2026 Best Value Industrial & Organizational Psychology Schools in the Southeast Region
[Industrial & Organizational Psychology](/majors/psychology/clinical-counseling-applied-psychology/industrial-and-organizational-psychology/) 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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 23 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for industrial & organizational psychology students.
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2026 Best Value Industrial & Organizational Psychology Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the industrial & organizational psychology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Industrial & Organizational Psychology Schools
For return on investment in industrial & organizational psychology, no school beat University Of Central Florida this year. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,368, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Typical student debt for industrial & organizational psychology graduates is $21,620. Early-career industrial & organizational psychology graduates make about $55,976. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northern Kentucky University earned it the #2 place for industrial & organizational psychology. Set in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,088, while out-of-state students pay about $21,912. Industrial & Organizational Psychology graduates carry a median of $25,572 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial & organizational psychology degree recipients from Northern Kentucky University generally make around $57,094. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Eastern Kentucky University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial & organizational psychology schools. Set in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,320, compared with $21,230 for out-of-state students. Industrial & Organizational Psychology graduates carry a median of $25,122 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial & organizational psychology degree recipients from Eastern Kentucky University generally make around $43,891. Set against $25,122 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in industrial & organizational psychology will find it at Middle Tennessee State University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,266, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Industrial & Organizational Psychology graduates carry a median of $23,375 in student loans. Industrial & Organizational Psychology graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $35,159 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,375 median debt. The acceptance rate is 69%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earned it the #5 place for industrial & organizational psychology. Located in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,448, with out-of-state students paying around $18,512. Industrial & Organizational Psychology graduates carry a median of $23,324 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial & organizational psychology degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga generally make around $50,000. That is a strong return on a $23,324 median debt. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Georgia placed #6 among the best values for industrial & organizational psychology. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Students borrow a median of $21,792 to complete the industrial & organizational psychology program here. Industrial & Organizational Psychology graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $67,580 early in their careers. Set against $21,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Appalachian State University placed #7 among the best values for industrial & organizational psychology. Located in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,579 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,212. Typical student debt for industrial & organizational psychology graduates is $21,992. Early-career industrial & organizational psychology graduates make about $69,441. Set against $21,992 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
George Mason University placed #8 among the best values for industrial & organizational psychology. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,220, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete the industrial & organizational psychology program here. Early-career industrial & organizational psychology graduates make about $60,240. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Vanderbilt University earned the #9 position for value in industrial & organizational psychology this year. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,498. Typical student debt for industrial & organizational psychology graduates is $13,975. Industrial & Organizational Psychology graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $77,997 early in their careers. Set against $13,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
Austin Peay State University placed #10 among the best values for industrial & organizational psychology. Austin Peay State University is a large public school located in the city of Clarksville. In-state tuition and fees average $9,006, while out-of-state students pay about $14,766. Typical student debt for industrial & organizational psychology graduates is $24,530. Early-career industrial & organizational psychology graduates make about $57,354. Set against $24,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Meredith College placed #11 among the best values for industrial & organizational psychology. Meredith College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Raleigh. In-state tuition and fees average $45,630. Typical student debt for industrial & organizational psychology graduates is $26,618. Industrial & Organizational Psychology graduates of Meredith College earn a median of $40,537 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,618 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Auburn University earned the #12 position for value in industrial & organizational psychology this year. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,890, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Students borrow a median of $22,803 to complete the industrial & organizational psychology program here. Soon after graduation, industrial & organizational psychology degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $55,422. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Auburn University admits about 46% of applicants.
Faulkner University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial & organizational psychology schools. Faulkner University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Montgomery. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,920. Typical student debt for industrial & organizational psychology graduates is $27,691. Early-career industrial & organizational psychology graduates make about $26,988. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Adventist University landed the #14 spot for industrial & organizational psychology value this year. Set in the suburb of Collegedale, Southern Adventist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $27,300. Industrial & Organizational Psychology graduates carry a median of $25,498 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial & organizational psychology degree recipients from Southern Adventist University generally make around $61,366. Set against $25,498 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Florida Southern College landed the #15 spot for industrial & organizational psychology value this year. Located in the city of Lakeland, Florida Southern College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $44,040. Industrial & Organizational Psychology graduates carry a median of $25,357 in student loans. Industrial & Organizational Psychology graduates of Florida Southern College earn a median of $48,665 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Keiser University Ft Lauderdale ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial & organizational psychology schools. Located in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Keiser University Ft Lauderdale is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $25,056 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $36,416 to complete the industrial & organizational psychology program here. Industrial & Organizational Psychology graduates of Keiser University Ft Lauderdale earn a median of $52,620 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $36,416 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Florida Institute Of Technology placed #17 among the best values for industrial & organizational psychology. Set in the city of Melbourne, Florida Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $45,900. Typical student debt for industrial & organizational psychology graduates is $32,000. Soon after graduation, industrial & organizational psychology degree recipients from Florida Institute Of Technology generally make around $64,385. That is a strong return on a $32,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Carlos Albizu University Miami earned the #18 position for value in industrial & organizational psychology this year. Set in the city of Miami, Carlos Albizu University Miami is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,818. Soon after graduation, industrial & organizational psychology degree recipients from Carlos Albizu University Miami generally make around $64,380. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
