2026 Best Value General Education Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Education Schools
University Of Florida Online tops our 2026 list of the best value general education schools in the Southeast Region. University Of Florida Online is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Gainesville. In-state tuition and fees average $3,876, with out-of-state students paying around $16,579. Students borrow a median of $17,779 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of University Of Florida Online earn a median of $43,822 early in their careers. Set against $17,779 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Florida Online admits about 61% of applicants.
University Of Florida came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value general education schools. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $58,388 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia State Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general education, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the town of Columbia, Columbia State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,948, compared with $17,772 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,674 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Columbia State Community College generally make around $44,481. That is a strong return on a $12,674 median debt.
Roane State Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value general education schools. Set in the town of Harriman, Roane State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,998 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,630. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $9,408. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Roane State Community College generally make around $36,933. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Horry Georgetown Technical College one of the best values for general education. Set in the city of Conway, Horry Georgetown Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,518, compared with $10,978 for out-of-state students. General Education graduates carry a median of $19,172 in student loans. Early-career general education graduates make about $37,387. Set against $19,172 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florida Atlantic University earned the #6 position for value in general education this year. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,879 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $18,474. Early-career general education graduates make about $38,928. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Blue Ridge Community And Technical College earned the #7 position for value in general education this year. Set in the rural area of Martinsburg, Blue Ridge Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,752 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,808. General Education graduates carry a median of $18,402 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Blue Ridge Community And Technical College generally make around $41,032. That is a strong return on a $18,402 median debt.
Pellissippi State Community College came in at #8 for value in general education this year. Located in the suburb of Knoxville, Pellissippi State Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,786, with out-of-state students paying around $17,770. General Education graduates carry a median of $8,951 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Pellissippi State Community College generally make around $43,816. That is a strong return on a $8,951 median debt.
Northern Virginia Community College placed #9 among the best values for general education. Set in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,891 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,410. Students borrow a median of $14,413 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of Northern Virginia Community College earn a median of $40,126 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northern Kentucky University earned the #10 position for value in general education this year. Northern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the suburb of Highland Heights. In-state tuition and fees average $11,088, with out-of-state students paying around $21,912. General Education graduates carry a median of $25,572 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Northern Kentucky University generally make around $52,565. That is a strong return on a $25,572 median debt. Northern Kentucky University admits about 68% of applicants.
Walters State Community College came in at #11 for value in general education this year. Walters State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Morristown. In-state tuition and fees average $4,752, compared with $17,736 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,210 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of Walters State Community College earn a median of $12,280 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,210 median debt.
Chattanooga State Community College came in at #12 for value in general education this year. Chattanooga State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chattanooga. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,772, while out-of-state students pay about $17,756. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $12,079. Early-career general education graduates make about $37,252. That is a strong return on a $12,079 median debt.
Fairmont State University placed #13 among the best values for general education. Fairmont State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Fairmont. In-state tuition and fees average $8,708, with out-of-state students paying around $18,924. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $22,760. Early-career general education graduates make about $40,931. That is a strong return on a $22,760 median debt. Fairmont State University admits about 99% of applicants.
Nashville State Community College landed the #14 spot for general education value this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Nashville State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,730, while out-of-state students pay about $17,714. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $16,745. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Nashville State Community College generally make around $41,456. Set against $16,745 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Piedmont Virginia Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value general education schools. Piedmont Virginia Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. In-state tuition and fees average $5,072, compared with $11,510 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,495 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $46,129. That is a strong return on a $12,495 median debt.
Northeast State Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value general education schools. Set in the rural area of Blountville, Northeast State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,782, while out-of-state students pay about $17,766. Students borrow a median of $6,404 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $39,673. That is a strong return on a $6,404 median debt.
University Of Central Florida ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value general education schools. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. In-state tuition and fees average $6,368, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Students borrow a median of $21,620 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $61,179 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College came in at #18 for value in general education this year. Located in the rural area of Perkinston, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,250, while out-of-state students pay about $7,850. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $11,653. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College generally make around $34,214. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida Gulf Coast University landed the #19 spot for general education value this year. Located in the suburb of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,118, compared with $25,162 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $20,755. General Education graduates of Florida Gulf Coast University earn a median of $38,392 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Marshall University landed the #20 spot for general education value this year. Located in the city of Huntington, Marshall University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,162, compared with $20,342 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $49,939. That is a strong return on a $25,250 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Alabama earned the #21 position for value in general education this year. Set in the city of Florence, University Of North Alabama is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,120, while out-of-state students pay about $22,320. Students borrow a median of $24,291 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of University Of North Alabama earn a median of $41,357 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Motlow State Community College came in at #22 for value in general education this year. Set in the rural area of Tullahoma, Motlow State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,738, compared with $17,722 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $6,470. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Motlow State Community College generally make around $43,750. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Georgia landed the #23 spot for general education value this year. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Students borrow a median of $21,792 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $69,003. That is a strong return on a $21,792 median debt. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Potomac State College Of West Virginia University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value general education schools. Set in the town of Keyser, Potomac State College Of West Virginia University is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,280 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,200 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,050 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of Potomac State College Of West Virginia University earn a median of $42,670 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,050 median debt.
Louisiana Delta Community College came in at #25 for value in general education this year. Louisiana Delta Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Monroe. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,159. Students borrow a median of $14,024 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of Louisiana Delta Community College earn a median of $35,839 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,024 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value General Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general education value ranking:
Narrow General Education Schools by State
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 195 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 47 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.
[General Education](/majors/education/general-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general education education at a price that pays off.
