by our College Data Analytics Team
[Secondary Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/secondary-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for secondary education students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in secondary education, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in secondary education, no school beat Salish Kootenai College this year. Set in the rural area of Pablo, Salish Kootenai College is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,311, compared with $11,583 for out-of-state students. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Salish Kootenai College generally make around $52,607.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Montana State University Northern earned it the #2 place for secondary education. Montana State University Northern is a small public school located in the town of Havre. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,982, with out-of-state students paying around $21,875. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $23,855. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $50,896. That is a strong return on a $23,855 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Montana Western earned it the #3 place for secondary education. Set in the town of Dillon, The University Of Montana Western is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,669, while out-of-state students pay about $20,130. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $23,269 in student loans. Secondary Education graduates of The University Of Montana Western earn a median of $36,742 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 100%.
A rank of #4 makes The University Of Montana one of the best values for secondary education. The University Of Montana is a large public school located in the city of Missoula. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,552, compared with $33,671 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,880 to complete the secondary education program here. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from The University Of Montana generally make around $42,654. That is a strong return on a $24,880 median debt. The University Of Montana admits about 96% of applicants.
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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.