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2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the value degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Value Schools
Our analysis ranked St Petersburg College the best value for a degree in value in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,682 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,286. Students borrow a median of $24,385 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of St Petersburg College earn a median of $48,218 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,385 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Hillsborough Community College one of the best values for value. Hillsborough Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,491, with out-of-state students paying around $9,088. Value graduates carry a median of $16,142 in student loans. Value graduates of Hillsborough Community College earn a median of $44,101 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Central Carolina Community College earned it the #3 place for value. Set in the town of Sanford, Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,711, compared with $8,855 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,266 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Central Carolina Community College generally make around $38,198. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Chattahoochee Technical College earned it the #4 place for value. Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Marietta. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,540, with out-of-state students paying around $6,108. Value graduates carry a median of $9,616 in student loans. Value graduates of Chattahoochee Technical College earn a median of $44,673 early in their careers. Set against $9,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at West Georgia Technical College, which ranked #5. West Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Waco. In-state tuition and fees average $3,410, with out-of-state students paying around $5,978. Typical student debt for value graduates is $12,651. Early-career value graduates make about $39,922. Set against $12,651 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
ADBLOCK #101
Fayetteville Technical Community College placed #6 among the best values for value. Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. In-state tuition and fees average $2,628, compared with $8,772 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,909 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Fayetteville Technical Community College earn a median of $40,584 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southern Crescent Technical College came in at #7 for value in value this year. Southern Crescent Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Griffin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,516, while out-of-state students pay about $6,084. Value graduates carry a median of $17,619 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Southern Crescent Technical College generally make around $45,062. That is a strong return on a $17,619 median debt.
Miami Dade College earned the #8 position for value in value this year. Miami Dade College is a very large public school located in the city of Miami. In-state tuition and fees average $2,838, with out-of-state students paying around $9,661. Value graduates carry a median of $11,967 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Miami Dade College generally make around $40,267. That is a strong return on a $11,967 median debt.
Eastern Florida State College earned the #9 position for value in value this year. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $10,976. Value graduates carry a median of $18,123 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Eastern Florida State College generally make around $44,690. Set against $18,123 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wake Technical Community College landed the #10 spot for value value this year. Wake Technical Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Raleigh. Students from in state pay about $2,254 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,862. Typical student debt for value graduates is $17,900. Value graduates of Wake Technical Community College earn a median of $38,673 early in their careers. Set against $17,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Forsyth Technical Community College earned the #11 position for value in value this year. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,276, with out-of-state students paying around $6,884. Students borrow a median of $16,374 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $38,094. That is a strong return on a $16,374 median debt.
Fayetteville State University earned the #12 position for value in value this year. Fayetteville State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Fayetteville. Students from in state pay about $4,353 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,353 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $27,869. Early-career value graduates make about $41,449. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Edison State College placed #13 among the best values for value. Edison State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Fort Myers. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,401, while out-of-state students pay about $12,979. Students borrow a median of $13,356 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Edison State College earn a median of $52,597 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida International University landed the #14 spot for value value this year. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,565, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $19,349. Early-career value graduates make about $52,517. Set against $19,349 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Tidewater Community College came in at #15 for value in value this year. Tidewater Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,858, with out-of-state students paying around $12,296. Value graduates carry a median of $14,001 in student loans. Value graduates of Tidewater Community College earn a median of $35,627 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,001 median debt.
Marshall University landed the #16 spot for value value this year. Marshall University is a large public school located in the city of Huntington. Students from in state pay about $9,162 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,342. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $51,959. Set against $25,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
American Public University System ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Located in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $8,400 in tuition and fees. Value graduates carry a median of $32,294 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $49,622. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Palm Beach State College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Set in the suburb of Lake Worth, Palm Beach State College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,050, compared with $10,910 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,518 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Palm Beach State College earn a median of $42,501 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,518 median debt.
University Of Central Florida came in at #19 for value in value this year. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,368, while out-of-state students pay about $22,467. Typical student debt for value graduates is $21,620. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Central Florida generally make around $51,790. Set against $21,620 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Florida Gulf Coast University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Set in the suburb of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,118, with out-of-state students paying around $25,162. Students borrow a median of $19,046 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Florida Gulf Coast University generally make around $28,173. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida Gulf Coast University admits about 63% of applicants.
Middle Tennessee State University earned the #21 position for value in 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, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Value graduates carry a median of $22,754 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $39,956. Set against $22,754 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Middle Tennessee State University admits about 69% of applicants.
West Virginia University landed the #22 spot for value value this year. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,104, with out-of-state students paying around $28,608. Typical student debt for value graduates is $24,324. Value graduates of West Virginia University earn a median of $59,347 early in their careers. Set against $24,324 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. West Virginia University admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of Southern Mississippi placed #23 among the best values for value. Set in the city of Hattiesburg, University Of Southern Mississippi is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,998, with out-of-state students paying around $11,998. Students borrow a median of $25,415 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Southern Mississippi generally make around $52,338. That is a strong return on a $25,415 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Alabama State University earned the #24 position for value in value this year. Set in the city of Montgomery, Alabama State University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,248, while out-of-state students pay about $19,576. Value graduates carry a median of $33,709 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Alabama State University generally make around $37,721. Set against $33,709 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham placed #25 among the best values for value. University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public school located in the city of Birmingham. In-state tuition and fees average $9,098, while out-of-state students pay about $22,562. Students borrow a median of $26,162 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Alabama At Birmingham generally make around $55,413. That is a strong return on a $26,162 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 31 Best Value Value Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in value:
Narrow Value Schools by State
[Value](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/security-science-and-technology/forensic-science-and-technology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong value education at a price that pays off.
