2026 Best Value Applied Economics Schools in the Southeast Region
[Applied Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/applied-economics/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong applied economics education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for applied economics students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Applied Economics Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the applied economics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Applied Economics Schools
Our analysis ranked Florida State University the best value for a degree in applied economics in the Southeast Region. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Applied Economics graduates carry a median of $17,625 in student loans. Applied Economics graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $60,948 early in their careers. Set against $17,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 24%.
A rank of #2 makes Vanderbilt University one of the best values for applied economics. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,498. Applied Economics graduates carry a median of $12,424 in student loans. Soon after graduation, applied economics degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $84,311. That is a strong return on a $12,424 median debt. Vanderbilt University admits about 6% of applicants.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in applied economics, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete the applied economics program here. Applied Economics graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $56,261 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 55%.
A rank of #4 makes Auburn University one of the best values for applied economics. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. Students from in state pay about $12,890 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,922. Typical student debt for applied economics graduates is $22,803. Early-career applied economics graduates make about $55,422. Set against $22,803 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Auburn University admits about 46% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 7 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.
