2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Southeast Region
[Value](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/marketing/digital-marketing/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 31 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
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the value degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Value Schools
Our analysis ranked Atlanta Technical College the best value for a degree in value in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of Atlanta, Atlanta Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,382, compared with $5,950 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $17,655 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Atlanta Technical College generally make around $35,441. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chattahoochee Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #2 spot this year. Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Marietta. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,540, with out-of-state students paying around $6,108. Students borrow a median of $9,616 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $44,673. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Miami Dade College, which ranked #3. Miami Dade College is a very large public school located in the city of Miami. Students from in state pay about $2,838 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,661. Students borrow a median of $11,967 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $40,267. That is a strong return on a $11,967 median debt.
Meridian Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Meridian, Meridian Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,078, compared with $6,478 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $10,368. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Meridian Community College generally make around $34,846. Set against $10,368 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Arkansas Fort Smith earned it the #5 place for value. Located in the city of Fort Smith, University Of Arkansas Fort Smith is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,334, with out-of-state students paying around $12,182. Students borrow a median of $20,333 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Arkansas Fort Smith generally make around $39,204. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Georgia Piedmont Technical College landed the #6 spot for value value this year. Georgia Piedmont Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Clarkston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,404, compared with $5,954 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $15,716. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Georgia Piedmont Technical College generally make around $42,073. Set against $15,716 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Arkansas Tech University placed #7 among the best values for value. Located in the town of Russellville, Arkansas Tech University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,674, compared with $14,668 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,257 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $45,115. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Gwinnett Technical College came in at #8 for value in value this year. Gwinnett Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Lawrenceville. Students from in state pay about $3,524 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,092 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $18,048 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $39,288. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
East Tennessee State University placed #9 among the best values for value. East Tennessee State University is a large public school located in the city of Johnson City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,216, with out-of-state students paying around $13,726. Typical student debt for value graduates is $21,819. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from East Tennessee State University generally make around $35,632. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. East Tennessee State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Tennessee Wesleyan College earned the #10 position for value in value this year. Tennessee Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Athens. In-state tuition and fees average $30,814. Typical student debt for value graduates is $29,750. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Tennessee Wesleyan College generally make around $58,859. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham placed #11 among the best values for value. Located in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,098, compared with $22,562 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $26,750. Value graduates of University Of Alabama At Birmingham earn a median of $39,348 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Lynchburg College earned the #12 position for value in value this year. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Lynchburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $36,750. Value graduates of Lynchburg College earn a median of $107,159 early in their careers. The acceptance rate is 43%.
The University Of Alabama ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,180 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,172 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,071 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from The University Of Alabama generally make around $50,740. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Reinhardt University came in at #14 for value in value this year. Located in the rural area of Waleska, Reinhardt University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $30,074. Students borrow a median of $27,860 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Reinhardt University earn a median of $52,837 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,860 median debt. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Wake Forest University landed the #15 spot for value value this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,642. Value graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans. Value graduates of Wake Forest University earn a median of $67,369 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,577 median debt. Roughly 22% of applicants are accepted.
High Point University placed #16 among the best values for value. High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of High Point. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,312. Students borrow a median of $23,785 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of High Point University earn a median of $113,352 early in their careers. Set against $23,785 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 31 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
