2027 Best Value Urban Education & Leadership Schools in the Southeast Region
[Urban Education & Leadership](/majors/education/educational-administration/urban-education-and-leadership/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong urban education & leadership education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value urban education & leadership schools.
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2027 Best Value Urban Education & Leadership Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in urban education & leadership, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Urban Education & Leadership Schools
Our analysis ranked Florida International University the best value for a degree in urban education & leadership in the Southeast Region. Florida International University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Miami. Students from in state pay about $6,565 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for urban education & leadership graduates is $19,349. Urban Education & Leadership graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $52,517 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in urban education & leadership will find it at University Of Memphis, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,728, while out-of-state students pay about $15,384. Students borrow a median of $26,315 to complete the urban education & leadership program here. Urban Education & Leadership graduates of University Of Memphis earn a median of $48,890 early in their careers. Set against $26,315 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in urban education & leadership will find it at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte, which ranked #3. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. Students from in state pay about $7,239 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,492 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for urban education & leadership graduates is $24,673. Early-career urban education & leadership graduates make about $67,597. Set against $24,673 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Students looking for strong value in urban education & leadership will find it at Augusta University, which ranked #4. Augusta University is a large public school located in the city of Augusta. In-state tuition and fees average $8,414, compared with $24,734 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,745 to complete the urban education & leadership program here. Early-career urban education & leadership graduates make about $78,553. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
A rank of #5 makes Vanderbilt University one of the best values for urban education & leadership. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,498 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete the urban education & leadership program here. Early-career urban education & leadership graduates make about $78,283. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
East Tennessee State University earned the #6 position for value in urban education & leadership this year. East Tennessee State University is a large public school located in the city of Johnson City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,216, while out-of-state students pay about $13,726. Typical student debt for urban education & leadership graduates is $21,301. Soon after graduation, urban education & leadership degree recipients from East Tennessee State University generally make around $45,444. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
The University Of Tennessee landed the #7 spot for urban education & leadership value this year. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. Students from in state pay about $13,812 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,256. Urban Education & Leadership graduates carry a median of $22,859 in student loans. Soon after graduation, urban education & leadership degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $49,826. That is a strong return on a $22,859 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value urban education & leadership schools. Set in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,954, while out-of-state students pay about $28,631. Students borrow a median of $21,348 to complete the urban education & leadership program here. Early-career urban education & leadership graduates make about $60,719. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia International University earned the #9 position for value in urban education & leadership this year. Set in the city of Columbia, Columbia International University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,900. Students borrow a median of $21,667 to complete the urban education & leadership program here. Urban Education & Leadership graduates of Columbia International University earn a median of $32,296 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Columbia International University admits about 94% of applicants.
Union University came in at #10 for value in urban education & leadership this year. Set in the city of Jackson, Union University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $37,398. Students borrow a median of $28,605 to complete the urban education & leadership program here. Early-career urban education & leadership graduates make about $68,508. Set against $28,605 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Liberty University placed #11 among the best values for urban education & leadership. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,173. Typical student debt for urban education & leadership graduates is $27,414. Early-career urban education & leadership graduates make about $60,296. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Nova Southeastern University came in at #12 for value in urban education & leadership this year. Located in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale, Nova Southeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $38,700. Urban Education & Leadership graduates carry a median of $25,021 in student loans. Early-career urban education & leadership graduates make about $70,595. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Nova Southeastern University admits about 73% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
