2026 Best Value General Intelligence Schools in the Southeast Region
[General Intelligence](/majors/military-technologies-sciences/intelligence-command-control-ops/intelligence-general/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for general intelligence students.
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2026 Best Value General Intelligence Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general intelligence, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Intelligence Schools
Our analysis ranked American Public University System the best value for a degree in general intelligence in the Southeast Region. American Public University System is a very large private for-profit school located in the town of Charles Town. Students from in state pay about $8,400 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,438 to complete the general intelligence program here. Early-career general intelligence graduates make about $57,404. That is a strong return on a $23,438 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in general intelligence will find it at Eastern Kentucky University, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,320, with out-of-state students paying around $21,230. Students borrow a median of $25,122 to complete the general intelligence program here. Early-career general intelligence graduates make about $43,891. Set against $25,122 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern Kentucky University admits about 78% of applicants.
Coastal Carolina University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general intelligence, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Conway, Coastal Carolina University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,640 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,628. Typical student debt for general intelligence graduates is $24,878. Early-career general intelligence graduates make about $35,150. Set against $24,878 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Coastal Carolina University admits about 75% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general intelligence will find it at Citadel Military College Of South Carolina, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Charleston, Citadel Military College Of South Carolina is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,570, compared with $38,508 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general intelligence graduates is $26,499. General Intelligence graduates of Citadel Military College Of South Carolina earn a median of $42,362 early in their careers. Set against $26,499 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 23%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 6 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.
