2027 Best Value Secondary Education Schools in New Jersey

[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for secondary education students.
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2027 Best Value Secondary Education Schools in New Jersey
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in secondary education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Secondary Education Schools
For return on investment in secondary education, no school beat William Paterson University Of New Jersey this year. William Paterson University Of New Jersey is a large public school located in the suburb of Wayne. In-state tuition and fees average $15,704, while out-of-state students pay about $25,344. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $24,671. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $59,208. Set against $24,671 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
A rank of #2 makes Drew University one of the best values for secondary education. Located in the suburb of Madison, Drew University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,100. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $26,449 in student loans. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $63,446. That is a strong return on a $26,449 median debt. Drew University admits about 68% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Rider University one of the best values for secondary education. Located in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Rider University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,120. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $26,466 in student loans. Secondary Education graduates of Rider University earn a median of $57,818 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,466 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The College Of New Jersey earned it the #4 place for secondary education. Located in the suburb of Ewing, The College Of New Jersey is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,632, compared with $25,752 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the secondary education program here. Secondary Education graduates of The College Of New Jersey earn a median of $58,526 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Seton Hall University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in secondary education, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of South Orange, Seton Hall University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,170. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the secondary education program here. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Seton Hall University generally make around $56,300. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Felician College came in at #6 for value in secondary education this year. Located in the suburb of Lodi, Felician College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,300. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $28,500. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $56,976. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
More Secondary Education Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.