by our College Data Analytics Team
[Science Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/science-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 213 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value science education schools.
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The right science education school can pay off for years to come. To help, we created our Best Value Science Education Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Read more about our methodology
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Science Education Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in science education, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in science education, no school beat Cuny Hunter College this year. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,382, while out-of-state students pay about $15,332. Typical student debt for science education graduates is $12,000. Early-career science education graduates make about $61,604. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Brooklyn College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value science education schools. Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,452, with out-of-state students paying around $15,402. Typical student debt for science education graduates is $13,178. Early-career science education graduates make about $61,164. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Queens College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in science education, landing the #3 spot this year. Cuny Queens College is a large public school located in the city of Queens. Students from in state pay about $7,538 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,488 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for science education graduates is $16,000. Science Education graduates of Cuny Queens College earn a median of $67,212 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Cuny City College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value science education schools. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,340 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,290. Science Education graduates carry a median of $13,389 in student loans. Science Education graduates of Cuny City College earn a median of $73,336 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny City College admits about 60% of applicants.
University Of Florida came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value science education schools. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Science Education graduates carry a median of $15,275 in student loans. Early-career science education graduates make about $51,476. Set against $15,275 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
Cuny Lehman College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value science education schools. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,360 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for science education graduates is $13,213. Early-career science education graduates make about $90,725. Set against $13,213 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny Lehman College admits about 57% of applicants.
California State University Long Beach ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value science education schools. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,374, while out-of-state students pay about $19,974. Students borrow a median of $15,732 to complete the science education program here. Early-career science education graduates make about $51,087. That is a strong return on a $15,732 median debt. California State University Long Beach admits about 46% of applicants.
California State University East Bay landed the #8 spot for science education value this year. Located in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,583, compared with $20,183 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,073 to complete the science education program here. Early-career science education graduates make about $58,951. Set against $18,073 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #9 among the best values for science education. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Typical student debt for science education graduates is $17,125. Science Education graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $58,732 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,125 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Florida Main Campus placed #10 among the best values for science education. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Students borrow a median of $20,375 to complete the science education program here. Soon after graduation, science education degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $51,543. Set against $20,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nevada Las Vegas earned the #11 position for value in science education this year. Set in the city of Las Vegas, University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,748, while out-of-state students pay about $27,411. Typical student debt for science education graduates is $21,794. Early-career science education graduates make about $50,039. Set against $21,794 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Nevada Las Vegas admits about 96% of applicants.
Florida Atlantic University placed #12 among the best values for science education. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,879, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for science education graduates is $27,516. Soon after graduation, science education degree recipients from Florida Atlantic University generally make around $53,524. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology landed the #13 spot for science education value this year. Set in the town of Socorro, New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,476 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,247 for out-of-state students. Science Education graduates carry a median of $18,747 in student loans. Soon after graduation, science education degree recipients from New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology generally make around $64,561. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 44% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Utah University came in at #14 for value in science education this year. Southern Utah University is a very large public school located in the town of Cedar City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,962, while out-of-state students pay about $21,192. Science Education graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans. Science Education graduates of Southern Utah University earn a median of $45,042 early in their careers. Set against $16,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Brigham Young University Idaho landed the #15 spot for science education value this year. Set in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $4,800 in tuition and fees. Science Education graduates carry a median of $13,680 in student loans. Early-career science education graduates make about $42,094. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Weber State University landed the #16 spot for science education value this year. Weber State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ogden. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,557, with out-of-state students paying around $17,545. Typical student debt for science education graduates is $26,767. Soon after graduation, science education degree recipients from Weber State University generally make around $53,920. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned the #17 position for value in science education this year. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Typical student debt for science education graduates is $16,481. Early-career science education graduates make about $71,315. That is a strong return on a $16,481 median debt. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Xavier University landed the #18 spot for science education value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,945. Students borrow a median of $27,194 to complete the science education program here. Science Education graduates of Saint Xavier University earn a median of $51,753 early in their careers. Set against $27,194 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
San Jose State University earned the #19 position for value in science education this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,410, with out-of-state students paying around $21,010. Median earnings reach $78,988 ten years out. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Fresno Pacific University landed the #20 spot for science education value this year. Fresno Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fresno. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,660. Students borrow a median of $21,875 to complete the science education program here. Soon after graduation, science education degree recipients from Fresno Pacific University generally make around $60,890. Set against $21,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
University Of California Davis placed #21 among the best values for science education. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,804, while out-of-state students pay about $47,692. Science Education graduates carry a median of $14,404 in student loans. Early-career science education graduates make about $53,749. That is a strong return on a $14,404 median debt. University Of California Davis admits about 42% of applicants.
Rhode Island College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value science education schools. Located in the suburb of Providence, Rhode Island College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,300, compared with $27,299 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for science education graduates is $29,659. Soon after graduation, science education degree recipients from Rhode Island College generally make around $51,124. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Western Governors University came in at #23 for value in science education this year. Located in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Western Governors University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,658. Typical student debt for science education graduates is $25,145. Soon after graduation, science education degree recipients from Western Governors University generally make around $51,888. That is a strong return on a $25,145 median debt.
University Of Georgia came in at #24 for value in science education this year. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Science Education graduates carry a median of $20,750 in student loans. Early-career science education graduates make about $61,081. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
Indiana State University placed #25 among the best values for science education. Set in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,258, with out-of-state students paying around $22,322. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the science education program here. Early-career science education graduates make about $45,862. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
These schools also delivered strong value for science education this year:
Explore other best-value rankings in majors related to Science Education. Browse the parent area of study.
This list is compiled 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 · 213 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 213 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
