2027 Best Value Elementary Education Schools in Kentucky
[Elementary Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/elementary-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 19 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for elementary education students.
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2027 Best Value Elementary Education Schools in Kentucky
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in elementary education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Elementary Education Schools
Northern Kentucky University earned the #1 spot for value among elementary education schools in Kentucky. Located in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,088, compared with $21,912 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $27,000. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $41,224. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Murray State University one of the best values for elementary education. Set in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,900, with out-of-state students paying around $19,836. Students borrow a median of $22,324 to complete the elementary education program here. Elementary Education graduates of Murray State University earn a median of $40,669 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Murray State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Morehead State University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value elementary education schools. Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Morehead. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,024, with out-of-state students paying around $14,980. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $25,292. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Morehead State University generally make around $42,941. That is a strong return on a $25,292 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Western Kentucky University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value elementary education schools. Western Kentucky University is a large public school located in the city of Bowling Green. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,652, compared with $27,000 for out-of-state students. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Elementary Education graduates of Western Kentucky University earn a median of $41,250 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western Kentucky University admits about 94% of applicants.
Eastern Kentucky University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value elementary education schools. Eastern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the town of Richmond. In-state tuition and fees average $10,320, with out-of-state students paying around $21,230. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $26,725 in student loans. Elementary Education graduates of Eastern Kentucky University earn a median of $40,114 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,725 median debt. Eastern Kentucky University admits about 78% of applicants.
Georgetown College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value elementary education schools. Located in the town of Georgetown, Georgetown College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $42,840 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $26,938. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Georgetown College generally make around $43,752. Set against $26,938 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of The Cumberlands earned the #7 position for value in elementary education this year. Located in the town of Williamsburg, University Of The Cumberlands is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $9,875 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $22,782. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $38,571. That is a strong return on a $22,782 median debt. University Of The Cumberlands admits about 99% of applicants.
University Of Louisville ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value elementary education schools. Located in the city of Louisville, University Of Louisville is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,136, with out-of-state students paying around $29,482. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $23,584. Elementary Education graduates of University Of Louisville earn a median of $47,558 early in their careers. Set against $23,584 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Lindsey Wilson College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value elementary education schools. Set in the town of Columbia, Lindsey Wilson College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,808. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $24,119 in student loans. Elementary Education graduates of Lindsey Wilson College earn a median of $34,691 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Kentucky earned the #10 position for value in elementary education this year. Located in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,502 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $23,250. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $42,048. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Kentucky admits about 93% of applicants.
Kentucky Wesleyan College came in at #11 for value in elementary education this year. Located in the city of Owensboro, Kentucky Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,673. Students borrow a median of $25,333 to complete the elementary education program here. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Kentucky Wesleyan College generally make around $39,559. Set against $25,333 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Campbellsville University landed the #12 spot for elementary education value this year. Set in the town of Campbellsville, Campbellsville University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,998. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $23,125. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Campbellsville University generally make around $36,469. That is a strong return on a $23,125 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Pikeville College earned the #13 position for value in elementary education this year. Set in the town of Pikeville, Pikeville College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $24,850 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,778 to complete the elementary education program here. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $37,784. Set against $17,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Asbury University came in at #14 for value in elementary education this year. Set in the town of Wilmore, Asbury University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $33,640. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Asbury University generally make around $39,215. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Bellarmine University landed the #15 spot for elementary education value this year. Located in the city of Louisville, Bellarmine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $48,770. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Bellarmine University generally make around $45,567. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Bellarmine University admits about 86% of applicants.
Thomas More College came in at #16 for value in elementary education this year. Thomas More College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Crestview Hills. Students from in state pay about $39,025 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $27,000. Elementary Education graduates of Thomas More College earn a median of $40,439 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Transylvania University landed the #17 spot for elementary education value this year. Transylvania University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lexington. In-state tuition and fees average $46,870. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $26,653 in student loans. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Transylvania University generally make around $45,208. Set against $26,653 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Spalding University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value elementary education schools. Located in the city of Louisville, Spalding University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $29,000. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $29,862. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Spalding University generally make around $51,978. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Midway College placed #19 among the best values for elementary education. Located in the rural area of Midway, Midway College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $19,110 in tuition and fees. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $22,563 in student loans. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Midway College generally make around $42,586. That is a strong return on a $22,563 median debt. Midway College admits about 95% of applicants.
More Elementary Education Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
