2027 Best Value Secondary Education Schools in Georgia
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 18 schools to find the best return on investment for secondary education students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Secondary Education Schools in Georgia
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the secondary education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Secondary Education Schools
University Of North Georgia earned the #1 spot for value among secondary education schools in Georgia. Located in the town of Dahlonega, University Of North Georgia is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,444, while out-of-state students pay about $16,956. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from University Of North Georgia generally make around $49,402. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Georgia admits about 68% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Gordon State College one of the best values for secondary education. Gordon State College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Barnesville. In-state tuition and fees average $3,628, with out-of-state students paying around $10,948. Students borrow a median of $23,073 to complete the secondary education program here. Secondary Education graduates of Gordon State College earn a median of $40,644 early in their careers. Set against $23,073 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Valdosta State University earned it the #3 place for secondary education. Located in the city of Valdosta, Valdosta State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,124, with out-of-state students paying around $17,836. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Valdosta State University generally make around $48,722. Set against $26,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Valdosta State University admits about 72% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes University Of West Georgia one of the best values for secondary education. University Of West Georgia is a large public school located in the town of Carrollton. In-state tuition and fees average $6,088, compared with $17,800 for out-of-state students. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $25,217 in student loans. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $50,204. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of West Georgia admits about 52% of applicants.
Albany State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in secondary education, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Albany, Albany State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,656, compared with $17,008 for out-of-state students. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Secondary Education graduates of Albany State University earn a median of $44,703 early in their careers. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kennesaw State University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value secondary education schools. Located in the suburb of Kennesaw, Kennesaw State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,808, compared with $17,736 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $27,000. Secondary Education graduates of Kennesaw State University earn a median of $63,630 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Columbus State University came in at #7 for value in secondary education this year. Columbus State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Columbus. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,898, compared with $17,610 for out-of-state students. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $30,977 in student loans. Secondary Education graduates of Columbus State University earn a median of $55,147 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,977 median debt. Columbus State University admits about 99% of applicants.
College Of Coastal Georgia landed the #8 spot for secondary education value this year. College Of Coastal Georgia is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Brunswick. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,616, with out-of-state students paying around $10,936. Students borrow a median of $17,125 to complete the secondary education program here. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from College Of Coastal Georgia generally make around $40,747. Set against $17,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. College Of Coastal Georgia admits about 98% of applicants.
Georgia Southern University came in at #9 for value in secondary education this year. Located in the town of Statesboro, Georgia Southern University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,022, with out-of-state students paying around $17,734. Students borrow a median of $26,750 to complete the secondary education program here. Secondary Education graduates of Georgia Southern University earn a median of $47,263 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Georgia Southern University admits about 88% of applicants.
Thomas University earned the #10 position for value in secondary education this year. Set in the town of Thomasville, Thomas University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,640. Students borrow a median of $28,500 to complete the secondary education program here. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Thomas University generally make around $59,006. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Brenau University landed the #11 spot for secondary education value this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, Brenau University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $33,757. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $38,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Brenau University generally make around $47,002. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Brenau University admits about 88% of applicants.
Piedmont College placed #12 among the best values for secondary education. Located in the town of Demorest, Piedmont College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,700. Students borrow a median of $30,026 to complete the secondary education program here. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Piedmont College generally make around $48,916. That is a strong return on a $30,026 median debt. Piedmont College admits about 93% of applicants.
Georgia College And State University landed the #13 spot for secondary education value this year. Georgia College And State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Milledgeville. Students from in state pay about $9,186 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,512. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the secondary education program here. Secondary Education graduates of Georgia College And State University earn a median of $50,511 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Young Harris College placed #14 among the best values for secondary education. Located in the rural area of Young Harris, Young Harris College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $32,305. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $24,689. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,195 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $24,689 median debt. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Berry College came in at #15 for value in secondary education this year. Set in the suburb of Mount Berry, Berry College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $41,486. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $25,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Berry College generally make around $50,785. That is a strong return on a $25,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Mercer University landed the #16 spot for secondary education value this year. Set in the city of Macon, Mercer University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,565. Students borrow a median of $47,750 to complete the secondary education program here. Secondary Education graduates of Mercer University earn a median of $53,846 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $47,750 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Covenant College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value secondary education schools. Set in the suburb of Lookout Mountain, Covenant College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,040. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $23,700 in student loans. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Covenant College generally make around $37,404. Set against $23,700 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Clark Atlanta University landed the #18 spot for secondary education value this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Clark Atlanta University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,310. Students borrow a median of $27,803 to complete the secondary education program here. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $28,748. That is a strong return on a $27,803 median debt. Clark Atlanta University admits about 64% of applicants.
More Secondary Education Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
