2026 Best Value Value Schools in Georgia
[Value](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-administration/general/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 17 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value value schools.
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2026 Best Value Value Schools in Georgia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Value Schools
Clayton State University earned the #1 spot for value among value schools in Georgia. Set in the suburb of Morrow, Clayton State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,180, compared with $16,532 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $35,088 in student loans. Value graduates of Clayton State University earn a median of $42,114 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Clayton State University admits about 68% of applicants.
University Of Georgia is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Typical student debt for value graduates is $21,792. Value graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $54,613 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,792 median debt. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Savannah State University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Savannah, Savannah State University is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,750 in tuition and fees, 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. That is a strong return on a $31,576 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Valdosta State University, which ranked #4. Valdosta State University is a large public school located in the city of Valdosta. In-state tuition and fees average $6,124, compared with $17,836 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $28,661. Early-career value graduates make about $43,810. Set against $28,661 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Augusta University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Set in the city of Augusta, Augusta University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,414, while out-of-state students pay about $24,734. Students borrow a median of $25,745 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $48,500. That is a strong return on a $25,745 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Georgia State University placed #6 among the best values for value. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,664 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,840. Typical student debt for value graduates is $26,091. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Georgia State University generally make around $56,196. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Georgia State University admits about 55% of applicants.
University Of West Georgia earned the #7 position for value in value this year. University Of West Georgia is a large public school located in the town of Carrollton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,088, while out-of-state students pay about $17,800. Typical student debt for value graduates is $26,789. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of West Georgia generally make around $47,999. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of West Georgia admits about 52% of applicants.
Albany State University placed #8 among the best values for value. Set in the city of Albany, Albany State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,656, compared with $17,008 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $28,158 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Albany State University earn a median of $40,384 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,158 median debt.
Georgia Southern University landed the #9 spot for value value this year. Set in the town of Statesboro, Georgia Southern University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,022, with out-of-state students paying around $17,734. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Georgia Southern University generally make around $43,325. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Kennesaw State University landed the #10 spot for value value this year. Located in the suburb of Kennesaw, Kennesaw State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,808, while out-of-state students pay about $17,736. Typical student debt for value graduates is $27,004. Value graduates of Kennesaw State University earn a median of $50,197 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,004 median debt. Kennesaw State University admits about 69% of applicants.
Strayer University Georgia earned the #11 position for value in value this year. Set in the suburb of Chamblee, Strayer University Georgia is a moderately-sized private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,920. Students borrow a median of $47,631 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $49,512. That is a strong return on a $47,631 median debt.
Georgia College And State University came in at #12 for value in value this year. Located in the town of Milledgeville, Georgia College And State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,186, with out-of-state students paying around $29,512. Students borrow a median of $24,412 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $56,175. Set against $24,412 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Clark Atlanta University placed #13 among the best values for value. Set in the city of Atlanta, Clark Atlanta University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $28,310. Typical student debt for value graduates is $27,803. Value graduates of Clark Atlanta University earn a median of $44,574 early in their careers. Set against $27,803 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Clark Atlanta University admits about 64% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
