With all of the college options in the Southeast Region, narrowing things down is no easy task. We have ranked **337** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 337 colleges using more than 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Our analysis found Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University to be the best college in the Southeast Region. Based in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates 86% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,948, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Median early-career earnings reach $60,004. Typical student debt is $23,393.
The strong outcomes at University Of Florida earned it the #2 place in the Southeast Region. This public school is set in Gainesville, FL. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Early-career graduates earn a median of $58,388. Graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans.
A rank of #3 makes North Carolina State University At Raleigh one of the top colleges in the Southeast Region. Based in Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. Students from in state pay about $8,799 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $59,622. The median student debt is $22,113.
Florida State University came in at #4 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in the Southeast Region. Set in Tallahassee, FL, Florida State University is a public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,517, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Florida State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,884. Graduates carry a median of $20,488 in student loans.
Out of the 337 colleges in the Southeast Region in this year's ranking, University Of Central Florida landed the #5 spot. This public school is set in Orlando, FL. About 78% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $6,368, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,790. University Of Central Florida students take on a median of $21,620 in debt.
Emory University Oxford College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Emory University Oxford College is a private not-for-profit school based in Oxford, GA. In-state tuition and fees average $64,280. Graduates go on to earn a median of $7,808 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $11,260 in student loans.
University Of South Florida Main Campus came in at #7 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Tampa, FL. University Of South Florida Main Campus graduates 77% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $6,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. University Of South Florida Main Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $52,885. Students borrow a median of $21,829 to complete a degree here.
Florida Gulf Coast University placed #8 among the best colleges in the Southeast Region. This public school is set in Fort Myers, FL. Florida Gulf Coast University posts a six-year graduation rate of 57%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,118, with out-of-state students paying around $25,162. Median early-career earnings reach $50,726. Florida Gulf Coast University students take on a median of $20,015 in debt.
University Of North Florida came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Set in Jacksonville, FL, University Of North Florida is a public institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $5,964, compared with $19,407 for out-of-state students. University Of North Florida graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,208. The median student debt is $18,523.
Florida Polytechnic University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Set in Lakeland, FL, Florida Polytechnic University is a public institution. Florida Polytechnic University posts a six-year graduation rate of 55%. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,940, with out-of-state students paying around $21,004. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $64,823. Graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans.
Galen College Of Nursing Louisville ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Galen College Of Nursing Louisville is a private for-profit school based in Louisville, KY. Galen College Of Nursing Louisville posts a six-year graduation rate of 23%. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $63,726. Typical student debt is $32,425.
The University Of West Florida did well this year, earning the #12 position. Set in Pensacola, FL, The University Of West Florida is a public institution. The University Of West Florida graduates 59% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $5,776 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,658. Early-career graduates earn a median of $47,141. Students borrow a median of $19,677 to complete a degree here.
University Of Florida Online landed the #13 spot in the Southeast Region this year. Set in Gainesville, FL, University Of Florida Online is a public institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,876, compared with $16,579 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $43,822. The median student debt is $17,779.
Adventist University Of Health Sciences placed #14 among the best colleges in the Southeast Region. Set in Orlando, FL, Adventist University Of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution. Adventist University Of Health Sciences posts a six-year graduation rate of 37%. Students from in state pay about $21,420 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $86,163. Typical student debt is $28,333.
Carolinas College Of Health Sciences did well this year, earning the #15 position. This public school is set in Charlotte, NC. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,882. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $63,608. Graduates carry a median of $24,874 in student loans.
Radford University placed #16 among the best colleges in the Southeast Region. Based in Radford, VA, Radford University is a public institution. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,548, with out-of-state students paying around $25,633. Median early-career earnings reach $47,271. Radford University students take on a median of $25,514 in debt.
Northern Virginia Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Annandale, VA, Northern Virginia Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,891, with out-of-state students paying around $12,410. Early-career graduates earn a median of $40,126. Students borrow a median of $14,413 to complete a degree here.
Columbia Southern University placed #18 among the best colleges in the Southeast Region. Based in Orange Beach, AL, Columbia Southern University is a private for-profit institution. Columbia Southern University posts a six-year graduation rate of 26%. In-state tuition and fees average $6,224. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $63,650. Students borrow a median of $25,447 to complete a degree here.
Florida International University placed #19 among the best colleges in the Southeast Region. Set in Miami, FL, Florida International University is a public institution. Florida International University graduates 74% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,565, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Median early-career earnings reach $52,517. The median student debt is $19,349.
Galen Health Institutes Myrtle Beach came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Galen Health Institutes Myrtle Beach is a private for-profit school based in Myrtle Beach, SC. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,364.
University Of Louisiana Monroe did well this year, earning the #21 position. Located in Monroe, LA, University Of Louisiana Monroe is a public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $9,190, compared with $21,290 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $47,162. Graduates carry a median of $22,465 in student loans.
Florida Atlantic University landed the #22 spot in the Southeast Region this year. This public school is set in Boca Raton, FL. Florida Atlantic University graduates 63% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $4,879 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,340. Typical student debt is $20,212.
Cumberland University came in at #23 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lebanon, TN. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,840. Early-career graduates earn a median of $47,696. The median student debt is $21,902.
Edison State College placed #24 among the best colleges in the Southeast Region. Located in Fort Myers, FL, Edison State College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,401, compared with $12,979 for out-of-state students. Edison State College graduates report median early-career earnings of $52,597. Edison State College students take on a median of $13,356 in debt.
Galen Health Institutes Richmond placed #25 among the best colleges in the Southeast Region. Set in Richmond, VA, Galen Health Institutes Richmond is a private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,364.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Colleges in the Southeast Region
These colleges also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
With all of the college options in the Southeast Region, narrowing things down is no easy task. We have ranked **337** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
