2027 Best Value Elementary & Middle School Administration/Principalship Schools in the The Plains States Region

[Elementary & Middle School Administration/Principalship](/majors/education/educational-administration/elementary-and-middle-school-administration-principalship/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for elementary & middle school administration/principalship students.
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2027 Best Value Elementary & Middle School Administration/Principalship Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the elementary & middle school administration/principalship degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Elementary & Middle School Administration/Principalship Schools
Leading the list is University Of Central Missouri, our #1 best value for elementary & middle school administration/principalship in the The Plains States Region. Located in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,050, with out-of-state students paying around $18,600. Typical student debt for elementary & middle school administration/principalship graduates is $24,304. Elementary & Middle School Administration/principalship graduates of University Of Central Missouri earn a median of $45,496 early in their careers. Set against $24,304 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wayne State College earned it the #2 place for elementary & middle school administration/principalship. Set in the town of Wayne, Wayne State College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,171. Students borrow a median of $22,974 to complete the elementary & middle school administration/principalship program here. Soon after graduation, elementary & middle school administration/principalship degree recipients from Wayne State College generally make around $65,798. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northwest Missouri State University earned it the #3 place for elementary & middle school administration/principalship. Located in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,611, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Typical student debt for elementary & middle school administration/principalship graduates is $23,585. Early-career elementary & middle school administration/principalship graduates make about $42,939. Set against $23,585 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northwest Missouri State University admits about 86% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Bethel University Minnesota one of the best values for elementary & middle school administration/principalship. Set in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $44,226 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for elementary & middle school administration/principalship graduates is $25,639. Early-career elementary & middle school administration/principalship graduates make about $94,291. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a great value for students pursuing a degree in elementary & middle school administration/principalship, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $54,398. Students borrow a median of $23,923 to complete the elementary & middle school administration/principalship program here. Soon after graduation, elementary & middle school administration/principalship degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Minnesota generally make around $47,377. That is a strong return on a $23,923 median debt. University Of St Thomas Minnesota admits about 85% of applicants.
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Notes and References
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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.