Education degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their education programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 2376 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for education students pursuing a degree.
University Of Notre Dame is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in education. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Notre Dame. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 115 education degrees were awarded at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from University Of Notre Dame generally make around $58,948. Students borrow a median of $19,891 to complete this degree.
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New York University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in education, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 521 education degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from New York University generally make around $66,871. New York University graduates carry a median of $24,690 in student loans.
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Harvard University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in education, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 758 education degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $89,117. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
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Students looking for a strong education program will find one at Johns Hopkins University, which ranked #4. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Baltimore. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 501 education degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Education graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $82,372 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,426.
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University Of California Irvine is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in education, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. University Of California Irvine graduates 87% of students within six years. University Of California Irvine awarded about 172 education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from University Of California Irvine earn around $65,591 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Irvine graduates carry a median of $15,575 in student loans.
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University Of California Los Angeles ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best education schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 319 education students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $107,189. Students borrow a median of $16,097 to complete this degree.
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Yale University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best education schools. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 30 education students who graduated with this degree at Yale University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from Yale University earn around $74,578 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Berkeley ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best education schools. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 93 education degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $70,847. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete this degree.
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Stanford University landed the #9 spot for education this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 147 education students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from Stanford University earn around $71,967 in the first couple years of their career. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
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University Of Pennsylvania landed the #10 spot for education this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 639 education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $57,206. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete this degree.
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Rice University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best education schools. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Rice University awarded about 12 education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $75,299. Typical student debt for the program is $11,904.
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Northwestern University placed #12 among the best education schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 81 education students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Education graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $60,947 early in their careers. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
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Santa Clara University landed the #13 spot for education this year. Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Clara. Santa Clara University graduates 88% of students within six years. Santa Clara University awarded about 66 education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from Santa Clara University earn around $76,856 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,144 to complete this degree.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #14 spot for education this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 408 education degrees in the most recent data year. Education graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $70,386 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,334.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #15 for education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. About 86% of students finish within six years. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 473 education degrees in the most recent data year.
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Concordia University Irvine landed the #16 spot for education this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Irvine. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. Concordia University Irvine awarded about 363 education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Concordia University Irvine generally make around $92,274. Students borrow a median of $26,085 to complete this degree.
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Middlebury College landed the #17 spot for education this year. Located in the town of Middlebury, Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 27 education students who graduated with this degree at Middlebury College in the most recent data year. Education graduates of Middlebury College earn a median of $54,713 early in their careers. Middlebury College graduates carry a median of $15,948 in student loans.
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Fordham University landed the #18 spot for education this year. Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. About 82% of students finish within six years. Fordham University awarded about 142 education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from Fordham University earn around $70,677 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,643.
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California State University Fullerton landed the #19 spot for education this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Fullerton awarded about 984 education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from California State University Fullerton earn around $70,414 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,945 to complete this degree.
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California State University Sacramento earned the #20 position for education this year. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public institution. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 418 education degrees were awarded at California State University Sacramento in the most recent year. Graduates of the education program make about $39,534 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,992 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Riverside came in at #21 for education this year. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public institution. University Of California Riverside graduates 76% of students within six years. About 305 education degrees were awarded at University Of California Riverside in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from University Of California Riverside generally make around $41,351. University Of California Riverside graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
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University Of Southern California earned the #22 position for education this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 760 education degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Graduates of the education program make about $56,322 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete this degree.
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Washington University In St Louis came in at #23 for education this year. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 30 education degrees were awarded at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent year. Graduates of the education program make about $68,303 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,553.
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American University landed the #24 spot for education this year. Located in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. American University awarded about 232 education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $66,278 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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California State Polytechnic University Pomona landed the #25 spot for education this year. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 188 education degrees were awarded at California State Polytechnic University Pomona in the most recent year. Graduates of the education program make about $40,883 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,244 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s education ranking:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 2376 schools evaluated.
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).
