2027 Best Value Applied Economics Schools in the Southeast Region
[Applied Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/applied-economics/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 3 schools to find the best return on investment for applied economics students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Applied Economics Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the applied economics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Applied Economics Schools
Our analysis ranked Florida State University the best value for a degree in applied economics in the Southeast Region. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,625 to complete the applied economics program here. Early-career applied economics graduates make about $60,948. Set against $17,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Vanderbilt University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value applied economics schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,498 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $12,424 to complete the applied economics program here. Early-career applied economics graduates make about $84,311. Set against $12,424 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Vanderbilt University admits about 6% of applicants.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value applied economics schools. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. In-state tuition and fees average $15,948, with out-of-state students paying around $37,764. Typical student debt for applied economics graduates is $22,500. Early-career applied economics graduates make about $56,261. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 3 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.
