2023 Best Value Teaching Schools in the Southeast Region
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for teaching students. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school or bootcamp that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.
The Best Value Teaching Schools in the Southeast Region ranking is one of many tools that Teaching Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 234 schools in the Southeast Region to see which ones offered the best value programs for teaching students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
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Top Value Teaching Schools in the Southeast Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Itawamba Community College the best value school in the Southeast Region for teaching students working on their degree. Located in Fulton, Mississippi, the small public school handed out 80 degrees in 2020-2021.
ICC undergraduate students pay an average of $5,360 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,702 in student loans. During the early years of their career, ICC graduates make an average of $33,370 annually.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, ICC also did well on our Best Teaching Schools in the Southeast Region list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of the Cumberlands. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Teaching Schools in the Southeast Region list. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Williamsburg, Kentucky, and it awarded 1,458 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Cumberlands are $9,875 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,361 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $86.After graduating from Cumberlands, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $43,758 during the early years of their career.
Out of the 234 schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanly Community College landed the # 3 spot on the list. Albemarle, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 165 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Stanly Technical College are $9,245 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $11,203 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Stanly Technical College graduates make an average of $40,419 annually.
Stanly Technical College did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our Best Teaching Schools in the Southeast Region list.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Central Piedmont Community College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Teaching Schools in the Southeast Region list. Central Piedmont Community College is a fairly large public school located in Charlotte, North Carolina that handed out 195 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Central Piedmont Community College are $8,936 per year. On average, students take out $14,635 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Central Piedmont Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,051 during the early years of their career.
Central Piedmont Community College also claimed a spot on our Best Teaching Schools in the Southeast Region list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools in this category.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Teaching Schools in the Southeast Region list. Perkinston, Mississippi is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 121 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College are $7,250 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $13,702 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $27,307 during the early years of their career.
Broward College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Teaching Schools in the Southeast Region list. BC is a public institution located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 125 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at BC are $8,952 a year. On average, students take out $15,086 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, BC graduates make an average of $42,319 annually.
BC also claimed a spot on our Best Teaching Schools in the Southeast Region list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
Haywood Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Teaching Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in Clyde, North Carolina, the small public school awarded 101 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Haywood Community College are $8,724 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,587 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Haywood Community College graduates make an average of $28,357 annually.
St Petersburg College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value teaching programs. Located in Clearwater, Florida, the large public school handed out 227 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at SPC are $9,286 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $25,619 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, SPC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $40,600 during the early year of their career.
Piedmont College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Teaching Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in Demorest, Georgia, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 771 degrees in 2020-2021.
Piedmont College undergraduate students pay an average of $28,340 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $28,589 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Piedmont College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,778 during the early years of their career.
Piedmont College also claimed a spot on our Best Teaching Schools in the Southeast Region list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.
Miami Dade College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Teaching Schools in the Southeast Region list. MDC is located in Miami, Florida and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 175 degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at MDC are $9,661 a year. On average, students take out $16,593 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, MDC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,255 during the early year of their career.
Rasmussen University - Florida ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Teaching Schools in the Southeast Region list. Rasmussen University - Florida is located in Ocala, Florida and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 865 degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Rasmussen University - Florida are $13,635 a year. On average, students take out $30,604 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $127 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Rasmussen University - Florida graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,940 during the early year of their career.
Rasmussen University - Florida also took the #2 spot in our Best Teaching Schools in the Southeast Region rankings.
Delta State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Teaching Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Delta State University is a small public school situated in Cleveland, Mississippi. It awarded 372 degrees in 2020-2021.
Delta State University undergraduate students pay an average of $8,360 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $23,494 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $96, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Delta State University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $40,414 during the early years of their career.
Fayetteville Technical Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Teaching Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in Fayetteville, North Carolina, the medium-sized public school handed out 214 degrees in 2020-2021.
FTCC undergraduate students pay an average of $8,688 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,293 in student loans.After graduating from FTCC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $32,325 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Fayetteville Technical Community College
Salem College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value teaching programs. Salem College is a very small private not-for-profit school located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina that handed out 33 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Salem are $31,016 a year. On average, students take out $22,038 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Salem, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $31,126 during the early years of their career.
Western Carolina University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Teaching Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in Cullowhee, North Carolina, the fairly large public school awarded 351 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WCU are $8,367 per year. On average, students take out $23,228 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $198, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from WCU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $39,924 during the early years of their career.
Berry College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Teaching Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in Mount Berry, Georgia, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 77 degrees in 2020-2021.
Berry undergraduate students pay an average of $38,656 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $22,098 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $662. During the early years of their career, Berry graduates make an average of $36,435 annually.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Berry also is in the top 5% of our Best Teaching Schools in the Southeast Region ranking.
Indian River State College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for teaching students. It came in at #17 on the list. This fairly large public school is located in Fort Pierce, Florida, and it awarded 58 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Indian River State College are $10,201 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $13,075 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Indian River State College graduates make an average of $35,566 annually.
Henderson State University landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value teaching programs. Henderson State University is a small public school located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas that handed out 230 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Henderson State University are $9,768 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $23,312 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Henderson State University graduates make an average of $36,312 annually.
Louisiana College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Teaching Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Louisiana College is located in Pineville, Louisiana and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 63 degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Louisiana College are $17,950 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $36,024 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Louisiana College graduates make an average of $48,061 annually.
Nicholls State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Teaching Schools in the Southeast Region list. Nicholls State University is a medium-sized public school located in Thibodaux, Louisiana that handed out 264 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Nicholls State University are $9,039 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $25,405 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $166, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Nicholls State University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $40,297 during the early years of their career.
Georgetown College landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value teaching programs. Georgetown College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Georgetown, Kentucky that handed out 180 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Georgetown College are $41,200 a year. On average, students take out $26,780 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Georgetown College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $34,112 during the early year of their career.
Carson - Newman University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Teaching Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Jefferson City, Tennessee, and it awarded 254 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Carson - Newman are $31,320 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,992 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Carson - Newman graduates make an average of $41,134 annually.
Eastern Mennonite University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for teaching students. It came in at #23 on the list. Eastern Mennonite is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Harrisonburg, Virginia. It awarded 40 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Eastern Mennonite are $39,990 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $24,351 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Eastern Mennonite, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $51,655 during the early years of their career.
Eastern Mennonite excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Teaching Schools in the Southeast Region list.
West Liberty University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Teaching Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in West Liberty, West Virginia, the small public school handed out 77 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at West Liberty University are $16,294 per year. On average, students take out $25,930 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $113, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, West Liberty University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $45,672 during the early year of their career.
University of North Georgia did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for teaching students. It came in at #25 on the list. Dahlonega, Georgia is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 241 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at UNG are $16,014 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,234 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $156 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UNG graduates make an average of $39,583 annually.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, UNG also did well on our Best Teaching Schools in the Southeast Region list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Rest of the Best Value Teaching Schools in the Southeast Region of the U.S.
Not only did these schools make the list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
Narrow Schools by State
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Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our best teaching schools ranking:
Rank | School | Location |
---|---|---|
38 | John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR |
39 | Liberty University | Lynchburg, VA |
39 | Mississippi College | Clinton, MS |
41 | Spalding University | Louisville, KY |
42 | University of Southern Mississippi | Hattiesburg, MS |
43 | St. Thomas University | Miami Gardens, FL |
44 | Converse College | Spartanburg, SC |
45 | Athens State University | Athens, AL |
46 | University of Central Arkansas | Conway, AR |
47 | Georgia Southwestern State University | Americus, GA |
More Southeast Rankings
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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