2026 Best Value Secondary Education Schools in Ohio
[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.
College Factual analyzed 25 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value secondary education schools.
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2026 Best Value Secondary Education Schools in Ohio
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in secondary education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Secondary Education Schools
University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College earned the #1 spot for value among secondary education schools in Ohio. Located in the suburb of Blue Ash, University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,106, while out-of-state students pay about $15,904. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $15,625. Secondary Education graduates of University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College earn a median of $29,867 early in their careers. Set against $15,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Cincinnati Clermont College one of the best values for secondary education. Set in the suburb of Batavia, University Of Cincinnati Clermont College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,639 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,871 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete the secondary education program here. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $29,867. Set against $15,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wright State University Main Campus earned it the #3 place for secondary education. Set in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,991 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,691 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the secondary education program here. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $37,693. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Akron Main Campus earned it the #4 place for secondary education. University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Akron. Students from in state pay about $13,135 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,815. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Secondary Education graduates of University Of Akron Main Campus earn a median of $35,368 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of Mount St Joseph earned it the #5 place for secondary education. College Of Mount St Joseph is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Cincinnati. In-state tuition and fees average $38,150. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $28,343. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $69,964. Set against $28,343 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. College Of Mount St Joseph admits about 59% of applicants.
University Of Toledo ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value secondary education schools. University Of Toledo is a large public school located in the city of Toledo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,157, with out-of-state students paying around $21,517. Students borrow a median of $24,100 to complete the secondary education program here. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from University Of Toledo generally make around $39,947. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Toledo admits about 92% of applicants.
Kent State University At Kent placed #7 among the best values for secondary education. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,220 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $21,637 in student loans. Secondary Education graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $31,139 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #8 for value in secondary education this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $23,050 in student loans. Secondary Education graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $34,983 early in their careers. Set against $23,050 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Lake Erie College placed #9 among the best values for secondary education. Located in the suburb of Painesville, Lake Erie College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $37,634. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the secondary education program here. Secondary Education graduates of Lake Erie College earn a median of $65,474 early in their careers. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lake Erie College admits about 70% of applicants.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University landed the #10 spot for secondary education value this year. Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Mount Vernon. Students from in state pay about $27,193 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $27,000. Secondary Education graduates of Mount Vernon Nazarene University earn a median of $53,377 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Mount Vernon Nazarene University admits about 84% of applicants.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earned the #11 position for value in secondary education this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $21,313. Secondary Education graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $34,737 early in their careers. Set against $21,313 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Baldwin Wallace College landed the #12 spot for secondary education value this year. Located in the suburb of Berea, Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $39,832 in tuition and fees. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Baldwin Wallace College generally make around $37,649. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Miami University Oxford came in at #13 for value in secondary education this year. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,519, with out-of-state students paying around $38,965. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $23,750. Secondary Education graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $49,700 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,750 median debt. Miami University Oxford admits about 75% of applicants.
University Of Dayton landed the #14 spot for secondary education value this year. Located in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,140. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $25,483 in student loans. Secondary Education graduates of University Of Dayton earn a median of $38,492 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,483 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Xavier University landed the #15 spot for secondary education value this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $49,425. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the secondary education program here. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $44,364. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
More Secondary Education Rankings
View All Secondary Education Rankings >
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 · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
