2027 Best Value Adult & Continuing Education Schools
[Adult & Continuing Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/adult-continuing-education/) 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 77 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value adult & continuing education schools.
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Finding the Best Value Adult & Continuing Education School for You
The right adult & continuing education school can pay off for years to come. That is why we developed our Best Value Adult & Continuing Education Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
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Customizing Your List
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Adult & Continuing 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.
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2027 Best Value Adult & Continuing Education Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in adult & continuing education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Adult & Continuing Education Schools
Our analysis ranked Florida International University the best value for a degree in adult & continuing education in the United States. 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 adult & continuing education graduates is $16,490. Adult & Continuing Education graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $48,461 early in their careers. Set against $16,490 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of South Florida Main Campus earned it the #2 place for adult & continuing education. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,410, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,995 to complete the adult & continuing education program here. Adult & Continuing Education graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $52,885 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
Cochise College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value adult & continuing education schools. Cochise College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Sierra Vista. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,280, compared with $6,120 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,013 to complete the adult & continuing education program here. Early-career adult & continuing education graduates make about $40,712. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Portland State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in adult & continuing education, landing the #4 spot this year. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,118, compared with $29,136 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for adult & continuing education graduates is $26,475. Adult & Continuing Education graduates of Portland State University earn a median of $43,030 early in their careers. Set against $26,475 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Nevada Las Vegas one of the best values for adult & continuing education. University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public school located in the city of Las Vegas. Students from in state pay about $9,748 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $27,411. Adult & Continuing Education graduates carry a median of $24,913 in student loans. Soon after graduation, adult & continuing education degree recipients from University Of Nevada Las Vegas generally make around $50,039. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of Houston Victoria ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value adult & continuing education schools. Set in the city of Victoria, University Of Houston Victoria is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,149 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,941. Adult & Continuing Education graduates carry a median of $24,081 in student loans. Early-career adult & continuing education graduates make about $47,345. That is a strong return on a $24,081 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Suny Empire State College landed the #7 spot for adult & continuing education value this year. Located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,648, compared with $17,558 for out-of-state students. Adult & Continuing Education graduates carry a median of $23,693 in student loans. Adult & Continuing Education graduates of Suny Empire State College earn a median of $62,860 early in their careers. Set against $23,693 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Carolina A And T State University placed #8 among the best values for adult & continuing education. Set in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,813 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,673. Students borrow a median of $29,078 to complete the adult & continuing education program here. Soon after graduation, adult & continuing education degree recipients from North Carolina A And T State University generally make around $50,715. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Morehead State University landed the #9 spot for adult & continuing education value this year. Located in the town of Morehead, Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,024, with out-of-state students paying around $14,980. Typical student debt for adult & continuing education graduates is $25,292. Soon after graduation, adult & continuing education degree recipients from Morehead State University generally make around $42,941. Set against $25,292 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Indiana State University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value adult & continuing education schools. Located in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,258, while out-of-state students pay about $22,322. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the adult & continuing education program here. Early-career adult & continuing education graduates make about $40,204. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana State University admits about 81% of applicants.
Portland Community College came in at #11 for value in adult & continuing education this year. Portland Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. Students from in state pay about $5,220 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,440 for out-of-state students. Adult & Continuing Education graduates carry a median of $20,648 in student loans. Early-career adult & continuing education graduates make about $49,580. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Georgia ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value adult & continuing education schools. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Typical student debt for adult & continuing education graduates is $18,229. Soon after graduation, adult & continuing education degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $59,279. That is a strong return on a $18,229 median debt. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
Dominican University landed the #13 spot for adult & continuing education value this year. Dominican University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest. In-state tuition and fees average $38,828. Typical student debt for adult & continuing education graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, adult & continuing education degree recipients from Dominican University generally make around $45,924. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Purdue University Main Campus ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value adult & continuing education schools. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Typical student debt for adult & continuing education graduates is $18,646. Early-career adult & continuing education graduates make about $63,111. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Coppin State University earned the #15 position for value in adult & continuing education this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, Coppin State University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,100 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,024. Students borrow a median of $33,865 to complete the adult & continuing education program here. Early-career adult & continuing education graduates make about $50,062. Set against $33,865 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Coppin State University admits about 46% of applicants.
Western Kentucky University came in at #16 for value in adult & continuing education this year. Set in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,652, while out-of-state students pay about $27,000. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the adult & continuing education program here. Adult & Continuing Education graduates of Western Kentucky University earn a median of $41,250 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Suny College At Buffalo placed #17 among the best values for adult & continuing education. Set in the city of Buffalo, Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,533, while out-of-state students pay about $19,653. Students borrow a median of $26,999 to complete the adult & continuing education program here. Soon after graduation, adult & continuing education degree recipients from Suny College At Buffalo generally make around $39,659. That is a strong return on a $26,999 median debt. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University Commerce came in at #18 for value in adult & continuing education this year. Set in the town of Commerce, Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,026, while out-of-state students pay about $22,326. Typical student debt for adult & continuing education graduates is $23,796. Adult & Continuing Education graduates of Texas A And M University Commerce earn a median of $54,201 early in their careers. Set against $23,796 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Illinois University placed #19 among the best values for adult & continuing education. Eastern Illinois University is a large public school located in the town of Charleston. In-state tuition and fees average $13,377, with out-of-state students paying around $15,859. Students borrow a median of $22,075 to complete the adult & continuing education program here. Early-career adult & continuing education graduates make about $41,582. Set against $22,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern Illinois University admits about 65% of applicants.
Northwestern Oklahoma State University came in at #20 for value in adult & continuing education this year. Northwestern Oklahoma State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Alva. Students from in state pay about $5,970 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,664. Students borrow a median of $21,542 to complete the adult & continuing education program here. Adult & Continuing Education graduates of Northwestern Oklahoma State University earn a median of $44,406 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,542 median debt. Northwestern Oklahoma State University admits about 66% of applicants.
Arkansas State University Main Campus placed #21 among the best values for adult & continuing education. Located in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,090, with out-of-state students paying around $14,522. Typical student debt for adult & continuing education graduates is $21,424. Early-career adult & continuing education graduates make about $41,939. That is a strong return on a $21,424 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Washington University earned the #22 position for value in adult & continuing education this year. Located in the town of Cheney, Eastern Washington University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,586, while out-of-state students pay about $26,583. Students borrow a median of $20,885 to complete the adult & continuing education program here. Early-career adult & continuing education graduates make about $47,144. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of West Alabama came in at #23 for value in adult & continuing education this year. Located in the rural area of Livingston, University Of West Alabama is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,990, while out-of-state students pay about $20,090. Adult & Continuing Education graduates carry a median of $31,894 in student loans. Adult & Continuing Education graduates of University Of West Alabama earn a median of $54,953 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 43%.
Northwestern State University Of Louisiana earned the #24 position for value in adult & continuing education this year. Set in the town of Natchitoches, Northwestern State University Of Louisiana is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,864, while out-of-state students pay about $19,652. Students borrow a median of $23,662 to complete the adult & continuing education program here. Soon after graduation, adult & continuing education degree recipients from Northwestern State University Of Louisiana generally make around $46,549. That is a strong return on a $23,662 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Ball State University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value adult & continuing education schools. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,082, with out-of-state students paying around $29,630. Adult & Continuing Education graduates carry a median of $24,655 in student loans. Early-career adult & continuing education graduates make about $48,051. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ball State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Adult & Continuing Education Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for adult & continuing education this year:
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Explore other best-value rankings in majors related to Adult & Continuing Education. Browse the parent area of study.
Notes and References
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 · 77 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 77 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.
