2026 Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Curriculum & Instruction](/majors/education/curriculum-instruction/curriculum-and-instruction/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 64 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value curriculum & instruction schools.
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2026 Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the curriculum & instruction degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools
Leading the list is Suny Empire State College, our #1 best value for curriculum & instruction in the Middle Atlantic Region. Suny Empire State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. In-state tuition and fees average $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. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Suny Empire State College generally make around $53,832. Set against $23,693 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Maryland College Park earned it the #2 place for curriculum & instruction. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,809, with out-of-state students paying around $41,186. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $20,836 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $62,213. That is a strong return on a $20,836 median debt. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Towson University earned it the #3 place for curriculum & instruction. Set in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,728, with out-of-state students paying around $29,820. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $21,241 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Towson University generally make around $50,370. That is a strong return on a $21,241 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Suny College At Buffalo earned it the #4 place for curriculum & instruction. Located in the city of Buffalo, Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,533 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,653. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $25,257 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Suny College At Buffalo generally make around $42,964. That is a strong return on a $25,257 median debt. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College At Potsdam came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Suny College At Potsdam is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Potsdam. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,768, compared with $18,678 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,540 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $32,485. Set against $26,540 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Suny At Albany landed the #6 spot for curriculum & instruction value this year. Located in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,601, with out-of-state students paying around $30,991. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Suny At Albany generally make around $64,591. That is a strong return on a $23,521 median debt. Suny At Albany admits about 69% of applicants.
Suny College At Oswego ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Located in the town of Oswego, Suny College At Oswego is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,825, compared with $18,735 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,163 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $41,899. That is a strong return on a $25,163 median debt. Suny College At Oswego admits about 80% of applicants.
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Located in the town of Bloomsburg, Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,046, compared with $22,870 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $52,416 ten years out. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania admits about 93% of applicants.
University At Buffalo ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,936, while out-of-state students pay about $31,536. Students borrow a median of $22,232 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $52,403 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,232 median debt. University At Buffalo admits about 74% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus came in at #10 for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public school located in the city of University Park. In-state tuition and fees average $15,356. Median earnings reach $63,435 ten years out. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Mcdaniel College came in at #11 for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Mcdaniel College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Westminster. In-state tuition and fees average $52,081. Students borrow a median of $23,247 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Mcdaniel College generally make around $67,653. Set against $23,247 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Carlow University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carlow University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,874. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $30,222 in student loans. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $66,938. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Carlow University admits about 87% of applicants.
Kings College placed #13 among the best values for curriculum & instruction. Set in the city of Wilkes-Barre, Kings College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $44,100. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $26,980 in student loans. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $45,414. Set against $26,980 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Gannon University came in at #14 for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Gannon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Erie. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,656. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $26,934. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $53,000. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Saint Vincent College landed the #15 spot for curriculum & instruction value this year. Located in the suburb of Latrobe, Saint Vincent College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,396. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $26,986. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Saint Vincent College earn a median of $49,291 early in their careers. Set against $26,986 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania landed the #16 spot for curriculum & instruction value this year. Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Shippensburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,570, compared with $15,824 for out-of-state students. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $26,307 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $58,124. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Robert Morris University earned the #17 position for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Located in the suburb of Moon Township, Robert Morris University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,770. Students borrow a median of $26,748 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $67,924. That is a strong return on a $26,748 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Eastern University placed #18 among the best values for curriculum & instruction. Located in the suburb of Saint Davids, Eastern University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,400. Students borrow a median of $28,584 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Eastern University generally make around $50,474. Set against $28,584 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
St Johns University New York placed #19 among the best values for curriculum & instruction. Located in the city of Queens, St Johns University New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,529. Students borrow a median of $25,521 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from St Johns University New York generally make around $142,452. Set against $25,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Wilkes University landed the #20 spot for curriculum & instruction value this year. Wilkes University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Wilkes-Barre. Students from in state pay about $43,496 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,601 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Wilkes University generally make around $64,004. That is a strong return on a $26,601 median debt. Wilkes University admits about 91% of applicants.
Loyola University Baltimore placed #21 among the best values for curriculum & instruction. Set in the city of Baltimore, Loyola University Baltimore is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,150. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Loyola University Baltimore generally make around $68,753. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary landed the #22 spot for curriculum & instruction value this year. Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,500. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $26,857 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary generally make around $48,472. Set against $26,857 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #23 for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $21,926, with out-of-state students paying around $41,430. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $24,958 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $56,926. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
University Of Pennsylvania earned the #24 position for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,686. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $16,155. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $99,682. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #25 for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,644, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $63,435 ten years out. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 27 Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in curriculum & instruction:
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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 · 64 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
