2027 Best Value Secondary Education Associate’s Degree Schools
[Secondary Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/secondary-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong secondary education education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 87 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value secondary education schools.
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2027 Best Value Secondary Education Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in secondary education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Secondary Education Schools
Tarrant County College District earned the #1 spot for value among secondary education schools in the United States. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,863, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $9,750. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $24,507. That is a strong return on a $9,750 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in secondary education will find it at Grayson College, which ranked #2. Grayson College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Denison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,000, while out-of-state students pay about $6,300. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $11,627. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $42,487. Set against $11,627 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in secondary education will find it at Odessa College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Odessa, Odessa College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,688, with out-of-state students paying around $4,926. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $9,087. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Odessa College generally make around $47,856. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Collin County Community College District came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value secondary education schools. Located in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,014 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,064 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $9,125. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $42,177. Set against $9,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes College Of The Mainland one of the best values for secondary education. Set in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,310, with out-of-state students paying around $4,140. Students borrow a median of $10,928 to complete the secondary education program here. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from College Of The Mainland generally make around $40,788. Set against $10,928 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Austin Community College District placed #6 among the best values for secondary education. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,550 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $17,785 in student loans. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Austin Community College District generally make around $46,430. That is a strong return on a $17,785 median debt.
El Centro College earned the #7 position for value in secondary education this year. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,730, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $12,500 in student loans. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $25,385. Set against $12,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Antonio College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value secondary education schools. Located in the city of San Antonio, San Antonio College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $10,375. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $37,855. That is a strong return on a $10,375 median debt.
Central New Mexico Community College landed the #9 spot for secondary education value this year. Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,060, compared with $8,684 for out-of-state students. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $9,625 in student loans. Secondary Education graduates of Central New Mexico Community College earn a median of $29,708 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Springfield Technical Community College placed #10 among the best values for secondary education. Set in the city of Springfield, Springfield Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,904 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,112. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $5,881. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Springfield Technical Community College generally make around $28,769. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Itawamba Community College earned the #11 position for value in secondary education this year. Itawamba Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Fulton. Students from in state pay about $3,420 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,820. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $10,942 in student loans. Secondary Education graduates of Itawamba Community College earn a median of $40,832 early in their careers. Set against $10,942 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Central Texas College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value secondary education schools. North Central Texas College is a large public school located in the town of Gainesville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,600, while out-of-state students pay about $5,739. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $16,352 in student loans. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from North Central Texas College generally make around $43,536. That is a strong return on a $16,352 median debt.
Pima Community College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value secondary education schools. Pima Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,442, compared with $7,758 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,417 to complete the secondary education program here. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $27,679. Set against $18,417 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Southern Nevada landed the #14 spot for secondary education value this year. Located in the city of Las Vegas, College Of Southern Nevada is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,358, while out-of-state students pay about $13,024. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $11,069. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $19,662. That is a strong return on a $11,069 median debt.
College Of Western Idaho ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value secondary education schools. College Of Western Idaho is a very large public school located in the rural area of Nampa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,446, compared with $7,454 for out-of-state students. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $10,626 in student loans. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from College Of Western Idaho generally make around $40,963.
The University Of Texas At Brownsville ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value secondary education schools. The University Of Texas At Brownsville is a large public school located in the city of Brownsville. Students from in state pay about $3,148 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,948 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,750 to complete the secondary education program here. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $10,576. Set against $7,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Texas College earned the #17 position for value in secondary education this year. South Texas College is a very large public school located in the city of McAllen. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,920, compared with $7,620 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the secondary education program here. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $16,902. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Washtenaw Community College landed the #18 spot for secondary education value this year. Set in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,736 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,504. Students borrow a median of $14,607 to complete the secondary education program here. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $45,332. That is a strong return on a $14,607 median debt.
Snow College came in at #19 for value in secondary education this year. Snow College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Ephraim. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,338, with out-of-state students paying around $14,288. Students borrow a median of $10,440 to complete the secondary education program here. Secondary Education graduates of Snow College earn a median of $42,776 early in their careers. Set against $10,440 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Brazosport College earned the #20 position for value in secondary education this year. Located in the suburb of Lake Jackson, Brazosport College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,388, while out-of-state students pay about $4,711. Students borrow a median of $6,625 to complete the secondary education program here. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Brazosport College generally make around $32,746. That is a strong return on a $6,625 median debt.
Holmes Community College landed the #21 spot for secondary education value this year. Holmes Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Goodman. Students from in state pay about $3,710 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,610. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $6,200 in student loans. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Holmes Community College generally make around $18,553. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Laramie County Community College placed #22 among the best values for secondary education. Located in the rural area of Cheyenne, Laramie County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,613, while out-of-state students pay about $10,913. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $15,309 in student loans. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $51,302. Set against $15,309 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northeast Community College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value secondary education schools. Set in the town of Norfolk, Northeast Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,840, compared with $5,130 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $11,799. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $24,710. That is a strong return on a $11,799 median debt.
Tyler Junior College came in at #24 for value in secondary education this year. Set in the city of Tyler, Tyler Junior College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,424 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,536. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Secondary Education graduates of Tyler Junior College earn a median of $43,348 early in their careers. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Arizona Western College landed the #25 spot for secondary education value this year. Arizona Western College is a large public school located in the city of Yuma. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,060, while out-of-state students pay about $9,870. Secondary Education graduates of Arizona Western College earn a median of $44,895 early in their careers.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Secondary Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s secondary education value ranking:
Other Secondary Education Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Secondary Education rankings across degree levels:
View All Secondary Education Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 87 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 87 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.
