2026 Best Value Real Estate Schools in the Southeast Region
[Real Estate](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/real-estate/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 33 schools to find the best return on investment for real estate students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Real Estate Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the real estate degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Real Estate Schools
For return on investment in real estate, no school beat University Of Florida this year. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete the real estate program here. Early-career real estate graduates make about $77,016. Set against $17,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
American Public University System is a great value for students pursuing a degree in real estate, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,400. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $23,765. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from American Public University System generally make around $43,251. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in real estate will find it at Florida International University, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,565, while out-of-state students pay about $18,964. Students borrow a median of $19,349 to complete the real estate program here. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from Florida International University generally make around $57,622. That is a strong return on a $19,349 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Florida State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value real estate schools. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $19,500. Real Estate graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $55,257 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida State University admits about 24% of applicants.
University Of Central Florida came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value real estate schools. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,368, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $21,032 in student loans. Real Estate graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $41,218 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Valencia College came in at #6 for value in real estate this year. Located in the city of Orlando, Valencia College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,664, while out-of-state students pay about $9,576. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $14,413 in student loans. Early-career real estate graduates make about $42,786. Set against $14,413 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Palm Beach State College placed #7 among the best values for real estate. Located in the suburb of Lake Worth, Palm Beach State College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,050, compared with $10,910 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $17,349. Real Estate graduates of Palm Beach State College earn a median of $32,983 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Mississippi Main Campus landed the #8 spot for real estate value this year. Set in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,772, with out-of-state students paying around $28,600. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Real Estate graduates of University Of Mississippi Main Campus earn a median of $49,283 early in their careers. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Mississippi Main Campus admits about 97% of applicants.
Delgado Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value real estate schools. Delgado Community College is a large public school located in the city of New Orleans. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,279. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $27,744. Real Estate graduates of Delgado Community College earn a median of $36,073 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,744 median debt.
University Of Georgia placed #10 among the best values for real estate. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $24,027. Real Estate graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $55,655 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,027 median debt. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte landed the #11 spot for real estate value this year. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. Students from in state pay about $7,239 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,492. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $24,673. Real Estate graduates of University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn a median of $51,799 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,673 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
George Mason University came in at #12 for value in real estate this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,220, while out-of-state students pay about $38,688. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $124,633. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia State University placed #13 among the best values for real estate. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,664 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,840 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $29,789. Real Estate graduates of Georgia State University earn a median of $44,015 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,789 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value real estate schools. Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public school located in the city of Richmond. Students from in state pay about $16,720 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $39,884. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $23,813 in student loans. Early-career real estate graduates make about $47,681. Set against $23,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
College Of Charleston earned the #15 position for value in real estate this year. Set in the city of Charleston, College Of Charleston is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,978, with out-of-state students paying around $38,296. Students borrow a median of $24,733 to complete the real estate program here. Real Estate graduates of College Of Charleston earn a median of $40,222 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,733 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Clemson University landed the #16 spot for real estate value this year. Clemson University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Clemson. In-state tuition and fees average $15,554, while out-of-state students pay about $40,866. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $23,783. Real Estate graduates of Clemson University earn a median of $82,366 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,783 median debt. Clemson University admits about 38% of applicants.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #17 among the best values for real estate. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,948, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career real estate graduates make about $68,078. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Carolina Columbia came in at #18 for value in real estate this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,688, while out-of-state students pay about $36,298. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete the real estate program here. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Columbia generally make around $51,965. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Carolina Columbia admits about 60% of applicants.
Nova Southeastern University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value real estate schools. Set in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale, Nova Southeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $38,700. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $25,021 in student loans. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from Nova Southeastern University generally make around $57,509. Set against $25,021 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Miami placed #20 among the best values for real estate. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,616. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from University Of Miami generally make around $57,234. Set against $17,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Miami admits about 19% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 33 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
