2026 Best Value Science Education Schools in the Southeast Region
[Science Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/science-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong science education education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 53 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for science education students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Science Education Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the science education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Science Education Schools
For return on investment in science education, no school beat University Of Florida this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Science Education graduates carry a median of $15,275 in student loans. Science Education graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $51,476 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Itawamba Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value science education schools. Set in the rural area of Fulton, Itawamba Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,420, while out-of-state students pay about $5,820. Students borrow a median of $10,942 to complete the science education program here. Early-career science education graduates make about $40,832. Set against $10,942 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of South Florida Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in science education, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,410 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Students borrow a median of $20,375 to complete the science education program here. Early-career science education graduates make about $51,543. Set against $20,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 43%.
Florida Atlantic University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in science education, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,879 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Science Education graduates carry a median of $27,516 in student loans. Science Education graduates of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of $49,340 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,516 median debt. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Carolina At Pembroke earned it the #5 place for science education. Set in the town of Pembroke, University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,648 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,648 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for science education graduates is $26,660. Science Education graduates of University Of North Carolina At Pembroke earn a median of $40,578 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
University Of Georgia earned the #6 position for value in science education this year. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Science Education graduates carry a median of $20,750 in student loans. Early-career science education graduates make about $61,081. Set against $20,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 38%.
University Of Mississippi Main Campus landed the #7 spot for science education value this year. University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of University. Students from in state pay about $9,772 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,600 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete the science education program here. Soon after graduation, science education degree recipients from University Of Mississippi Main Campus generally make around $39,985. Set against $21,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Western Carolina University came in at #8 for value in science education this year. Set in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,630, with out-of-state students paying around $8,630. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete the science education program here. Science Education graduates of Western Carolina University earn a median of $41,444 early in their careers. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Columbus State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value science education schools. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,898, with out-of-state students paying around $17,610. Students borrow a median of $28,040 to complete the science education program here. Early-career science education graduates make about $51,154. That is a strong return on a $28,040 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #10 among the best values for science education. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the science education program here. Soon after graduation, science education degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $50,110. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants.
East Carolina University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value science education schools. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,361, with out-of-state students paying around $23,638. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the science education program here. Soon after graduation, science education degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $48,318. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff came in at #12 for value in science education this year. University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Pine Bluff. Students from in state pay about $9,375 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,955. Typical student debt for science education graduates is $25,984. Early-career science education graduates make about $35,490. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff admits about 41% of applicants.
University Of Southern Mississippi landed the #13 spot for science education value this year. Set in the city of Hattiesburg, University Of Southern Mississippi is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,998, with out-of-state students paying around $11,998. Science Education graduates carry a median of $25,415 in student loans. Science Education graduates of University Of Southern Mississippi earn a median of $52,338 early in their careers. Set against $25,415 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia State University earned the #14 position for value in science education this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,664, while out-of-state students pay about $24,840. Typical student debt for science education graduates is $28,687. Early-career science education graduates make about $57,563. That is a strong return on a $28,687 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Kentucky placed #15 among the best values for science education. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,502 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. Students borrow a median of $24,002 to complete the science education program here. Science Education graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $49,568 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia Southern University earned the #16 position for value in science education this year. Located in the town of Statesboro, Georgia Southern University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,022 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,734. Typical student debt for science education graduates is $27,000. Science Education graduates of Georgia Southern University earn a median of $45,531 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Louisville earned the #17 position for value in science education this year. University Of Louisville is a very large public school located in the city of Louisville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,136, with out-of-state students paying around $29,482. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete the science education program here. Science Education graduates of University Of Louisville earn a median of $56,181 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tennessee earned the #18 position for value in science education this year. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,812, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. Science Education graduates carry a median of $22,859 in student loans. Early-career science education graduates make about $47,975. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Mount Olive College placed #19 among the best values for science education. Mount Olive College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Mount Olive. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,366. Typical student debt for science education graduates is $26,889. Soon after graduation, science education degree recipients from Mount Olive College generally make around $45,131. That is a strong return on a $26,889 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Bob Jones University landed the #20 spot for science education value this year. Located in the city of Greenville, Bob Jones University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,892. Science Education graduates carry a median of $17,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, science education degree recipients from Bob Jones University generally make around $36,109. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harding University landed the #21 spot for science education value this year. Located in the town of Searcy, Harding University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $25,962 in tuition and fees. Science Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career science education graduates make about $53,629. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
North Greenville University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value science education schools. North Greenville University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Tigerville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,800. Science Education graduates carry a median of $19,271 in student loans. Early-career science education graduates make about $42,864. Set against $19,271 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. North Greenville University admits about 67% of applicants.
Piedmont College earned the #23 position for value in science education this year. Piedmont College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Demorest. Students from in state pay about $31,700 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,975 to complete the science education program here. Soon after graduation, science education degree recipients from Piedmont College generally make around $55,865. That is a strong return on a $29,975 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Clemson University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value science education schools. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,554 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,866. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the science education program here. Science Education graduates of Clemson University earn a median of $44,856 early in their careers. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Auburn University earned the #25 position for value in science education this year. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,890, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Typical student debt for science education graduates is $23,600. Early-career science education graduates make about $60,823. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 27 Best Value Science Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s science education value ranking:
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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 · 53 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
