[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 18 schools to find the best return on investment for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching, no school beat Northern Kentucky University this year. Northern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the suburb of Highland Heights. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,088, with out-of-state students paying around $21,912. 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 $41,224. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Murray State University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching schools. 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. Typical student debt for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates is $22,324. Soon after graduation, junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching degree recipients from Murray State University generally make around $40,669. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Murray State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching will find it at Morehead State University, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Morehead, Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,024, with out-of-state students paying around $14,980. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates carry a median of $25,292 in student loans. Early-career junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates make about $42,941. That is a strong return on a $25,292 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Western Kentucky University one of the best values for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching. Western Kentucky University is a large public school located in the city of Bowling Green. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,652, with out-of-state students paying around $27,000. Typical student debt for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates is $25,000. 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. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching will find it at Eastern Kentucky University, which ranked #5. Eastern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the town of Richmond. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,320, 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. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Georgetown College placed #6 among the best values for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching. Georgetown College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Georgetown. Students from in state pay about $42,840 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,938 to complete the junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching program here. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates of Georgetown College earn a median of $43,752 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,938 median debt. Georgetown College admits about 91% of applicants.
University Of The Cumberlands came in at #7 for value in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching this year. University Of The Cumberlands is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Williamsburg. In-state tuition and fees average $9,875. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates carry a median of $22,782 in student loans. Early-career junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates make about $38,571. Set against $22,782 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of The Cumberlands admits about 99% of applicants.
Lindsey Wilson College placed #8 among the best values for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching. Located in the town of Columbia, Lindsey Wilson College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $27,808 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,119 to complete the junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching program here. Early-career junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates make about $34,691. That is a strong return on a $24,119 median debt.
University Of Kentucky came in at #9 for value in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching this year. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,502, while out-of-state students pay about $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. University Of Kentucky admits about 93% of applicants.
Kentucky Wesleyan College placed #10 among the best values for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching. Kentucky Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Owensboro. In-state tuition and fees average $34,673. Students borrow a median of $25,333 to complete the junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching program here. Early-career junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates make about $39,559. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Campbellsville University came in at #11 for value in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching this year. Located in the town of Campbellsville, Campbellsville University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $27,998 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,125 to complete the junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching program here. Early-career junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates make about $36,469. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Pikeville College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching schools. 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 junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching program here. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates of Pikeville College earn a median of $37,784 early in their careers. Set against $17,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Asbury University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching schools. Asbury University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Wilmore. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,640. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching program here. Early-career junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates make about $39,215. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Asbury University admits about 63% of applicants.
Bellarmine University came in at #14 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,770. Typical student debt for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates is $27,000. Early-career junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates make about $45,567. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bellarmine University admits about 86% of applicants.
Thomas More College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching schools. Set in the suburb of Crestview Hills, Thomas More College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. 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. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching 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 ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching schools. Located in the city of Lexington, Transylvania University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $46,870. Typical student debt for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates is $26,653. Soon after graduation, junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching degree recipients from Transylvania University generally make around $45,208. That is a strong return on a $26,653 median debt. Transylvania University admits about 86% of applicants.
Spalding University landed the #17 spot for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching value this year. Spalding University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Louisville. In-state tuition and fees average $29,000. Typical student debt for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates is $29,862. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates of Spalding University earn a median of $51,978 early in their careers. Set against $29,862 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Spalding University admits about 99% of applicants.
Midway College earned the #18 position for value in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching this year. Located in the rural area of Midway, Midway College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,110. Typical student debt for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates is $22,563. Early-career junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates make about $42,586. That is a strong return on a $22,563 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
