2027 Best Value Reading Teacher Education Schools in the Southeast Region
[Reading Teacher Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/reading-teacher-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 55 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value reading teacher education schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Reading Teacher Education Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in reading teacher education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Reading Teacher Education Schools
University Of Florida earned the #1 spot for value among reading teacher education schools in the Southeast Region. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Reading Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $15,275 in student loans. Soon after graduation, reading teacher education degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $51,476. Set against $15,275 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
University Of South Florida Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in reading teacher education, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Students borrow a median of $20,375 to complete the reading teacher education program here. Early-career reading teacher education graduates make about $51,543. Set against $20,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida Atlantic University earned it the #3 place for reading teacher education. Florida Atlantic University is a very large public school located in the city of Boca Raton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,879, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Reading Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $27,516 in student loans. Soon after graduation, reading teacher education degree recipients from Florida Atlantic University generally make around $53,524. Set against $27,516 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in reading teacher education will find it at Florida International University, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,565, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for reading teacher education graduates is $18,802. Early-career reading teacher education graduates make about $44,809. Set against $18,802 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Central Florida earned it the #5 place for reading teacher education. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,368 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Reading Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $21,088 in student loans. Reading Teacher Education graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $38,466 early in their careers. Set against $21,088 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Murray State University landed the #6 spot for reading teacher education value this year. Set in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,900 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,836. Students borrow a median of $23,420 to complete the reading teacher education program here. Early-career reading teacher education graduates make about $47,734. That is a strong return on a $23,420 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Georgia placed #7 among the best values for reading teacher education. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,750 to complete the reading teacher education program here. Soon after graduation, reading teacher education degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $61,081. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Marshall University placed #8 among the best values for reading teacher education. Located in the city of Huntington, Marshall University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,162, while out-of-state students pay about $20,342. Reading Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Early-career reading teacher education graduates make about $47,465. That is a strong return on a $25,250 median debt. Marshall University admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of Mississippi Main Campus earned the #9 position for value in reading teacher education this year. Set in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,772 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,600 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for reading teacher education graduates is $21,000. Soon after graduation, reading teacher education degree recipients from University Of Mississippi Main Campus generally make around $50,876. Set against $21,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Austin Peay State University placed #10 among the best values for reading teacher education. Austin Peay State University is a large public school located in the city of Clarksville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,006, while out-of-state students pay about $14,766. Reading Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $24,530 in student loans. Early-career reading teacher education graduates make about $52,131. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Austin Peay State University admits about 96% of applicants.
North Carolina A And T State University came in at #11 for value in reading teacher education this year. North Carolina A And T State University is a large public school located in the city of Greensboro. Students from in state pay about $6,813 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,673. Reading Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $23,038 in student loans. Reading Teacher Education graduates of North Carolina A And T State University earn a median of $50,715 early in their careers. Set against $23,038 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. North Carolina A And T State University admits about 50% of applicants.
University Of West Georgia placed #12 among the best values for reading teacher education. University Of West Georgia is a large public school located in the town of Carrollton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,088, while out-of-state students pay about $17,800. Typical student debt for reading teacher education graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, reading teacher education degree recipients from University Of West Georgia generally make around $50,413. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. University Of West Georgia admits about 52% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Pembroke came in at #13 for value in reading teacher education this year. Located in the town of Pembroke, University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,648, while out-of-state students pay about $7,648. Reading Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $26,660 in student loans. Soon after graduation, reading teacher education degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Pembroke generally make around $45,285. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Carolina At Pembroke admits about 93% of applicants.
Arkansas State University Main Campus landed the #14 spot for reading teacher education value this year. Located in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,090, with out-of-state students paying around $14,522. Typical student debt for reading teacher education graduates is $25,134. Early-career reading teacher education graduates make about $45,716. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Arkansas Tech University placed #15 among the best values for reading teacher education. Set in the town of Russellville, Arkansas Tech University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,674 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,668. Reading Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Reading Teacher Education graduates of Arkansas Tech University earn a median of $41,160 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Augusta University came in at #16 for value in reading teacher education this year. Located in the city of Augusta, Augusta University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,414 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,734 for out-of-state students. Reading Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $25,969 in student loans. Reading Teacher Education graduates of Augusta University earn a median of $54,156 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,969 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Western Kentucky University came in at #17 for value in reading teacher education this year. Located in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,652, compared with $27,000 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for reading teacher education graduates is $30,375. Reading Teacher Education graduates of Western Kentucky University earn a median of $39,727 early in their careers. Set against $30,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern State University Of Louisiana ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value reading teacher education schools. Located in the town of Natchitoches, Northwestern State University Of Louisiana is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,864, compared with $19,652 for out-of-state students. Reading Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $27,962 in student loans. Early-career reading teacher education graduates make about $46,458. Set against $27,962 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Old Dominion University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value reading teacher education schools. Set in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,750, with out-of-state students paying around $33,780. Reading Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Reading Teacher Education graduates of Old Dominion University earn a median of $44,883 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Jacksonville State University landed the #20 spot for reading teacher education value this year. Set in the suburb of Jacksonville, Jacksonville State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,894, with out-of-state students paying around $23,334. Reading Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $24,751 in student loans. Reading Teacher Education graduates of Jacksonville State University earn a median of $56,790 early in their careers. Set against $24,751 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Radford University earned the #21 position for value in reading teacher education this year. Located in the town of Radford, Radford University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,548, compared with $25,633 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,523 to complete the reading teacher education program here. Early-career reading teacher education graduates make about $31,071. That is a strong return on a $25,523 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of The Cumberlands came in at #22 for value in reading teacher education this year. Located in the town of Williamsburg, University Of The Cumberlands is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $9,875 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for reading teacher education graduates is $22,868. Reading Teacher Education graduates of University Of The Cumberlands earn a median of $45,541 early in their careers. Set against $22,868 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Coastal Carolina University landed the #23 spot for reading teacher education value this year. Coastal Carolina University is a large public school located in the city of Conway. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,640, compared with $29,628 for out-of-state students. Reading Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $27,174 in student loans. Reading Teacher Education graduates of Coastal Carolina University earn a median of $49,729 early in their careers. Set against $27,174 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Kennesaw State University landed the #24 spot for reading teacher education value this year. Kennesaw State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kennesaw. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,808, compared with $17,736 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the reading teacher education program here. Soon after graduation, reading teacher education degree recipients from Kennesaw State University generally make around $45,243. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Vanderbilt University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value reading teacher education schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,498 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for reading teacher education graduates is $13,975. Early-career reading teacher education graduates make about $77,997. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Reading Teacher Education Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in reading teacher education:
Narrow Reading Teacher Education Schools by State
More Reading Teacher Education Rankings
View All Reading Teacher Education Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 55 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 55 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.
