2026 Best Value Soil Sciences Schools in the Southeast Region
[Soil Sciences](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/soil-sciences/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 9 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value soil sciences schools.
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2026 Best Value Soil Sciences Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in soil sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Soil Sciences Schools
For return on investment in soil sciences, no school beat University Of Florida this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete the soil sciences program here. Soon after graduation, soil sciences degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $61,827. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in soil sciences will find it at University Of Georgia, which ranked #2. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Typical student debt for soil sciences graduates is $21,792. Soil Sciences graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $53,546 early in their careers. Set against $21,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a great value for students pursuing a degree in soil sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,799 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Soil Sciences graduates carry a median of $22,113 in student loans. Soon after graduation, soil sciences degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $59,622. That is a strong return on a $22,113 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
The University Of Tennessee is a great value for students pursuing a degree in soil sciences, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,812, while out-of-state students pay about $33,256. Typical student debt for soil sciences graduates is $23,149. Early-career soil sciences graduates make about $55,322. Set against $23,149 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Tennessee admits about 42% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 5 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.
