2026 Best Value Community Health and Preventive Medicine Schools in the Southeast Region

[Community Health and Preventive Medicine](/majors/health-care-professions/public-health/community-health-and-preventive-medicine/) 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 30 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value community health and preventive medicine schools.
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2026 Best Value Community Health and Preventive Medicine Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the community health and preventive medicine degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Community Health and Preventive Medicine Schools
For return on investment in community health and preventive medicine, no school beat University Of Florida Online this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida Online is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,876, with out-of-state students paying around $16,579. Students borrow a median of $17,580 to complete the community health and preventive medicine program here. Soon after graduation, community health and preventive medicine degree recipients from University Of Florida Online generally make around $30,056. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Florida Online admits about 61% of applicants.
Indian River State College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value community health and preventive medicine schools. Set in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,764, while out-of-state students pay about $10,201. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. Soon after graduation, community health and preventive medicine degree recipients from Indian River State College generally make around $44,082. That is a strong return on a $10,492 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Florida earned it the #3 place for community health and preventive medicine. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates carry a median of $17,580 in student loans. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $42,481 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Eastern Florida State College earned it the #4 place for community health and preventive medicine. Set in the city of Melbourne, Eastern Florida State College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,791, with out-of-state students paying around $10,976. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete the community health and preventive medicine program here. Soon after graduation, community health and preventive medicine degree recipients from Eastern Florida State College generally make around $34,462. That is a strong return on a $22,000 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Big Sandy Community And Technical College one of the best values for community health and preventive medicine. Located in the town of Prestonsburg, Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for community health and preventive medicine graduates is $11,588. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates of Big Sandy Community And Technical College earn a median of $33,956 early in their careers. Set against $11,588 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Murray State University came in at #6 for value in community health and preventive medicine this year. Located in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,900 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,836. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the community health and preventive medicine program here. Early-career community health and preventive medicine graduates make about $38,753. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Murray State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Louisiana State University Shreveport came in at #7 for value in community health and preventive medicine this year. Located in the city of Shreveport, Louisiana State University Shreveport is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,327. Students borrow a median of $28,907 to complete the community health and preventive medicine program here. Early-career community health and preventive medicine graduates make about $45,300. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Florida Gulf Coast University earned the #8 position for value in community health and preventive medicine this year. Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public school located in the suburb of Fort Myers. In-state tuition and fees average $6,118, while out-of-state students pay about $25,162. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates carry a median of $19,295 in student loans. Early-career community health and preventive medicine graduates make about $50,726. That is a strong return on a $19,295 median debt. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Florida landed the #9 spot for community health and preventive medicine value this year. Set in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,964, with out-of-state students paying around $19,407. Typical student debt for community health and preventive medicine graduates is $18,523. Soon after graduation, community health and preventive medicine degree recipients from University Of North Florida generally make around $49,208. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 53% of applicants are accepted.
Western Kentucky University placed #10 among the best values for community health and preventive medicine. Located in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,652, while out-of-state students pay about $27,000. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates carry a median of $23,543 in student loans. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates of Western Kentucky University earn a median of $44,778 early in their careers. Set against $23,543 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
West Virginia University landed the #11 spot for community health and preventive medicine value this year. West Virginia University is a very large public school located in the city of Morgantown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,104, with out-of-state students paying around $28,608. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the community health and preventive medicine program here. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates of West Virginia University earn a median of $43,076 early in their careers. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of Mississippi Main Campus earned the #12 position for value in community health and preventive medicine this year. Set in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,772, compared with $28,600 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,444 to complete the community health and preventive medicine program here. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates of University Of Mississippi Main Campus earn a median of $50,876 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Mississippi Main Campus admits about 97% of applicants.
Radford University earned the #13 position for value in community health and preventive medicine this year. Radford University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Radford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,548, while out-of-state students pay about $25,633. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates carry a median of $21,323 in student loans. Soon after graduation, community health and preventive medicine degree recipients from Radford University generally make around $47,271. That is a strong return on a $21,323 median debt. Radford University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Memphis earned the #14 position for value in community health and preventive medicine this year. Located in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,384. Typical student debt for community health and preventive medicine graduates is $26,315. Early-career community health and preventive medicine graduates make about $52,391. That is a strong return on a $26,315 median debt. University Of Memphis admits about 72% of applicants.
George Mason University landed the #15 spot for community health and preventive medicine value this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,220 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete the community health and preventive medicine program here. Early-career community health and preventive medicine graduates make about $52,149. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. George Mason University admits about 88% of applicants.
Georgia College And State University landed the #16 spot for community health and preventive medicine value this year. Set in the town of Milledgeville, Georgia College And State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,186, with out-of-state students paying around $29,512. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career community health and preventive medicine graduates make about $51,197. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Rasmussen College Florida ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value community health and preventive medicine schools. Set in the city of Ocala, Rasmussen College Florida is a moderately-sized private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,256. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates carry a median of $40,809 in student loans. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates of Rasmussen College Florida earn a median of $35,433 early in their careers. Set against $40,809 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The University Of Alabama earned the #18 position for value in community health and preventive medicine this year. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,180, compared with $34,172 for out-of-state students. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career community health and preventive medicine graduates make about $35,698. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Alabama admits about 77% of applicants.
Mercer University earned the #19 position for value in community health and preventive medicine this year. Located in the city of Macon, Mercer University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,565. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the community health and preventive medicine program here. Soon after graduation, community health and preventive medicine degree recipients from Mercer University generally make around $37,646. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 30 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.