[Education Philosophy](/majors/education/education-philosophy/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 18 schools to find the best return on investment for education philosophy students.
Finding the Best Value Education Philosophy School for You
Where you study education philosophy affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we built our Best Value Education Philosophy Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Education Philosophy Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
California State University Los Angeles tops our 2027 list of the best value education philosophy schools in the United States. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,164, compared with $19,764 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,430 to complete the education philosophy program here. Education Philosophy graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of $48,403 early in their careers. Set against $14,430 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Los Angeles earned it the #2 place for education philosophy. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,233, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Education Philosophy graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans. Soon after graduation, education philosophy degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $63,833. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes San Francisco State University one of the best values for education philosophy. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,846, compared with $20,446 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,020 to complete the education philosophy program here. Education Philosophy graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $49,716 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. San Francisco State University admits about 96% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes California State University Long Beach one of the best values for education philosophy. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,374, while out-of-state students pay about $19,974. Education Philosophy graduates carry a median of $15,732 in student loans. Soon after graduation, education philosophy degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $45,488. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Arizona University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in education philosophy, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,619, with out-of-state students paying around $20,044. Students borrow a median of $21,645 to complete the education philosophy program here. Early-career education philosophy graduates make about $47,056. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northern Arizona University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of California Riverside ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value education philosophy schools. University Of California Riverside is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,636, with out-of-state students paying around $46,524. Education Philosophy graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Education Philosophy graduates of University Of California Riverside earn a median of $23,447 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earned the #7 position for value in education philosophy this year. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. Students from in state pay about $10,398 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,398. Students borrow a median of $26,657 to complete the education philosophy program here. Early-career education philosophy graduates make about $53,949. Set against $26,657 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value education philosophy schools. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Education Philosophy graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. Early-career education philosophy graduates make about $59,877. Set against $21,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 45%.
University Of California Santa Cruz landed the #9 spot for education philosophy value this year. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,035, while out-of-state students pay about $46,923. Typical student debt for education philosophy graduates is $18,559. Soon after graduation, education philosophy degree recipients from University Of California Santa Cruz generally make around $40,920. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Santa Cruz admits about 66% of applicants.
University Of Utah ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value education philosophy schools. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,620, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,798 to complete the education philosophy program here. Early-career education philosophy graduates make about $55,997. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Utah admits about 86% of applicants.
Rutgers University New Brunswick landed the #11 spot for education philosophy value this year. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public school located in the city of New Brunswick. In-state tuition and fees average $17,929, while out-of-state students pay about $37,441. Students borrow a median of $25,120 to complete the education philosophy program here. Early-career education philosophy graduates make about $81,546. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Eastern Mennonite University landed the #12 spot for education philosophy value this year. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, Eastern Mennonite University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $43,920 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,415 to complete the education philosophy program here. Education Philosophy graduates of Eastern Mennonite University earn a median of $55,325 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Colorado Boulder earned the #13 position for value in education philosophy this year. Set in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,214, compared with $42,970 for out-of-state students. Education Philosophy graduates carry a median of $20,373 in student loans. Early-career education philosophy graduates make about $55,861. That is a strong return on a $20,373 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
University Of Pennsylvania earned the #14 position for value in education philosophy this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,686 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for education philosophy graduates is $16,155. Education Philosophy graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $56,909 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,155 median debt. University Of Pennsylvania admits about 5% of applicants.
Wesleyan University came in at #15 for value in education philosophy this year. Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Middletown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,042. Education Philosophy graduates carry a median of $16,125 in student loans. Early-career education philosophy graduates make about $39,764. Set against $16,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wesleyan University admits about 16% of applicants.
Hope International University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value education philosophy schools. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, Hope International University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,125. Education Philosophy graduates carry a median of $24,656 in student loans. Early-career education philosophy graduates make about $61,817. Set against $24,656 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 33% of applicants are accepted.
Dickinson College placed #17 among the best values for education philosophy. Dickinson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Carlisle. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,650. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the education philosophy program here. Soon after graduation, education philosophy degree recipients from Dickinson College generally make around $44,383. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Syracuse University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value education philosophy schools. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,528. Education Philosophy graduates carry a median of $26,130 in student loans. Soon after graduation, education philosophy degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $54,785. That is a strong return on a $26,130 median debt. The acceptance rate is 46%.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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).
[Education Philosophy](/majors/education/education-philosophy/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
