Best value colleges in the South

Colleges in the South with an Academic Excellence grade of B+ or better, ranked by Value: net price after aid, earnings and debt.

Best value colleges in the South153 schools

153 schools qualify, ranked by Value. The top 25 are shown.

How this list is made

Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
In the South (U.S. Census Bureau region).
Has a Value score from federal data (College Scorecard).
Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
Ordered by Value, highest first.

Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.

1
Rice University
Houston, TX · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
#1 in Texas
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- Net price $13,370 a year
2
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL · PublicHonor Roll
#1 in Florida
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- Net price $6,541 a year
2
University of Florida-Online
Gainesville, FL · PublicHonor Roll
Top 4% for low net price
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- Net price $4,815 a year
4
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- Net price $11,655 a year
5
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
#1 in Tennessee
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
- Net price $15,846 a year
6
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
#1 in Maryland
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
- Net price $18,809 a year
7
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA · PublicHonor Roll
Top 2% for earnings
- Value grade A+ · Top 3%
- Net price $12,116 a year
8
Florida International University
Miami, FL · Public
Top 13% for low net price
- Value grade A+ · Top 3%
- Net price $9,288 a year
9
University of Maryland-College Park
College Park, MD · PublicHonor Roll
Top 5% for graduation
- Value grade A · Top 4%
- Net price $15,678 a year
10
University of North Florida
Jacksonville, FL · Public
Top 16% for low net price
- Value grade A · Top 4%
- Net price $10,154 a year
11
University of Georgia
Athens, GA · PublicHonor Roll
#3 in Georgia
- Value grade A · Top 5%
- Net price $13,936 a year
12
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL · PublicHonor Roll
#3 in Florida
- Value grade A · Top 5%
- Net price $11,297 a year
13
University of South Florida
Tampa, FL · Public
#7 in Florida
- Value grade A · Top 5%
- Net price $9,812 a year
14
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL · PublicHonor Roll
#6 in Florida
- Value grade A · Top 5%
- Net price $10,411 a year
15
Davidson College
Davidson, NC · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- Value grade A · Top 5%
- Net price $17,379 a year
16
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA · Public
Top 10% for earnings
- Value grade A · Top 6%
- Net price $17,915 a year
17
University of Maryland-Baltimore County
Baltimore, MD · Public
Top 15% for earnings
- Value grade A · Top 7%
- Net price $16,467 a year
18
Berea College
Berea, KY · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
#1 in Kentucky
- Value grade A · Top 8%
- Net price $6,106 a year
19
William & Mary
Williamsburg, VA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade A · Top 8%
- Net price $19,096 a year
20
Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, VA · Public
Top 9% for earnings
- Value grade A · Top 10%
- Net price $17,113 a year
21
The University of Texas at Dallas
Richardson, TX · Public
#8 in Texas
- Value grade A · Top 10%
- Net price $18,267 a year
22
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA · PublicHonor Roll
Top 2% for graduation
- Value grade A · Top 10%
- Net price $21,565 a year
23
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade A- · Top 11%
- Net price $17,303 a year
24
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX · PublicHonor Roll
#2 in Texas
- Value grade A- · Top 12%
- Net price $19,857 a year
25
Riverside College of Health Careers
Newport News, VA · Private nonprofit
Top 1% for graduation
- Value grade A- · Top 13%
- Net price $20,744 a year

Compare cost and outcomes

School	Net price a year	Median debt	Earnings 10 years out	Graduation rate
Rice University	$13,370	$11,000	$89,718	95%
University of Florida	$6,541	$15,000	$71,588	91%
University of Florida-Online	$4,815	$15,000	$71,588	85%
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	$11,655	$14,000	$72,200	91%
Vanderbilt University	$15,846	$14,000	$91,565	94%
Johns Hopkins University	$18,809	$10,250	$87,555	94%
Georgia Institute of Technology	$12,116	$21,672	$102,772	94%
Florida International University	$9,288	$16,500	$60,249	74%
University of Maryland-College Park	$15,678	$19,000	$82,860	89%
University of North Florida	$10,154	$15,531	$56,343	69%
University of Georgia	$13,936	$18,500	$68,726	90%
Florida State University	$11,297	$18,000	$61,675	86%
University of South Florida	$9,812	$17,988	$57,743	77%
University of Central Florida	$10,411	$18,190	$58,308	78%
Davidson College	$17,379	$18,688	$81,400	91%
George Mason University	$17,915	$19,500	$76,343	68%
University of Maryland-Baltimore County	$16,467	$19,500	$69,960	70%
Berea College	$6,106	$3,591	$43,150	58%
William & Mary	$19,096	$18,500	$73,490	89%
Virginia Military Institute	$17,113	$22,996	$77,369	76%
The University of Texas at Dallas	$18,267	$18,000	$68,227	76%
University of Virginia	$21,565	$17,500	$86,863	96%
North Carolina State University at Raleigh	$17,303	$20,121	$68,758	85%
The University of Texas at Austin	$19,857	$20,500	$75,121	89%
Riverside College of Health Careers	$20,744	$14,787	$66,072	100%

Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.

By state

All top school lists →

Best value colleges in the South

How this list is made

Rice University

University of Florida

University of Florida-Online

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Vanderbilt University

Johns Hopkins University

Georgia Institute of Technology

Florida International University

University of Maryland-College Park

University of North Florida

University of Georgia

Florida State University

University of South Florida

University of Central Florida

Davidson College

George Mason University

University of Maryland-Baltimore County

Berea College

William & Mary

Virginia Military Institute

The University of Texas at Dallas

University of Virginia

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

The University of Texas at Austin

Riverside College of Health Careers

Compare cost and outcomes

By state

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