2026 Best Value Latin American Studies Schools in the Southeast Region
[Latin American Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/area-studies/latin-american-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 21 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value latin american studies schools.
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2026 Best Value Latin American Studies Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the latin american studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Latin American Studies Schools
Leading the list is University Of Florida, our #1 best value for latin american studies in the Southeast Region. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for latin american studies graduates is $17,669. Early-career latin american studies graduates make about $58,388. Set against $17,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value latin american studies schools. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,994, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Latin American Studies graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, latin american studies degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $31,955. That is a strong return on a $13,000 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Florida International University one of the best values for latin american studies. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,565 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for latin american studies graduates is $21,544. Early-career latin american studies graduates make about $19,457. Set against $21,544 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Kentucky earned it the #4 place for latin american studies. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,502, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. Typical student debt for latin american studies graduates is $24,094. Early-career latin american studies graduates make about $49,568. Set against $24,094 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Vanderbilt University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value latin american studies schools. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete the latin american studies program here. Latin American Studies graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $77,997 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
Duke University earned the #6 position for value in latin american studies this year. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,758. Students borrow a median of $13,296 to complete the latin american studies program here. Soon after graduation, latin american studies degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $83,388. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Duke University admits about 6% of applicants.
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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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
