[Community College Education](/majors/education/educational-administration/community-college-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 3 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for community college education students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in community college education, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in community college education, no school beat University Of Nebraska Lincoln this year. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,434 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,584. Students borrow a median of $22,386 to complete the community college education program here. Early-career community college education graduates make about $49,755. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Kansas State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in community college education, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,221 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Community College Education graduates carry a median of $23,546 in student loans. Community College Education graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $59,907 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Walden University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value community college education schools. Walden University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. Students from in state pay about $11,067 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $49,361 to complete the community college education program here. Early-career community college education graduates make about $48,220. That is a strong return on a $49,361 median debt.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
