[Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education & Teaching](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/junior-high-intermediate-middle-school-education-and-teaching/) 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.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching, balancing cost against outcomes.
University Of Maryland College Park earned the #1 spot for value among junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching schools in Maryland. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,809, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching program here. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $53,054 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Towson University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching schools. Located in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,820. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates of Towson University earn a median of $56,953 early in their careers. Set against $18,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Stevenson University earned it the #3 place for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching. Located in the suburb of Owings Mills, Stevenson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,560. Typical student debt for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates is $26,887. Soon after graduation, junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching degree recipients from Stevenson University generally make around $52,395. That is a strong return on a $26,887 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
