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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Southeast Region

2 Colleges in the United States
$24,656 Avg Student Debt
$64,731 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Value Badge [Value](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/security-science-and-technology/cybersecurity-defense/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

College Factual analyzed 19 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value value schools.

What’s on this page:

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DEBUG: Checking offer "Cybersecurity (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.9
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DEBUG: Checking offer "MBA - Cybersecurity (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.9
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DEBUG: Checking offer "Ethical Hacking Dual Certification Boot Camp (All Degree Levels)" with relevance 0.9
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DEBUG: ✓ Offer "CCSP Training Boot Camp (All Degree Levels)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.9)
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DEBUG: ✓ Offer "CISSP Training Boot Camp (All Degree Levels)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.9)
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DEBUG: ✓ Offer "MS in Cyber Security" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.9)
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DEBUG: ✓ Offer "CCNA & CyberOps Training Boot Camp (All Degree Levels)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
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2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Southeast Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Value Schools

1

For return on investment in value, no school beat Kennesaw State University this year. Kennesaw State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kennesaw. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,808, with out-of-state students paying around $17,736. Value graduates carry a median of $27,004 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $53,824. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.

2
Regent University crest
Regent University
Virginia Beach, VA

Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Regent University, which ranked #2. Regent University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. Students from in state pay about $21,650 in tuition and fees. Value graduates carry a median of $29,451 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Regent University generally make around $67,561. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.

3

A rank of #3 makes Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide one of the best values for value. Set in the city of Daytona Beach, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,097. Students borrow a median of $20,787 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide generally make around $94,550. That is a strong return on a $20,787 median debt. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide admits about 58% of applicants.

4

A rank of #4 makes Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University one of the best values for value. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,948, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Value graduates carry a median of $23,393 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $60,004. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 55%.

5

A rank of #5 makes University Of Charleston one of the best values for value. University Of Charleston is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Charleston. Students from in state pay about $22,617 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for value graduates is $22,646. Early-career value graduates make about $64,407. Set against $22,646 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 62%.

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 19 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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