[Curriculum & Instruction](/majors/education/curriculum-instruction/curriculum-and-instruction/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong curriculum & instruction education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 262 schools to find the best return on investment for curriculum & instruction students.
Finding the Best Value Curriculum & Instruction School for You
Where you study curriculum & instruction affects both what you pay and what you earn. To help, we created our Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
For return on investment in curriculum & instruction, no school beat University Of Florida this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $65,893. Set against $17,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in curriculum & instruction will find it at California State University Northridge, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,458, while out-of-state students pay about $20,058. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $16,202. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $48,437. Set against $16,202 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Northridge admits about 93% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in curriculum & instruction will find it at Texas A And M International University, which ranked #3. Texas A And M International University is a large public school located in the city of Laredo. Students from in state pay about $7,894 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,454. Students borrow a median of $15,095 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Texas A And M International University generally make around $63,281. Set against $15,095 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 44%.
A rank of #4 makes California State University East Bay one of the best values for curriculum & instruction. California State University East Bay is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward. In-state tuition and fees average $7,583, with out-of-state students paying around $20,183. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $18,073 in student loans. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $58,951. That is a strong return on a $18,073 median debt. California State University East Bay admits about 97% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes The University Of Texas Pan American one of the best values for curriculum & instruction. The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public school located in the city of Edinburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,799, compared with $19,645 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,694 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of The University Of Texas Pan American earn a median of $59,119 early in their careers. Set against $14,694 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #6 for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Students borrow a median of $20,115 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $61,829. That is a strong return on a $20,115 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
California State University San Marcos came in at #7 for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, California State University San Marcos is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,082, compared with $20,682 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,527 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $48,726. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Long Beach ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,374 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,974. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $15,732. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $81,909. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Utah Valley University earned the #9 position for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,507 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $16,478. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $65,419. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida International University earned the #10 position for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Florida International University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Miami. In-state tuition and fees average $6,565, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Students borrow a median of $19,349 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $60,563 early in their careers. Set against $19,349 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
San Francisco State University earned the #11 position for value in curriculum & instruction this year. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,846, compared with $20,446 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,020 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $49,716. Set against $17,020 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. San Francisco State University admits about 96% of applicants.
Portland State University placed #12 among the best values for curriculum & instruction. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. In-state tuition and fees average $11,118, with out-of-state students paying around $29,136. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $26,475. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Portland State University generally make around $64,503. That is a strong return on a $26,475 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nevada Las Vegas came in at #13 for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Set in the city of Las Vegas, University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,748 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,411 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,181 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from University Of Nevada Las Vegas generally make around $58,692. That is a strong return on a $21,181 median debt. University Of Nevada Las Vegas admits about 96% of applicants.
Florida Atlantic University landed the #14 spot for curriculum & instruction value this year. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,879, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $20,212. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $49,340. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida Atlantic University admits about 66% of applicants.
University Of Houston Victoria ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. University Of Houston Victoria is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Victoria. Students from in state pay about $7,149 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,941. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $24,081. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of University Of Houston Victoria earn a median of $47,345 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,081 median debt. University Of Houston Victoria admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of South Florida Main Campus came in at #16 for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,410, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Students borrow a median of $21,829 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $61,900. Set against $21,829 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Florida ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. Students from in state pay about $6,368 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,467. Students borrow a median of $21,620 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $52,962 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,620 median debt. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Suny Empire State College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Set in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,648, with out-of-state students paying around $17,558. Students borrow a median of $23,693 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $53,832. That is a strong return on a $23,693 median debt.
Florida State University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. In-state tuition and fees average $6,517, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $20,488. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $50,839. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 24%.
The University Of West Florida ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Located in the rural area of Pensacola, The University Of West Florida is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,776 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,658. Students borrow a median of $19,677 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of The University Of West Florida earn a median of $54,063 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,677 median debt. The University Of West Florida admits about 58% of applicants.
Louisiana State University Shreveport earned the #21 position for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Set in the city of Shreveport, Louisiana State University Shreveport is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,327. Students borrow a median of $28,907 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Louisiana State University Shreveport earn a median of $45,300 early in their careers. Set against $28,907 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Louisiana State University Shreveport admits about 50% of applicants.
Southeastern Oklahoma State University landed the #22 spot for curriculum & instruction value this year. Set in the town of Durant, Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,200 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,410. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $18,660. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Southeastern Oklahoma State University earn a median of $51,797 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Western Governors University earned the #23 position for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Set in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Western Governors University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $8,658 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,277 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Western Governors University generally make around $62,910. That is a strong return on a $23,277 median debt.
Valdosta State University came in at #24 for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Set in the city of Valdosta, Valdosta State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,124, compared with $17,836 for out-of-state students. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $28,661 in student loans. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $44,914. Set against $28,661 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Valdosta State University admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of North Georgia ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Located in the town of Dahlonega, University Of North Georgia is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,444 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,956. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $21,439 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from University Of North Georgia generally make around $43,714. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in curriculum & instruction:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 262 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 262 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).
[Curriculum & Instruction](/majors/education/curriculum-instruction/curriculum-and-instruction/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong curriculum & instruction education at a price that pays off.
