2027 Best Value Elementary Education Associate’s Degree Schools
[Elementary Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/elementary-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong elementary education education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 139 schools to find the best return on investment for elementary education students.
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2027 Best Value Elementary Education Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in elementary education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Elementary Education Schools
Indian River State College earned the #1 spot for value among elementary education schools in the United States. Set in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,764 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,201 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the elementary education program here. Elementary Education graduates of Indian River State College earn a median of $48,612 early in their careers. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in elementary education will find it at Miami Dade College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,838 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,661 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $11,967. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $40,267. Set against $11,967 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
St Petersburg College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value elementary education schools. Set in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,682 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,286. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $19,900. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from St Petersburg College generally make around $49,672. That is a strong return on a $19,900 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lake Washington Institute Of Technology earned it the #4 place for elementary education. Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Kirkland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,997, compared with $12,062 for out-of-state students. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $19,695 in student loans. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $60,000. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Middlesex Community College Bedford came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value elementary education schools. Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public school located in the suburb of Bedford. In-state tuition and fees average $6,098, while out-of-state students pay about $12,170. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $11,602. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Middlesex Community College Bedford generally make around $27,981. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oklahoma City Community College landed the #6 spot for elementary education value this year. Set in the city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,059, compared with $9,810 for out-of-state students. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $8,999 in student loans. Elementary Education graduates of Oklahoma City Community College earn a median of $39,848 early in their careers. Set against $8,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central New Mexico Community College came in at #7 for value in elementary education this year. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,060, while out-of-state students pay about $8,684. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $9,625 in student loans. Elementary Education graduates of Central New Mexico Community College earn a median of $29,708 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Springfield Technical Community College came in at #8 for value in elementary education this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Springfield Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,904, while out-of-state students pay about $11,112. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $5,881. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Springfield Technical Community College generally make around $28,769. Set against $5,881 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Itawamba Community College landed the #9 spot for elementary education value this year. Located in the rural area of Fulton, Itawamba Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,420, while out-of-state students pay about $5,820. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $10,942. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Itawamba Community College generally make around $40,832. Set against $10,942 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northern Essex Community College placed #10 among the best values for elementary education. Set in the suburb of Haverhill, Northern Essex Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,732 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,516. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $10,129 in student loans. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $44,682. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pima Community College landed the #11 spot for elementary education value this year. Set in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,442, with out-of-state students paying around $7,758. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $18,417 in student loans. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Pima Community College generally make around $27,679. Set against $18,417 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Washtenaw Community College placed #12 among the best values for elementary education. Set in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,736, with out-of-state students paying around $6,504. Students borrow a median of $14,607 to complete the elementary education program here. Elementary Education graduates of Washtenaw Community College earn a median of $45,332 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,607 median debt.
College Of Southern Nevada ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value elementary education schools. College Of Southern Nevada is a very large public school located in the city of Las Vegas. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,358, with out-of-state students paying around $13,024. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $11,069. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $19,662. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
James Sprunt Community College earned the #14 position for value in elementary education this year. Located in the rural area of Kenansville, James Sprunt Community College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $2,592 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,736 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $11,278. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from James Sprunt Community College generally make around $26,775. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cochise College landed the #15 spot for elementary education value this year. Set in the city of Sierra Vista, Cochise College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,280, with out-of-state students paying around $6,120. Students borrow a median of $12,013 to complete the elementary education program here. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Cochise College generally make around $40,712. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Piedmont Community College came in at #16 for value in elementary education this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,792, while out-of-state students pay about $8,936. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $9,500. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Central Piedmont Community College generally make around $40,629. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
College Of Western Idaho placed #17 among the best values for elementary education. Set in the rural area of Nampa, College Of Western Idaho is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,446, while out-of-state students pay about $7,454. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $10,626. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from College Of Western Idaho generally make around $40,963.
Cuny Queensborough Community College landed the #18 spot for elementary education value this year. Cuny Queensborough Community College is a large public school located in the city of Bayside. Students from in state pay about $5,210 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,090 for out-of-state students. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $10,052 in student loans. Elementary Education graduates of Cuny Queensborough Community College earn a median of $23,674 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,052 median debt.
Brazosport College placed #19 among the best values for elementary education. Set in the suburb of Lake Jackson, Brazosport College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,388, while out-of-state students pay about $4,711. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $6,625 in student loans. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $32,746. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Snow College came in at #20 for value in elementary education this year. Snow College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Ephraim. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,338, compared with $14,288 for out-of-state students. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $10,440 in student loans. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Snow College generally make around $42,776. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Holmes Community College came in at #21 for value in elementary education this year. Holmes Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Goodman. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,710, with out-of-state students paying around $6,610. Students borrow a median of $6,200 to complete the elementary education program here. Elementary Education graduates of Holmes Community College earn a median of $18,553 early in their careers. Set against $6,200 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
West Virginia University At Parkersburg placed #22 among the best values for elementary education. West Virginia University At Parkersburg is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Parkersburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,476, compared with $9,424 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $11,182. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from West Virginia University At Parkersburg generally make around $35,543. That is a strong return on a $11,182 median debt.
Bristol Community College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value elementary education schools. Bristol Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Fall River. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,832, compared with $10,776 for out-of-state students. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $7,788 in student loans. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Bristol Community College generally make around $21,738. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Utah Valley University placed #24 among the best values for elementary education. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. In-state tuition and fees average $6,507, compared with $18,489 for out-of-state students. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Elementary Education graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $49,497 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Renton Technical College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value elementary education schools. Renton Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Renton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,330, with out-of-state students paying around $7,768. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $18,582 in student loans. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $80,411. That is a strong return on a $18,582 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Elementary Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s elementary education value ranking:
Other Elementary Education Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Elementary Education rankings across degree levels:
View All Elementary Education Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 139 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 139 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.
