2026 Best Value Secondary Education Schools in Oregon
[Secondary Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/secondary-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong secondary education education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for secondary education students.
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2026 Best Value Secondary Education Schools in Oregon
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in secondary education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Secondary Education Schools
Eastern Oregon University tops our 2026 list of the best value secondary education schools in Oregon. Eastern Oregon University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of La Grande. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,184, with out-of-state students paying around $24,729. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the secondary education program here. Secondary Education graduates of Eastern Oregon University earn a median of $48,893 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Southern Oregon University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in secondary education, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Ashland, Southern Oregon University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,762 in tuition and fees, compared with $31,887 for out-of-state students. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $28,906 in student loans. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $41,038. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
A rank of #3 makes Western Oregon University one of the best values for secondary education. Set in the town of Monmouth, Western Oregon University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,514, compared with $32,169 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,458 to complete the secondary education program here. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $47,690. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Northwest Christian University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in secondary education, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Eugene, Northwest Christian University is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,800. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $25,735 in student loans. Secondary Education graduates of Northwest Christian University earn a median of $62,860 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,735 median debt. Northwest Christian University admits about 67% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Linfield College one of the best values for secondary education. Set in the town of McMinnville, Linfield College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,736. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Linfield College generally make around $43,862. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Linfield College admits about 85% of applicants.
Pacific University earned the #6 position for value in secondary education this year. Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Forest Grove. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,374. Students borrow a median of $26,170 to complete the secondary education program here. Secondary Education graduates of Pacific University earn a median of $49,375 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,170 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Portland earned the #7 position for value in secondary education this year. University Of Portland is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Portland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,100. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $44,038. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
