2027 Best Value Trade & Industrial Teacher Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Trade & Industrial Teacher Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/trade-and-industrial-teacher-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for trade & industrial teacher education students.
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2027 Best Value Trade & Industrial Teacher Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the trade & industrial teacher education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Trade & Industrial Teacher Education Schools
Leading the list is Indiana State University, our #1 best value for trade & industrial teacher education in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,258 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,322. Trade & Industrial Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Trade & Industrial Teacher Education graduates of Indiana State University earn a median of $53,952 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in trade & industrial teacher education will find it at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, which ranked #2. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. In-state tuition and fees average $13,334. Typical student debt for trade & industrial teacher education graduates is $21,182. Trade & Industrial Teacher Education graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $51,816 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,182 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
A rank of #3 makes Western Michigan University one of the best values for trade & industrial teacher education. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,987, compared with $19,952 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete the trade & industrial teacher education program here. Soon after graduation, trade & industrial teacher education degree recipients from Western Michigan University generally make around $48,382. Set against $29,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of Wisconsin Stout is a great value for students pursuing a degree in trade & industrial teacher education, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,701, with out-of-state students paying around $19,265. Trade & Industrial Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. Early-career trade & industrial teacher education graduates make about $64,700. Set against $24,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Stout admits about 88% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in trade & industrial teacher education will find it at Illinois State University, which ranked #5. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. In-state tuition and fees average $14,410, compared with $26,058 for out-of-state students. Trade & Industrial Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $24,149 in student loans. Early-career trade & industrial teacher education graduates make about $49,660. Set against $24,149 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Illinois State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Kent State University At Kent ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value trade & industrial teacher education schools. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. Students from in state pay about $12,220 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,750 to complete the trade & industrial teacher education program here. Trade & Industrial Teacher Education graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $47,727 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Rio Grande landed the #7 spot for trade & industrial teacher education value this year. Set in the rural area of Rio Grande, University Of Rio Grande is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $20,560 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,044 to complete the trade & industrial teacher education program here. Early-career trade & industrial teacher education graduates make about $46,611. Set against $27,044 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.