2027 Best Value Secondary Education Schools in Kentucky
[Secondary Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/secondary-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for secondary education students.
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2027 Best Value Secondary Education Schools in Kentucky
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
For return on investment in secondary education, no school beat Northern Kentucky University this year. Set in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,088, compared with $21,912 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $27,000. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $41,224. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Students looking for strong value in secondary education will find it at Murray State University, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,900, compared with $19,836 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $22,324. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $48,423. Set against $22,324 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Murray State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Morehead State University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value secondary education schools. Located in the town of Morehead, Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,024 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,980. Students borrow a median of $25,292 to complete the secondary education program here. Secondary Education graduates of Morehead State University earn a median of $42,941 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Morehead State University admits about 77% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Eastern Kentucky University earned it the #4 place for secondary education. Located in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,320, with out-of-state students paying around $21,230. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $26,725. Secondary Education graduates of Eastern Kentucky University earn a median of $40,114 early in their careers. Set against $26,725 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern Kentucky University admits about 78% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Georgetown College one of the best values for secondary education. Set in the town of Georgetown, Georgetown College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $42,840. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $26,938. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Georgetown College generally make around $43,752. That is a strong return on a $26,938 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of The Cumberlands earned the #6 position for value in secondary education this year. University Of The Cumberlands is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Williamsburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,875. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $22,782. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $38,571. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Kentucky ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value secondary education schools. Located in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,502, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the secondary education program here. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from University Of Kentucky generally make around $42,048. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. University Of Kentucky admits about 93% of applicants.
Kentucky Wesleyan College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value secondary education schools. Kentucky Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Owensboro. In-state tuition and fees average $34,673. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $25,333 in student loans. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Kentucky Wesleyan College generally make around $39,559. Set against $25,333 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kentucky Wesleyan College admits about 72% of applicants.
Campbellsville University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value secondary education schools. Set in the town of Campbellsville, Campbellsville University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,998. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $23,125 in student loans. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $43,474. Set against $23,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Bellarmine University earned the #10 position for value in secondary education this year. Bellarmine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Louisville. In-state tuition and fees average $48,770. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $27,000. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $45,567. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Thomas More College came in at #11 for value in secondary education this year. Located in the suburb of Crestview Hills, Thomas More College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,025. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $27,000. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $40,439. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Spalding University earned the #12 position for value in secondary education this year. Spalding University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Louisville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,000. Students borrow a median of $29,862 to complete the secondary education program here. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $51,978. Set against $29,862 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Spalding University admits about 99% of applicants.
More Secondary Education Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
