2026 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Southeast Region
[Sociology](/majors/social-sciences/sociology/sociology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 231 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value sociology schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in sociology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Sociology Schools
University Of Florida tops our 2026 list of the best value sociology schools in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Students borrow a median of $18,929 to complete the sociology program here. Sociology graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $33,611 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,929 median debt. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Florida Online came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value sociology schools. University Of Florida Online is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Gainesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,876, while out-of-state students pay about $16,579. Students borrow a median of $18,929 to complete the sociology program here. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Florida Online generally make around $33,611. That is a strong return on a $18,929 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Berea College earned it the #3 place for sociology. Berea College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Berea. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,658. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $5,801. Sociology graduates of Berea College earn a median of $31,428 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,801 median debt. The acceptance rate is 19%.
Students looking for strong value in sociology will find it at Florida Atlantic University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,879, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Students borrow a median of $21,227 to complete the sociology program here. Early-career sociology graduates make about $29,679. Set against $21,227 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Florida State University one of the best values for sociology. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Sociology graduates carry a median of $22,164 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $33,783. Set against $22,164 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida State University admits about 24% of applicants.
University Of South Florida Main Campus placed #6 among the best values for sociology. 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, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Sociology graduates carry a median of $25,721 in student loans. Sociology graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $33,516 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill placed #7 among the best values for sociology. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $14,925. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $30,623. That is a strong return on a $14,925 median debt. Roughly 15% of applicants are accepted.
Florida International University earned the #8 position for value in sociology this year. Florida International University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Miami. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,565, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the sociology program here. Early-career sociology graduates make about $31,147. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.
University Of North Florida landed the #9 spot for sociology value this year. Set in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,964, while out-of-state students pay about $19,407. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $23,250. Sociology graduates of University Of North Florida earn a median of $35,728 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 53%.
American Public University System landed the #10 spot for sociology value this year. Set in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $8,400 in tuition and fees. Sociology graduates carry a median of $29,278 in student loans. Sociology graduates of American Public University System earn a median of $47,633 early in their careers. Set against $29,278 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northern Kentucky University placed #11 among the best values for sociology. Set in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,088 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,912. Sociology graduates carry a median of $25,572 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Northern Kentucky University generally make around $52,565. Set against $25,572 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Concord University came in at #12 for value in sociology this year. Located in the rural area of Athens, Concord University is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,664 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,000 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $20,214. Early-career sociology graduates make about $36,250. Set against $20,214 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Concord University admits about 93% of applicants.
University Of Central Florida ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value sociology schools. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,368, while out-of-state students pay about $22,467. Students borrow a median of $26,307 to complete the sociology program here. Sociology graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $34,926 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,307 median debt. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Kentucky University landed the #14 spot for sociology value this year. Eastern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the town of Richmond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,320, while out-of-state students pay about $21,230. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $25,122. Early-career sociology graduates make about $43,891. That is a strong return on a $25,122 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Florida Gulf Coast University placed #15 among the best values for sociology. Set in the suburb of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,118, with out-of-state students paying around $25,162. Sociology graduates carry a median of $20,015 in student loans. Early-career sociology graduates make about $50,726. Set against $20,015 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida Gulf Coast University admits about 63% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earned the #16 position for value in sociology this year. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,661 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,012. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $25,988. Early-career sociology graduates make about $27,400. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of North Carolina At Pembroke earned the #17 position for value in sociology this year. University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Pembroke. In-state tuition and fees average $3,648, with out-of-state students paying around $7,648. Sociology graduates carry a median of $28,526 in student loans. Sociology graduates of University Of North Carolina At Pembroke earn a median of $34,051 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,526 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Pembroke admits about 93% of applicants.
University Of North Georgia landed the #18 spot for sociology value this year. Set in the town of Dahlonega, University Of North Georgia is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,444, while out-of-state students pay about $16,956. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $25,000. Sociology graduates of University Of North Georgia earn a median of $30,576 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Shepherd University came in at #19 for value in sociology this year. Set in the rural area of Shepherdstown, Shepherd University is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,056, while out-of-state students pay about $19,082. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $20,030. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Shepherd University generally make around $33,190. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Georgia placed #20 among the best values for sociology. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $20,625. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $32,530. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Fayetteville State University landed the #21 spot for sociology value this year. Fayetteville State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Fayetteville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,353, compared with $8,353 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $31,888. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Fayetteville State University generally make around $33,544. That is a strong return on a $31,888 median debt. Fayetteville State University admits about 82% of applicants.
Valdosta State University came in at #22 for value in sociology this year. Valdosta State University is a large public school located in the city of Valdosta. Students from in state pay about $6,124 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,836. Sociology graduates carry a median of $28,661 in student loans. Early-career sociology graduates make about $44,914. Set against $28,661 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Valdosta State University admits about 72% of applicants.
Morehead State University landed the #23 spot for sociology value this year. Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Morehead. In-state tuition and fees average $10,024, with out-of-state students paying around $14,980. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the sociology program here. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Morehead State University generally make around $34,511. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Louisiana Tech University earned the #24 position for value in sociology this year. Located in the town of Ruston, Louisiana Tech University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,125 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,866. Sociology graduates carry a median of $24,954 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Louisiana Tech University generally make around $49,261. That is a strong return on a $24,954 median debt. Louisiana Tech University admits about 86% of applicants.
Western Carolina University came in at #25 for value in sociology this year. Western Carolina University is a large public school located in the town of Cullowhee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,630, with out-of-state students paying around $8,630. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the sociology program here. Early-career sociology graduates make about $23,374. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Western Carolina University admits about 82% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Sociology Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s sociology value ranking:
Narrow Sociology Schools by State
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 231 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 102 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.
