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Best Colleges in the South

The South is increasingly making its mark on the American university system, with many schools – most notably in Florida – offering innovative approaches to higher education at affordable prices.

Students in the South can get tuition discounts at a wide range of top Southern universities thanks to tuition reciprocity agreements. Check out the Southern Regional Education Board’s website to see if you are eligible for an out-of-state tuition waiver at a public university in a nearby state.

Education should provide a strong return on investment. Following this guiding principle, we have ranked the best Southern colleges based on their economic value. To learn more about how we rank colleges, check out our Methodology page.

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#1 in Southern colleges

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida

Economic score 0.69

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $6,275

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $71,588

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 89%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#2 in Southern colleges
Economic score 0.90

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $14,588

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $102,772

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 91%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#3 in Southern colleges

Rice University

Houston, Texas

Economic score 0.95

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $15,091

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $89,718

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 94%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#4 in Southern colleges

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida

Economic score 0.98

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $6,450

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $61,675

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 84%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#5 in Southern colleges
Economic score 1.12

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $9,649

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $72,529

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 55%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#6 in Southern colleges

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee

Economic score 1.13

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $20,917

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $91,565

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 93%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#7 in Southern colleges
Economic score 1.23

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $12,414

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $72,200

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 90%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#8 in Southern colleges
Economic score 1.43

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $29,479

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $94,810

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 93%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#9 in Southern colleges

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina

Economic score 1.45

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $30,785

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $97,800

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 96%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#10 in Southern colleges
Economic score 1.53

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $8,722

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $60,249

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 74%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#11 in Southern colleges

University of Virginia

Charlottesville, Virginia

Economic score 1.59

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $23,101

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $86,863

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 94%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#12 in Southern colleges
Economic score 1.83

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $9,203

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $57,743

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 77%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#13 in Southern colleges

Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, Florida

Economic score 1.85

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $8,636

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $56,746

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 66%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#14 in Southern colleges
Economic score 1.85

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $18,850

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $75,121

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 85%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#15 in Southern colleges

Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia

Economic score 1.86

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $24,142

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $80,137

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 92%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#16 in Southern colleges

University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia

Economic score 1.87

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $15,117

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $68,726

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 87%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#17 in Southern colleges

George Mason University

Fairfax, Virginia

Economic score 1.89

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $17,385

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $76,343

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 77%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#18 in Southern colleges

University of North Florida

Jacksonville, Florida

Economic score 1.89

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $8,852

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $56,343

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 69%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#19 in Southern colleges
Economic score 1.95

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $20,292

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $81,698

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 87%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#20 in Southern colleges
Economic score 1.96

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $8,601

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $56,073

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 51%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

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