[Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education & Teaching](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/junior-high-intermediate-middle-school-education-and-teaching/) 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 10 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching schools.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Cuny Brooklyn College, our #1 best value for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching in New York. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,452, while out-of-state students pay about $15,402. Typical student debt for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates is $10,862. Early-career junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates make about $48,574. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Brooklyn College admits about 58% of applicants.
Cuny Lehman College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,360. Students borrow a median of $13,213 to complete the junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching program here. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates of Cuny Lehman College earn a median of $62,489 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,213 median debt. Cuny Lehman College admits about 57% of applicants.
Suny Empire State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,648 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,558 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates is $23,693. Soon after graduation, junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching degree recipients from Suny Empire State College generally make around $58,140. Set against $23,693 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mount Saint Mary College earned it the #4 place for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching. Mount Saint Mary College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Newburgh. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $43,450. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Early-career junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates make about $65,715. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching will find it at Wagner College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Staten Island, Wagner College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $53,200 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,997 to complete the junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching program here. Early-career junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates make about $61,515. That is a strong return on a $26,997 median debt. Wagner College admits about 88% of applicants.
Adelphi University landed the #6 spot for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching value this year. Located in the suburb of Garden City, Adelphi University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,775. Typical student debt for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates is $25,487. Early-career junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates make about $51,037. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Rochester earned the #7 position for value in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching this year. Set in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,080. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates carry a median of $21,517 in student loans. Early-career junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates make about $60,865. Set against $21,517 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Hofstra University earned the #8 position for value in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching this year. Set in the suburb of Hempstead, Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $57,660. Students borrow a median of $25,359 to complete the junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching program here. Soon after graduation, junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching degree recipients from Hofstra University generally make around $39,556. Set against $25,359 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 10 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.
