2026 Best Value Aquaculture Schools in the Southeast Region
[Aquaculture](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/agricultural-production/aquaculture/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong aquaculture education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for aquaculture students.
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2026 Best Value Aquaculture Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in aquaculture, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Aquaculture Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff the best value for a degree in aquaculture in the Southeast Region. Set in the town of Pine Bluff, University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,375, with out-of-state students paying around $17,955. Students borrow a median of $26,267 to complete the aquaculture program here. Early-career aquaculture graduates make about $35,490. Set against $26,267 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff admits about 41% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Carteret Community College earned it the #2 place for aquaculture. Carteret Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Morehead City. In-state tuition and fees average $2,310, compared with $8,222 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for aquaculture graduates is $5,566. Aquaculture graduates of Carteret Community College earn a median of $48,953 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,566 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in aquaculture will find it at Clemson University, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,554, with out-of-state students paying around $40,866. Students borrow a median of $25,125 to complete the aquaculture program here. Soon after graduation, aquaculture degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $30,825. That is a strong return on a $25,125 median debt. Clemson University admits about 38% of applicants.
Auburn University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in aquaculture, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,890, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Typical student debt for aquaculture graduates is $22,803. Early-career aquaculture graduates make about $37,698. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Auburn University admits about 46% of applicants.
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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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
