[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching students.
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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.
Peru State College earned the #1 spot for value among junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching schools in Nebraska. Located in the rural area of Peru, Peru State College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,433. Typical student debt for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates is $26,117. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates of Peru State College earn a median of $37,072 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chadron State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching, landing the #2 spot this year. Chadron State College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Chadron. Students from in state pay about $8,294 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates is $21,750. Soon after graduation, junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching degree recipients from Chadron State College generally make around $40,320. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Wayne State College one of the best values for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching. Located in the town of Wayne, Wayne State College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,171. Typical student debt for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching degree recipients from Wayne State College generally make around $41,322. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt.
Hastings College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching schools. Set in the town of Hastings, Hastings College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $37,770 in tuition and fees. 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 $42,417. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
A rank of #5 makes Nebraska Wesleyan University one of the best values for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching. Located in the city of Lincoln, Nebraska Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $43,572. 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 Nebraska Wesleyan University generally make around $52,199. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Concordia University Seward placed #6 among the best values for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching. Set in the town of Seward, Concordia University Seward is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,640. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching program here. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates of Concordia University Seward earn a median of $47,667 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Concordia University Seward admits about 86% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 6 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.
