2026 Best Value Secondary Education Schools in Washington
[Secondary Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/secondary-education/) 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 9 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for secondary education students.
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2026 Best Value Secondary Education Schools in Washington
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in secondary education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Secondary Education Schools
University Of Washington Tacoma Campus tops our 2026 list of the best value secondary education schools in Washington. Set in the city of Tacoma, University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,168 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $43,404. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $16,151 in student loans. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $72,769. Set against $16,151 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Washington State University earned it the #2 place for secondary education. Washington State University is a very large public school located in the town of Pullman. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,391, with out-of-state students paying around $29,950. Students borrow a median of $22,960 to complete the secondary education program here. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $54,794. Set against $22,960 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in secondary education will find it at Western Washington University, which ranked #3. Western Washington University is a large public school located in the city of Bellingham. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,582, while out-of-state students pay about $28,707. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $22,000. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Western Washington University generally make around $58,418. That is a strong return on a $22,000 median debt. Western Washington University admits about 93% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Saint Martins University one of the best values for secondary education. Saint Martins University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lacey. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,510. Students borrow a median of $22,818 to complete the secondary education program here. Secondary Education graduates of Saint Martins University earn a median of $53,633 early in their careers. Set against $22,818 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Walla Walla University earned it the #5 place for secondary education. Located in the suburb of College Place, Walla Walla University is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,227. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $29,249. Secondary Education graduates of Walla Walla University earn a median of $55,427 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Seattle Pacific University earned the #6 position for value in secondary education this year. Located in the city of Seattle, Seattle Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,407. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $25,188 in student loans. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Seattle Pacific University generally make around $59,268. That is a strong return on a $25,188 median debt. Seattle Pacific University admits about 83% of applicants.
Whitworth University came in at #7 for value in secondary education this year. Located in the suburb of Spokane, Whitworth University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $52,880 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $27,000. Secondary Education graduates of Whitworth University earn a median of $51,174 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Seattle University placed #8 among the best values for secondary education. Located in the city of Seattle, Seattle University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,721. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $22,289 in student loans. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Seattle University generally make around $63,214. Set against $22,289 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
More Secondary Education Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 9 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.
