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2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Southeast Region

[Value](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/microbiological-sciences-immunology/infectious-disease-and-global-health/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong value education at a price that pays off.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 3 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for value students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Value Schools in the Southeast Region

2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Southeast Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Value Schools

1

Duke University
Durham, NC

$68,758 In-State Tuition & Fees

$13,296 Avg Student Debt

$97,800 Median Earnings (10yr)

Duke University earned the #1 spot for value among value schools in the Southeast Region. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,758 in tuition and fees. Value graduates carry a median of $13,296 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $83,388. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Duke University admits about 6% of applicants.

2

Tulane University Of Louisiana
New Orleans, LA

$68,678 In-State Tuition & Fees

$22,077 Avg Student Debt

$63,268 Median Earnings (10yr)

Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Tulane University Of Louisiana, which ranked #2. Located in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,678. Value graduates carry a median of $22,077 in student loans. Value graduates of Tulane University Of Louisiana earn a median of $54,082 early in their careers. Set against $22,077 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Tulane University Of Louisiana admits about 14% of applicants.

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Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 3 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.