2026 Best Value General Public Health Schools in the Southeast Region
[General Public Health](/majors/health-care-professions/public-health/public-health-general/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 123 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general public health students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value General Public Health Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general public health degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Public Health Schools
For return on investment in general public health, no school beat University Of Florida this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. General Public Health graduates carry a median of $17,580 in student loans. General Public Health graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $42,481 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,580 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.
A rank of #2 makes The University Of West Florida one of the best values for general public health. The University Of West Florida is a large public school located in the rural area of Pensacola. In-state tuition and fees average $5,776, compared with $18,658 for out-of-state students. General Public Health graduates carry a median of $19,677 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general public health degree recipients from The University Of West Florida generally make around $67,270. Set against $19,677 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of South Florida Main Campus earned it the #3 place for general public health. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,410, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Students borrow a median of $22,345 to complete the general public health program here. General Public Health graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $65,148 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general public health, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,994 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. Students borrow a median of $16,203 to complete the general public health program here. Soon after graduation, general public health degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $75,293. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general public health will find it at Florida International University, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,565, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,349 to complete the general public health program here. Soon after graduation, general public health degree recipients from Florida International University generally make around $53,193. That is a strong return on a $19,349 median debt. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.
Florida State University placed #6 among the best values for general public health. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,517, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. General Public Health graduates carry a median of $20,488 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general public health degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $43,953. That is a strong return on a $20,488 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Louisiana State University Shreveport placed #7 among the best values for general public health. Set in the city of Shreveport, Louisiana State University Shreveport is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,327. Typical student debt for general public health graduates is $28,907. Early-career general public health 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 landed the #8 spot for general public health value this year. Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public school located in the suburb of Fort Myers. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,118, while out-of-state students pay about $25,162. Typical student debt for general public health graduates is $19,295. Early-career general public health graduates make about $35,724. That is a strong return on a $19,295 median debt. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
American Public University System placed #9 among the best values for general public health. Located in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,400. General Public Health graduates carry a median of $27,081 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general public health degree recipients from American Public University System generally make around $53,901. Set against $27,081 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of North Florida came in at #10 for value in general public health this year. University Of North Florida is a large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,964, while out-of-state students pay about $19,407. General Public Health graduates carry a median of $18,523 in student loans. General Public Health graduates of University Of North Florida earn a median of $55,503 early in their careers. Set against $18,523 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 53%.
Eastern Kentucky University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value general public health schools. Set in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,320 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,230 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general public health graduates is $22,999. Early-career general public health graduates make about $40,921. That is a strong return on a $22,999 median debt. Eastern Kentucky University admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of Georgia placed #12 among the best values for general public health. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general public health graduates is $21,500. Early-career general public health graduates make about $43,268. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Western Kentucky University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value general public health schools. 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. Typical student debt for general public health graduates is $23,543. Soon after graduation, general public health degree recipients from Western Kentucky University generally make around $44,778. That is a strong return on a $23,543 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
West Virginia University came in at #14 for value in general public health this year. Located in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,104, with out-of-state students paying around $28,608. General Public Health graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general public health degree recipients from West Virginia University generally make around $43,076. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. West Virginia University admits about 89% of applicants.
Marshall University earned the #15 position for value in general public health this year. Marshall University is a large public school located in the city of Huntington. In-state tuition and fees average $9,162, while out-of-state students pay about $20,342. General Public Health graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Early-career general public health graduates make about $52,481. Set against $25,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Marshall University admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of Mississippi Main Campus came in at #16 for value in general public health this year. University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of University. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,772, with out-of-state students paying around $28,600. Students borrow a median of $22,444 to complete the general public health program here. Early-career general public health graduates make about $50,876. That is a strong return on a $22,444 median debt. University Of Mississippi Main Campus admits about 97% of applicants.
Tennessee State University came in at #17 for value in general public health this year. Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Nashville. In-state tuition and fees average $8,616, with out-of-state students paying around $22,416. General Public Health graduates carry a median of $29,489 in student loans. General Public Health graduates of Tennessee State University earn a median of $45,060 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Asheville earned the #18 position for value in general public health this year. Located in the city of Asheville, University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,501, with out-of-state students paying around $24,849. Students borrow a median of $23,141 to complete the general public health program here. General Public Health graduates of University Of North Carolina At Asheville earn a median of $27,913 early in their careers. Set against $23,141 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte came in at #19 for value in general public health this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,239, while out-of-state students pay about $22,492. General Public Health graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general public health degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte generally make around $46,752. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Old Dominion University landed the #20 spot for general public health value this year. Set in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,750, with out-of-state students paying around $33,780. Typical student debt for general public health graduates is $26,001. Soon after graduation, general public health degree recipients from Old Dominion University generally make around $57,131. That is a strong return on a $26,001 median debt. Old Dominion University admits about 90% of applicants.
Middle Tennessee State University landed the #21 spot for general public health value this year. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,266, while out-of-state students pay about $31,574. General Public Health graduates carry a median of $27,758 in student loans. Early-career general public health graduates make about $30,321. That is a strong return on a $27,758 median debt. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Southeastern Louisiana University came in at #22 for value in general public health this year. Located in the city of Hammond, Southeastern Louisiana University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,373 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,851. Typical student debt for general public health graduates is $26,500. Soon after graduation, general public health degree recipients from Southeastern Louisiana University generally make around $34,751. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Mississippi University For Women came in at #23 for value in general public health this year. Mississippi University For Women is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Columbus. Students from in state pay about $8,492 in tuition and fees. General Public Health graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Early-career general public health graduates make about $30,813. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Augusta University landed the #24 spot for general public health value this year. Set in the city of Augusta, Augusta University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,414, with out-of-state students paying around $24,734. Students borrow a median of $25,745 to complete the general public health program here. Early-career general public health graduates make about $58,410. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Memphis came in at #25 for value in general public health this year. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,384. Typical student debt for general public health graduates is $26,315. General Public Health graduates of University Of Memphis earn a median of $52,391 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value General Public Health Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for general public health this year:
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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 · 123 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 59 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.
