2023 Best Value Colleges for General Education (Income $48-$75k) in the Southeast Region
79
Ranked Colleges
4,037
Degrees Awarded
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
General Education is the 41st most popular major in the country with 29,810 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, general education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $48,719 and had an average of $23,394 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Southeast region, there were 4,037 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $45,577 and $24,252 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 79 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general education. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general education programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the general education program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
One Size Does Not Fit All
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k” list to help you make the college decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for General Education (Income $48-$75k) in the Southeast Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Vanderbilt University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 11 diplomas to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
Vanderbilt also made our “Best General Education Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $7,694 for Southeast Region Education students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Vanderbilt University.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Vanderbilt University General Education Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Florida. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k. UF is a large school located in Gainesville, Florida that handed out 38 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
UF also took the #6 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UF is $8,394 for Southeast Region Education students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on General Education at UF
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Berea College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Berea is a small school located in Berea, Kentucky that handed out 6 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $6,551 for Southeast Region Education students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Berea.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on General Education at Berea
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Virginia - Main Campus. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Charlottesville, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 159 students in 2020-2021.
University of Virginia also made our “Best General Education Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for University of Virginia is $16,019 for southeast region education students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full University of Virginia - Main Campus General Education Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k. UNC Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 22 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
UNC Chapel Hill also made our “Best General Education Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $11,619 for southeast region education students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UNC Chapel Hill.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Central Florida came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Central Florida is a public institution located in Orlando, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 82 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCF, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Central Florida is $9,426 for Southeast Region Education students whose families make $48-$75k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about General Education at University of Central Florida
University of Georgia came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Athens, Georgia, this large public school handed out 39 diplomas to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
UGA also took the #4 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $15,037 for Southeast Region Education students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UGA.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.
Read full report on General Education at UGA
With a ranking of #8, Florida Gulf Coast University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Florida Gulf Coast University is located in Fort Myers, Florida and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 49 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at FGCU, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend FGCU is $11,133 for Southeast Region Education students whose families make $48-$75k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at Florida Gulf Coast University
Marshall University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Marshall University is a fairly large public school situated in Huntington, West Virginia. It awarded 68 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Marshall University is $9,256 for southeast region education students whose families make $48-$75k.
Full Marshall University General Education Report
North Carolina State University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. North Carolina State University is a large public school situated in Raleigh, North Carolina. It awarded 21 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
NC State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for NC State is $14,424 for southeast region education students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.
Full NC State General Education Report
Florida Atlantic University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in Boca Raton, Florida, and it awarded 61 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at FAU, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $12,323 for southeast region education students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend FAU.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at Florida Atlantic University
Bob Jones University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Bob Jones University is located in Greenville, South Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 19 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our southeast region education students whose families make $48-$75k list, Bob Jones University has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Bob Jones University is $12,281 for southeast region education students whose families make $48-$75k.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Bob Jones University General Education Report
With a ranking of #13, University of South Florida - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Tampa, Florida, this large public school handed out 3 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $9,669 for southeast region education students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend USF Tampa.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at USF Tampa
American Public University System did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #14. American Public University System is located in Charles Town, West Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 44 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend American Military University is $13,536 for southeast region education students whose families make $48-$75k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 98%.
Read full report on General Education at American Public University System
West Virginia University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Morgantown, West Virginia, and it awarded 77 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
WVU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for West Virginia University is $13,077 for Southeast Region Education students whose families make $48-$75k.
Full West Virginia University General Education Report
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a medium-sized school located in Perkinston, Mississippi that handed out 110 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is $10,856 for Southeast Region Education students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read full report on General Education at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
With a ranking of #17, Augusta University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Augusta University is a medium-sized public school situated in Augusta, Georgia. It awarded 30 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Augusta University is $13,276 for southeast region education students whose families make $48-$75k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at Augusta University
Northern Kentucky University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. NKU is a fairly large school located in Highland Heights, Kentucky that handed out 5 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for NKU is $9,505 for southeast region education students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read more about General Education at NKU
Christian Brothers University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This small school is located in Memphis, Tennessee, and it awarded 13 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Christian Brothers University is $12,805 for southeast region education students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read more about General Education at Christian Brothers University
James Madison University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, this large public school handed out 295 diplomas to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
JMU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend James Madison University is $19,216 for southeast region education students whose families make $48-$75k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full James Madison University General Education Report
Clemson University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Clemson, South Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 153 students in 2020-2021.
Clemson also took the #11 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Clemson University is $20,797 for Southeast Region Education students whose families make $48-$75k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at Clemson
Harding University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Searcy, Arkansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s education degrees to 11 students in 2020-2021.
Harding also made our “Best General Education Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #17. The estimated yearly cost for Harding is $17,077 for Southeast Region Education students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at Harding University
With a ranking of #23, Shepherd University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Shepherdstown, West Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 12 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Shepherd University is $11,116 for Southeast Region Education students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read full report on General Education at Shepherd University
Converse College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Converse College is a small school located in Spartanburg, South Carolina that handed out 17 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Converse College is $23,858 for Southeast Region Education students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read more about General Education at Converse College
Fairmont State University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Fairmont State University is located in Fairmont, West Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 32 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $12,104 for Southeast Region Education students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Fairmont State University.
Full Fairmont State University General Education Report
