[Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education & Teaching](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/junior-high-intermediate-middle-school-education-and-teaching/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 23 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 Murray State University, our #1 best value for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching in Kentucky. Murray State University is a large public school located in the town of Murray. Students from in state pay about $9,900 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,836 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,324 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 Murray State University generally make around $40,669. Set against $22,324 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Northern Kentucky University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching schools. Northern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the suburb of Highland Heights. In-state tuition and fees average $11,088, while out-of-state students pay about $21,912. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching degree recipients from Northern Kentucky University generally make around $41,224. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northern Kentucky University admits about 68% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching will find it at Eastern Kentucky University, which ranked #3. Eastern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the town of Richmond. Students from in state pay about $10,320 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,230. Students borrow a median of $26,725 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 Eastern Kentucky University generally make around $40,114. Set against $26,725 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern Kentucky University admits about 78% of applicants.
Western Kentucky University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching schools. Located in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,652, with out-of-state students paying around $27,000. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates make about $41,250. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western Kentucky University admits about 94% of applicants.
Morehead State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching schools. Located in the town of Morehead, Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,024, while out-of-state students pay about $14,980. Students borrow a median of $25,292 to complete the junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching program here. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates of Morehead State University earn a median of $42,941 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
University Of The Cumberlands earned the #6 position for value in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching 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 junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates is $22,782. Early-career junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates make about $38,571. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Georgetown College earned the #7 position for value in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching this year. Located in the town of Georgetown, Georgetown College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $42,840. Students borrow a median of $26,938 to complete the junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching program here. Early-career junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates make about $43,752. Set against $26,938 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Pikeville College placed #8 among the best values for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching. Pikeville College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Pikeville. In-state tuition and fees average $24,850. Students borrow a median of $17,778 to complete the junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching program here. Early-career junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates make about $37,784. Set against $17,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lindsey Wilson College placed #9 among the best values for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching. Set in the town of Columbia, Lindsey Wilson College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $27,808. Typical student debt for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates is $24,119. Soon after graduation, junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching degree recipients from Lindsey Wilson College generally make around $34,691. That is a strong return on a $24,119 median debt.
University Of Kentucky landed the #10 spot for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching value this year. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,502 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching program here. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $42,048 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Campbellsville University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching schools. Campbellsville University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Campbellsville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,998. Students borrow a median of $23,125 to complete the junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching program here. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates of Campbellsville University earn a median of $36,469 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,125 median debt. Campbellsville University admits about 80% of applicants.
Alice Lloyd College earned the #12 position for value in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching this year. Alice Lloyd College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Pippa Passes. Students from in state pay about $13,960 in tuition and fees. Median earnings reach $40,573 ten years out. Alice Lloyd College admits about 75% of applicants.
Thomas More College earned the #13 position for value in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching this year. Located in the suburb of Crestview Hills, Thomas More College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,025. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates make about $40,439. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Thomas More College admits about 90% of applicants.
Asbury University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching schools. Set in the town of Wilmore, Asbury University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $33,640 in tuition and fees. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching degree recipients from Asbury University generally make around $39,215. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Bellarmine University came in at #15 for value in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching this year. Bellarmine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Louisville. Students from in state pay about $48,770 in tuition and fees. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching degree recipients from Bellarmine University generally make around $46,024. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bellarmine University admits about 86% of applicants.
Midway College earned the #16 position for value in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching this year. Midway College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Midway. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,110. Students borrow a median of $22,563 to complete the junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching program here. Early-career junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates make about $42,586. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Midway College admits about 95% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
