2026 Best Value Education/Teaching of the Gifted & Talented Schools in the The Plains States Region

[Education/Teaching of the Gifted & Talented](/majors/education/special-education/teaching-the-gifted-and-talented/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value education/teaching of the gifted & talented schools.
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2026 Best Value Education/Teaching of the Gifted & Talented Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in education/teaching of the gifted & talented, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Education/Teaching of the Gifted & Talented Schools
For return on investment in education/teaching of the gifted & talented, no school beat Truman State University this year. Truman State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Kirksville. Students from in state pay about $9,838 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,566. Typical student debt for education/teaching of the gifted & talented graduates is $23,168. Soon after graduation, education/teaching of the gifted & talented degree recipients from Truman State University generally make around $39,764. That is a strong return on a $23,168 median debt. Truman State University admits about 84% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Wichita State University one of the best values for education/teaching of the gifted & talented. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,684, while out-of-state students pay about $19,869. Students borrow a median of $24,262 to complete the education/teaching of the gifted & talented program here. Education/teaching Of The Gifted & Talented graduates of Wichita State University earn a median of $49,278 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned it the #3 place for education/teaching of the gifted & talented. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Typical student debt for education/teaching of the gifted & talented graduates is $18,387. Soon after graduation, education/teaching of the gifted & talented degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $51,800. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Buena Vista University earned it the #4 place for education/teaching of the gifted & talented. Buena Vista University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Storm Lake. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,798. Education/teaching Of The Gifted & Talented graduates carry a median of $29,317 in student loans. Soon after graduation, education/teaching of the gifted & talented degree recipients from Buena Vista University generally make around $44,780. That is a strong return on a $29,317 median debt. Buena Vista University admits about 78% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Lindenwood University one of the best values for education/teaching of the gifted & talented. Set in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $21,600. Students borrow a median of $28,663 to complete the education/teaching of the gifted & talented program here. Soon after graduation, education/teaching of the gifted & talented degree recipients from Lindenwood University generally make around $47,206. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Drury University placed #6 among the best values for education/teaching of the gifted & talented. Located in the city of Springfield, Drury University is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,745. Typical student debt for education/teaching of the gifted & talented graduates is $26,641. Early-career education/teaching of the gifted & talented graduates make about $37,267. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Morningside College came in at #7 for value in education/teaching of the gifted & talented this year. Located in the city of Sioux City, Morningside College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,519. Students borrow a median of $27,281 to complete the education/teaching of the gifted & talented program here. Soon after graduation, education/teaching of the gifted & talented degree recipients from Morningside College generally make around $55,760. That is a strong return on a $27,281 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Upper Iowa University came in at #8 for value in education/teaching of the gifted & talented this year. Set in the rural area of Fayette, Upper Iowa University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $19,475. Education/teaching Of The Gifted & Talented graduates carry a median of $35,455 in student loans. Early-career education/teaching of the gifted & talented graduates make about $50,052. That is a strong return on a $35,455 median debt. Upper Iowa University admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota earned the #9 position for value in education/teaching of the gifted & talented this year. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $54,398. Students borrow a median of $23,923 to complete the education/teaching of the gifted & talented program here. Early-career education/teaching of the gifted & talented graduates make about $65,183. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 12 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.