2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Southeast Region
[Value](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/business-administration-and-management/science-technology-management/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value value schools.
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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
Leading the list is Southwest Tennessee Community College, our #1 best value for value in the Southeast Region. Set in the city of Memphis, Southwest Tennessee Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,766, compared with $17,750 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,406 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Southwest Tennessee Community College generally make around $43,592. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Troy University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Troy University is a large public school located in the town of Troy. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,176, with out-of-state students paying around $20,352. Value graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Troy University generally make around $56,013. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Troy University admits about 96% of applicants.
Peace College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Peace College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Raleigh. Students from in state pay about $34,176 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Peace College generally make around $47,278. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Peace College admits about 94% of applicants.
University Of South Carolina Columbia is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,688, compared with $36,298 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $26,000. Early-career value graduates make about $83,051. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Marymount University earned it the #5 place for value. Located in the city of Arlington, Marymount University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,120. Typical student debt for value graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Marymount University generally make around $71,122. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 6 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.
