2026 Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the New England Region

[Curriculum & Instruction](/majors/education/curriculum-instruction/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 24 schools to find the best return on investment for curriculum & instruction students.
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2026 Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the New England Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in curriculum & instruction, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools
Our analysis ranked Fitchburg State University the best value for a degree in curriculum & instruction in the New England Region. Located in the suburb of Fitchburg, Fitchburg State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $11,346 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,426. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $25,840. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $63,724. Set against $25,840 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of Southern Maine came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Portland. Students from in state pay about $12,090 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,940. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $23,593 in student loans. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of University Of Southern Maine earn a median of $47,003 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 79%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Massachusetts Lowell earned it the #3 place for curriculum & instruction. Set in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,966, compared with $36,264 for out-of-state students. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $25,574 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Lowell generally make around $61,677. That is a strong return on a $25,574 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Maine one of the best values for curriculum & instruction. Set in the suburb of Orono, University Of Maine is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,326, while out-of-state students pay about $36,756. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $25,984 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from University Of Maine generally make around $47,975. That is a strong return on a $25,984 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in curriculum & instruction will find it at University Of Vermont, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Burlington, University Of Vermont is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,058, while out-of-state students pay about $45,502. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $22,607. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $55,209. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Connecticut came in at #6 for value in curriculum & instruction this year. University Of Connecticut is a very large public school located in the town of Storrs. Students from in state pay about $21,044 in tuition and fees, compared with $43,712 for out-of-state students. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $23,637 in student loans. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $54,744. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 52% of applicants are accepted.
Boston University landed the #7 spot for curriculum & instruction value this year. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,102. Students borrow a median of $25,232 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Boston University earn a median of $65,020 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Boston University admits about 11% of applicants.
Saint Joseph College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Saint Joseph College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of West Hartford. In-state tuition and fees average $47,278. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $27,798. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Saint Joseph College earn a median of $75,782 early in their careers. Set against $27,798 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Curry College placed #9 among the best values for curriculum & instruction. Set in the suburb of Milton, Curry College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,570. Students borrow a median of $26,571 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $53,650. That is a strong return on a $26,571 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Lesley University earned the #10 position for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Lesley University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,256. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $24,818 in student loans. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Lesley University earn a median of $64,047 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Southern New Hampshire University landed the #11 spot for curriculum & instruction value this year. Southern New Hampshire University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Manchester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,200. Students borrow a median of $29,103 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Southern New Hampshire University earn a median of $58,533 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Merrimack College landed the #12 spot for curriculum & instruction value this year. Merrimack College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of North Andover. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,962. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $26,913 in student loans. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $50,506. That is a strong return on a $26,913 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Boston College earned the #13 position for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Boston College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chestnut Hill. In-state tuition and fees average $70,702. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $18,101. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Boston College generally make around $55,608. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 16%.
Sacred Heart University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Sacred Heart University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fairfield. In-state tuition and fees average $50,404. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $25,831. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Sacred Heart University earn a median of $56,485 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,831 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.