2026 Best Value General Apparel & Textiles Schools in the Southeast Region

[General Apparel & Textiles](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/apparel-textile-studies/apparel-and-textiles-general/) 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 15 schools to find the best return on investment for general apparel & textiles students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value General Apparel & Textiles Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general apparel & textiles degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Apparel & Textiles Schools
For return on investment in general apparel & textiles, no school beat Florida State University this year. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,517, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Typical student debt for general apparel & textiles graduates is $20,100. Early-career general apparel & textiles graduates make about $41,130. Set against $20,100 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 24%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earned it the #2 place for general apparel & textiles. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,661 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,012. Typical student debt for general apparel & textiles graduates is $26,000. Early-career general apparel & textiles graduates make about $40,059. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Western Kentucky University earned it the #3 place for general apparel & textiles. Located in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,652, compared with $27,000 for out-of-state students. General Apparel & Textiles graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. General Apparel & Textiles graduates of Western Kentucky University earn a median of $36,635 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general apparel & textiles will find it at Middle Tennessee State University, which ranked #4. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,266, while out-of-state students pay about $31,574. Typical student debt for general apparel & textiles graduates is $25,000. General Apparel & Textiles graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $30,371 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Middle Tennessee State University admits about 69% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Mississippi State University one of the best values for general apparel & textiles. Mississippi State University is a very large public school located in the town of Mississippi State. Students from in state pay about $10,202 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,637 for out-of-state students. General Apparel & Textiles graduates carry a median of $24,625 in student loans. Early-career general apparel & textiles graduates make about $31,352. That is a strong return on a $24,625 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Appalachian State University earned the #6 position for value in general apparel & textiles this year. Located in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,579, while out-of-state students pay about $25,212. General Apparel & Textiles graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career general apparel & textiles graduates make about $36,945. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
East Carolina University came in at #7 for value in general apparel & textiles this year. East Carolina University is a very large public school located in the city of Greenville. Students from in state pay about $7,361 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $23,638. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the general apparel & textiles program here. Soon after graduation, general apparel & textiles degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $32,418. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Kentucky landed the #8 spot for general apparel & textiles value this year. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,502, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the general apparel & textiles program here. Soon after graduation, general apparel & textiles degree recipients from University Of Kentucky generally make around $34,315. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Georgia Southern University placed #9 among the best values for general apparel & textiles. Georgia Southern University is a very large public school located in the town of Statesboro. Students from in state pay about $6,022 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,734 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $29,250 to complete the general apparel & textiles program here. General Apparel & Textiles graduates of Georgia Southern University earn a median of $28,911 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Arkansas landed the #10 spot for general apparel & textiles value this year. University Of Arkansas is a very large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,966. General Apparel & Textiles graduates carry a median of $25,225 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general apparel & textiles degree recipients from University Of Arkansas generally make around $40,948. That is a strong return on a $25,225 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College came in at #11 for value in general apparel & textiles this year. Set in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,954, with out-of-state students paying around $28,631. Students borrow a median of $23,307 to complete the general apparel & textiles program here. Soon after graduation, general apparel & textiles degree recipients from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College generally make around $26,004. Set against $23,307 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.
The University Of Alabama placed #12 among the best values for general apparel & textiles. The University Of Alabama is a very large public school located in the city of Tuscaloosa. Students from in state pay about $12,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,172. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the general apparel & textiles program here. Soon after graduation, general apparel & textiles degree recipients from The University Of Alabama generally make around $37,111. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Liberty University landed the #13 spot for general apparel & textiles value this year. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,173. Typical student debt for general apparel & textiles graduates is $22,500. General Apparel & Textiles graduates of Liberty University earn a median of $31,796 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
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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 · 15 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.