2026 Best Value Social Science Teacher Education Schools in Iowa
[Social Science Teacher Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/social-science-teacher-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong social science teacher education education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for social science teacher education students.
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2026 Best Value Social Science Teacher Education Schools in Iowa
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in social science teacher education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Social Science Teacher Education Schools
Leading the list is University Of Northern Iowa, our #1 best value for social science teacher education in Iowa. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,936, while out-of-state students pay about $21,712. Social Science Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career social science teacher education graduates make about $52,307. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Buena Vista University earned it the #2 place for social science teacher education. Buena Vista University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Storm Lake. In-state tuition and fees average $41,798. Students borrow a median of $29,008 to complete the social science teacher education program here. Early-career social science teacher education graduates make about $44,780. That is a strong return on a $29,008 median debt. Buena Vista University admits about 78% of applicants.
Upper Iowa University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in social science teacher education, landing the #3 spot 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. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the social science teacher education program here. Early-career social science teacher education graduates make about $50,705. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Upper Iowa University admits about 96% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
