2027 Best Value Elementary Education Schools in Georgia
[Elementary Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/elementary-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 34 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value elementary education schools.
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2027 Best Value Elementary Education Schools in Georgia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in elementary education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Elementary Education Schools
University Of North Georgia tops our 2027 list of the best value elementary education schools in Georgia. Set in the town of Dahlonega, University Of North Georgia is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,444, with out-of-state students paying around $16,956. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $49,402. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Dalton State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in elementary education, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Dalton, Dalton State College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,336 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,656. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $18,400 in student loans. Elementary Education graduates of Dalton State College earn a median of $39,889 early in their careers. Set against $18,400 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in elementary education will find it at Clayton State University, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Morrow, Clayton State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,180, while out-of-state students pay about $16,532. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $35,088. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Clayton State University generally make around $42,114. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Gordon State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in elementary education, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the town of Barnesville, Gordon State College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,628, compared with $10,948 for out-of-state students. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $23,073 in student loans. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Gordon State College generally make around $40,644. That is a strong return on a $23,073 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
South Georgia State College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value elementary education schools. Located in the town of Douglas, South Georgia State College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,314, with out-of-state students paying around $10,274. Students borrow a median of $17,518 to complete the elementary education program here. Elementary Education graduates of South Georgia State College earn a median of $50,931 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Valdosta State University placed #6 among the best values for elementary education. Valdosta State University is a large public school located in the city of Valdosta. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,124, with out-of-state students paying around $17,836. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $26,750. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Valdosta State University generally make around $48,722. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
East Georgia State College earned the #7 position for value in elementary education this year. Set in the town of Swainsboro, East Georgia State College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,900, while out-of-state students pay about $9,860. Students borrow a median of $15,760 to complete the elementary education program here. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $54,784. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fort Valley State University came in at #8 for value in elementary education this year. Located in the town of Fort Valley, Fort Valley State University is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,526, compared with $16,878 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $35,963. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $32,127. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Fort Valley State University admits about 66% of applicants.
Georgia Southwestern State University came in at #9 for value in elementary education this year. Georgia Southwestern State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Americus. Students from in state pay about $5,220 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,572. Students borrow a median of $26,431 to complete the elementary education program here. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $50,897. That is a strong return on a $26,431 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
University Of West Georgia landed the #10 spot for elementary education value this year. Located in the town of Carrollton, University Of West Georgia is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,088, compared with $17,800 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,217 to complete the elementary education program here. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from University Of West Georgia generally make around $50,204. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 52%.
Albany State University earned the #11 position for value in elementary education this year. Albany State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Albany. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,656, compared with $17,008 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $31,000. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $44,703. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt.
Middle Georgia State University landed the #12 spot for elementary education value this year. Located in the city of Macon, Middle Georgia State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,038, while out-of-state students pay about $16,390. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $23,125. Elementary Education graduates of Middle Georgia State University earn a median of $41,634 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,125 median debt. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Georgia earned the #13 position for value in elementary education this year. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $18,229. Elementary Education graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $59,279 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,229 median debt. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
Wesleyan College earned the #14 position for value in elementary education this year. Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Macon. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,650. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $38,170 in student loans. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $70,482. That is a strong return on a $38,170 median debt. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
Columbus State University landed the #15 spot for elementary education value this year. Columbus State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Columbus. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,898, while out-of-state students pay about $17,610. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $30,977. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Columbus State University generally make around $55,147. Set against $30,977 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Kennesaw State University earned the #16 position for value in elementary education this year. Located in the suburb of Kennesaw, Kennesaw State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,808, while out-of-state students pay about $17,736. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Elementary Education graduates of Kennesaw State University earn a median of $63,630 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Augusta University landed the #17 spot for elementary education value this year. Augusta University is a large public school located in the city of Augusta. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,414, compared with $24,734 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $29,579. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $42,419. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
College Of Coastal Georgia placed #18 among the best values for elementary education. Set in the city of Brunswick, College Of Coastal Georgia is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,616, compared with $10,936 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,125 to complete the elementary education program here. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from College Of Coastal Georgia generally make around $40,747. That is a strong return on a $17,125 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia Southern University came in at #19 for value in elementary education this year. Set in the town of Statesboro, Georgia Southern University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,022, with out-of-state students paying around $17,734. Students borrow a median of $26,750 to complete the elementary education program here. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $47,263. That is a strong return on a $26,750 median debt. Georgia Southern University admits about 88% of applicants.
Georgia Gwinnett College landed the #20 spot for elementary education value this year. Set in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Georgia Gwinnett College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,532, with out-of-state students paying around $13,844. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $21,590 in student loans. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $48,203. Set against $21,590 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Georgia State University earned the #21 position for value in elementary education this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,664 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,840 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,750 to complete the elementary education program here. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Georgia State University generally make around $53,265. Set against $26,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Georgia State University admits about 55% of applicants.
Shorter University came in at #22 for value in elementary education this year. Shorter University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rome. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $24,630. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $26,568. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $39,460. Set against $26,568 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Thomas University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value elementary education schools. Located in the town of Thomasville, Thomas University is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,640. Students borrow a median of $28,500 to complete the elementary education program here. Elementary Education graduates of Thomas University earn a median of $59,006 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,500 median debt. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia College And State University landed the #24 spot for elementary education value this year. Georgia College And State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Milledgeville. Students from in state pay about $9,186 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,512. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $26,000. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $50,511. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Piedmont College landed the #25 spot for elementary education value this year. Piedmont College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Demorest. Students from in state pay about $31,700 in tuition and fees. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $30,026 in student loans. Elementary Education graduates of Piedmont College earn a median of $48,916 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,026 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Rest of the Top 34 Best Value Elementary Education Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for elementary education this year:
More Elementary Education Rankings
View All Elementary Education Rankings >
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 · 34 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 34 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.
