. Set in the rural area of Mount Olive, Mount Olive College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,366. Students borrow a median of $30,798 to complete the applied psychology program here. Soon after graduation, applied psychology degree recipients from Mount Olive College generally make around $45,131. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mount Olive College admits about 76% of applicants.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide landed the #8 spot for applied psychology value this year. Set in the city of Daytona Beach, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,097. Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $20,787 in student loans. Soon after graduation, applied psychology degree recipients from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide generally make around $79,874. That is a strong return on a $20,787 median debt. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide admits about 58% of applicants.
University Of Alabama At Huntsville came in at #9 for value in applied psychology this year. Located in the city of Huntsville, University Of Alabama At Huntsville is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,132 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $26,408. Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $24,797 in student loans. Soon after graduation, applied psychology degree recipients from University Of Alabama At Huntsville generally make around $62,903. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Belhaven University placed #10 among the best values for applied psychology. Located in the city of Jackson, Belhaven University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,250. Typical student debt for applied psychology graduates is $41,825. Applied Psychology graduates of Belhaven University earn a median of $28,316 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Florida Institute Of Technology Online landed the #11 spot for applied psychology value this year. Located in the city of Melbourne, Florida Institute Of Technology Online is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,780. Typical student debt for applied psychology graduates is $32,000. Soon after graduation, applied psychology degree recipients from Florida Institute Of Technology Online generally make around $34,506. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Liberty University earned the #12 position for value in applied psychology this year. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,173. Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $27,414 in student loans. Early-career applied psychology graduates make about $56,178. That is a strong return on a $27,414 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach landed the #13 spot for applied psychology value this year. Set in the city of Daytona Beach, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,074. Typical student debt for applied psychology graduates is $24,620. Early-career applied psychology graduates make about $60,665. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach admits about 65% of applicants.
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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 · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
