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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Value Construction Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region

7 Colleges in the United States
$25,252 Avg Student Debt
$61,817 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Construction Engineering Badge [Construction Engineering](/majors/engineering/construction-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for construction engineering students.

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2026 Best Value Construction Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region

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

Best Value Construction Engineering Schools

1

Leading the list is University Of North Carolina At Charlotte, our #1 best value for construction engineering in the Southeast Region. Set in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,239, while out-of-state students pay about $22,492. Construction Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,673 in student loans. Soon after graduation, construction engineering degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte generally make around $51,799. Set against $24,673 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.

2

Students looking for strong value in construction engineering will find it at University Of Arkansas At Little Rock, which ranked #2. University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a large public school located in the city of Little Rock. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,911, with out-of-state students paying around $22,721. Typical student debt for construction engineering graduates is $27,093. Soon after graduation, construction engineering degree recipients from University Of Arkansas At Little Rock generally make around $47,170. That is a strong return on a $27,093 median debt. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.

3

Students looking for strong value in construction engineering will find it at North Carolina State University At Raleigh, which ranked #3. 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 $25,147 to complete the construction engineering program here. Soon after graduation, construction engineering degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $76,574. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants.

4

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Georgia Southern University earned it the #4 place for construction engineering. Set in the town of Statesboro, Georgia Southern University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,022 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,734 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for construction engineering graduates is $26,500. Early-career construction engineering graduates make about $45,531. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Georgia Southern University admits about 88% of applicants.

5

Students looking for strong value in construction engineering will find it at Kennesaw State University, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Kennesaw, Kennesaw State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,808 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,736. Students borrow a median of $27,004 to complete the construction engineering program here. Early-career construction engineering graduates make about $53,824. Set against $27,004 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kennesaw State University admits about 69% of applicants.

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6

Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College came in at #6 for value in construction engineering this year. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public school located in the city of Baton Rouge. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,954, compared with $28,631 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,348 to complete the construction engineering program here. Soon after graduation, construction engineering degree recipients from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College generally make around $49,718. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College admits about 73% of applicants.

7

Citadel Military College Of South Carolina landed the #7 spot for construction engineering value this year. Set in the city of Charleston, Citadel Military College Of South Carolina is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,570 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,508 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for construction engineering graduates is $24,305. Early-career construction engineering graduates make about $52,909. That is a strong return on a $24,305 median debt. Citadel Military College Of South Carolina admits about 23% of applicants.

8

The University Of Alabama earned the #8 position for value in construction engineering this year. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,180, with out-of-state students paying around $34,172. Construction Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,496 in student loans. Construction Engineering graduates of The University Of Alabama earn a median of $50,740 early in their careers. Set against $24,496 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.

9

Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #9 spot for construction engineering value this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,948, with out-of-state students paying around $37,764. Students borrow a median of $26,698 to complete the construction engineering program here. Soon after graduation, construction engineering degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $82,627. Set against $26,698 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 12 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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