2026 Best Value College Postsecondary University Teaching Schools
[College Postsecondary University Teaching](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/college-postsecondary-university-teaching/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong college postsecondary university teaching education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 21 schools to find the best return on investment for college postsecondary university teaching students.
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Finding the Best Value College Postsecondary University Teaching School for You
The right college postsecondary university teaching school can pay off for years to come. That is why we built our Best Value College Postsecondary University Teaching Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
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2026 Best Value College Postsecondary University Teaching Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in college postsecondary university teaching, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value College Postsecondary University Teaching Schools
University Of Utah tops our 2026 list of the best value college postsecondary university teaching schools in the United States. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,620 in tuition and fees, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for college postsecondary university teaching graduates is $25,472. College Postsecondary University Teaching graduates of University Of Utah earn a median of $60,527 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,472 median debt. University Of Utah admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Kansas City is a great value for students pursuing a degree in college postsecondary university teaching, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,371 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,271 for out-of-state students. College Postsecondary University Teaching graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career college postsecondary university teaching graduates make about $39,942. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Missouri Kansas City admits about 72% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in college postsecondary university teaching will find it at Northern Arizona University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,619, while out-of-state students pay about $20,044. Students borrow a median of $18,600 to complete the college postsecondary university teaching program here. Soon after graduation, college postsecondary university teaching degree recipients from Northern Arizona University generally make around $47,551. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Delta State University earned it the #4 place for college postsecondary university teaching. Delta State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Cleveland. In-state tuition and fees average $8,605. Typical student debt for college postsecondary university teaching graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, college postsecondary university teaching degree recipients from Delta State University generally make around $41,156. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Delta State University admits about 100% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Suny College At Potsdam one of the best values for college postsecondary university teaching. Suny College At Potsdam is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Potsdam. In-state tuition and fees average $8,768, with out-of-state students paying around $18,678. Typical student debt for college postsecondary university teaching graduates is $27,000. Early-career college postsecondary university teaching graduates make about $42,569. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Suny College At Potsdam admits about 78% of applicants.
East Tennessee State University landed the #6 spot for college postsecondary university teaching value this year. Located in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,216, with out-of-state students paying around $13,726. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the college postsecondary university teaching program here. Soon after graduation, college postsecondary university teaching degree recipients from East Tennessee State University generally make around $42,981. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. East Tennessee State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus came in at #7 for value in college postsecondary university teaching this year. Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Stillwater. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,110, while out-of-state students pay about $25,630. Students borrow a median of $24,585 to complete the college postsecondary university teaching program here. Early-career college postsecondary university teaching graduates make about $50,993. Set against $24,585 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Oklahoma State University Main Campus admits about 75% of applicants.
East Carolina University earned the #8 position for value in college postsecondary university teaching this year. East Carolina University is a very large public school located in the city of Greenville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,361, while out-of-state students pay about $23,638. College Postsecondary University Teaching graduates carry a median of $23,625 in student loans. College Postsecondary University Teaching graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $45,356 early in their careers. Set against $23,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Kentucky earned the #9 position for value in college postsecondary university teaching this year. Located in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,502, while out-of-state students pay about $34,140. College Postsecondary University Teaching graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Early-career college postsecondary university teaching graduates make about $42,048. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Kansas landed the #10 spot for college postsecondary university teaching value this year. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, with out-of-state students paying around $30,432. College Postsecondary University Teaching graduates carry a median of $24,776 in student loans. Soon after graduation, college postsecondary university teaching degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $56,289. That is a strong return on a $24,776 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Iowa State University placed #11 among the best values for college postsecondary university teaching. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,787 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for college postsecondary university teaching graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, college postsecondary university teaching degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $45,512. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Capella University came in at #12 for value in college postsecondary university teaching this year. Capella University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. Students from in state pay about $14,400 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $35,998 to complete the college postsecondary university teaching program here. Early-career college postsecondary university teaching graduates make about $72,053. That is a strong return on a $35,998 median debt.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #13 for value in college postsecondary university teaching this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Students borrow a median of $23,050 to complete the college postsecondary university teaching program here. Soon after graduation, college postsecondary university teaching degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $49,736. Set against $23,050 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
University At Buffalo earned the #14 position for value in college postsecondary university teaching this year. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,936, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. Students borrow a median of $22,232 to complete the college postsecondary university teaching program here. Early-career college postsecondary university teaching graduates make about $45,008. That is a strong return on a $22,232 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Texas A And M University College Station earned the #15 position for value in college postsecondary university teaching this year. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,995, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. Typical student debt for college postsecondary university teaching graduates is $20,031. College Postsecondary University Teaching graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $54,179 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,031 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Loyola University Chicago ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value college postsecondary university teaching schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $53,710. College Postsecondary University Teaching graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, college postsecondary university teaching degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $61,945. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
High Point University landed the #17 spot for college postsecondary university teaching value this year. Located in the city of High Point, High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $45,312. College Postsecondary University Teaching graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. Early-career college postsecondary university teaching graduates make about $113,352. Set against $24,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
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College Postsecondary University Teaching Related Rankings by Major
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
