2026 Best Value English Schools in Georgia

[English](/majors/english-language-literature/general-english-language-literature/english/) 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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 40 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for english students.
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2026 Best Value English Schools in Georgia
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the english degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value English Schools
Leading the list is University Of North Georgia, our #1 best value for english in Georgia. University Of North Georgia is a very large public school located in the town of Dahlonega. Students from in state pay about $5,444 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,956 for out-of-state students. English graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. English graduates of University Of North Georgia earn a median of $35,733 early in their careers. Set against $24,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Students looking for strong value in english will find it at Clayton State University, which ranked #2. Clayton State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Morrow. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,180, with out-of-state students paying around $16,532. English graduates carry a median of $22,638 in student loans. English graduates of Clayton State University earn a median of $22,874 early in their careers. Set against $22,638 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Dalton State College earned it the #3 place for english. Dalton State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Dalton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,336, with out-of-state students paying around $10,656. English graduates carry a median of $14,955 in student loans. Early-career english graduates make about $41,654. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Georgia earned it the #4 place for english. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the english program here. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $35,621. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Augusta University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in english, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Augusta, Augusta University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,414, compared with $24,734 for out-of-state students. English graduates carry a median of $25,745 in student loans. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Augusta University generally make around $56,168. That is a strong return on a $25,745 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Columbus State University placed #6 among the best values for english. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,898, compared with $17,610 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $29,114 to complete the english program here. Early-career english graduates make about $23,987. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia Gwinnett College landed the #7 spot for english value this year. Set in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Georgia Gwinnett College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,532, while out-of-state students pay about $13,844. Typical student debt for english graduates is $21,280. Early-career english graduates make about $55,992. That is a strong return on a $21,280 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Middle Georgia State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value english schools. Middle Georgia State University is a large public school located in the city of Macon. In-state tuition and fees average $5,038, while out-of-state students pay about $16,390. Students borrow a median of $26,976 to complete the english program here. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Middle Georgia State University generally make around $48,207. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Middle Georgia State University admits about 100% of applicants.
University Of West Georgia landed the #9 spot for english value this year. Located in the town of Carrollton, University Of West Georgia is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,088 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,800. English graduates carry a median of $26,657 in student loans. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from University Of West Georgia generally make around $24,055. Set against $26,657 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 52%.
Georgia State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value english schools. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,664, with out-of-state students paying around $24,840. Students borrow a median of $27,513 to complete the english program here. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Georgia State University generally make around $37,066. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia Southern University placed #11 among the best values for english. Set in the town of Statesboro, Georgia Southern University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,022, while out-of-state students pay about $17,734. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the english program here. English graduates of Georgia Southern University earn a median of $32,811 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Kennesaw State University came in at #12 for value in english this year. Kennesaw State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kennesaw. Students from in state pay about $5,808 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,736. English graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career english graduates make about $26,801. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia College And State University came in at #13 for value in english this year. Set in the town of Milledgeville, Georgia College And State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,186 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,512. English graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. English graduates of Georgia College And State University earn a median of $26,308 early in their careers. Set against $25,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Berry College earned the #14 position for value in english this year. Set in the suburb of Mount Berry, Berry College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,486. Typical student debt for english graduates is $24,797. Early-career english graduates make about $50,785. Set against $24,797 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Mercer University came in at #15 for value in english this year. Set in the city of Macon, Mercer University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,565. Students borrow a median of $32,463 to complete the english program here. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Mercer University generally make around $56,699. Set against $32,463 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Mercer University admits about 69% of applicants.
Emory University earned the #16 position for value in english this year. Emory University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Atlanta. In-state tuition and fees average $64,280. Typical student debt for english graduates is $21,000. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Emory University generally make around $36,019. That is a strong return on a $21,000 median debt. Emory University admits about 11% of applicants.
Spelman College landed the #17 spot for english value this year. Spelman College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Atlanta. In-state tuition and fees average $31,556. English graduates carry a median of $25,564 in student loans. Early-career english graduates make about $31,129. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 25% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 40 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.