2027 Best Value Secondary Education Schools in the Southwest Region
[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 68 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for secondary education students.
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2027 Best Value Secondary Education Schools in the Southwest Region
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 Tarrant County College District this year. Tarrant County College District is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Worth. Students from in state pay about $1,863 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $9,750. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $24,507. Set against $9,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes College Of The Mainland one of the best values for secondary education. Set in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,310, with out-of-state students paying around $4,140. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $10,928. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from College Of The Mainland generally make around $40,788. Set against $10,928 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in secondary education will find it at El Centro College, which ranked #3. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas. In-state tuition and fees average $2,730, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $12,500. Secondary Education graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $25,385 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Texas College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value secondary education schools. South Texas College is a very large public school located in the city of McAllen. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,920, with out-of-state students paying around $7,620. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $16,902. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Grayson College earned it the #5 place for secondary education. Grayson College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Denison. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,000, with out-of-state students paying around $6,300. Students borrow a median of $11,627 to complete the secondary education program here. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Grayson College generally make around $42,487. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The University Of Texas At Brownsville placed #6 among the best values for secondary education. The University Of Texas At Brownsville is a large public school located in the city of Brownsville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,148, compared with $4,948 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $7,750. Secondary Education graduates of The University Of Texas At Brownsville earn a median of $10,576 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Antonio College came in at #7 for value in secondary education this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, San Antonio College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,412, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Students borrow a median of $10,375 to complete the secondary education program here. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from San Antonio College generally make around $37,855. That is a strong return on a $10,375 median debt.
Pima Community College landed the #8 spot for secondary education value this year. Located in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,442, compared with $7,758 for out-of-state students. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $18,417 in student loans. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $37,485. Set against $18,417 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central New Mexico Community College earned the #9 position for value in secondary education this year. Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. In-state tuition and fees average $2,060, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. Students borrow a median of $9,625 to complete the secondary education program here. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College generally make around $29,708. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Odessa College earned the #10 position for value in secondary education this year. Odessa College is a large public school located in the city of Odessa. Students from in state pay about $2,688 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,926 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,087 to complete the secondary education program here. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Odessa College generally make around $47,856. That is a strong return on a $9,087 median debt.
Austin Community College District earned the #11 position for value in secondary education this year. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,550, while out-of-state students pay about $10,590. Students borrow a median of $17,785 to complete the secondary education program here. Secondary Education graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $46,430 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,785 median debt.
Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus placed #12 among the best values for secondary education. Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Portales. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,074, while out-of-state students pay about $9,054. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the secondary education program here. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $41,896. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Brazosport College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value secondary education schools. Located in the suburb of Lake Jackson, Brazosport College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,388, compared with $4,711 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $6,625. Secondary Education graduates of Brazosport College earn a median of $32,746 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Clovis Community College landed the #14 spot for secondary education value this year. Set in the town of Clovis, Clovis Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,592, while out-of-state students pay about $3,344. Students borrow a median of $11,082 to complete the secondary education program here. Secondary Education graduates of Clovis Community College earn a median of $44,390 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,082 median debt.
Panola College came in at #15 for value in secondary education this year. Located in the town of Carthage, Panola College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,352, while out-of-state students pay about $5,232. Median earnings reach $36,072 ten years out.
North Central Texas College came in at #16 for value in secondary education this year. Set in the town of Gainesville, North Central Texas College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,600, while out-of-state students pay about $5,739. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $16,352. Secondary Education graduates of North Central Texas College earn a median of $43,536 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,352 median debt.
Collin County Community College District earned the #17 position for value in secondary education this year. Collin County Community College District is a very large public school located in the suburb of McKinney. In-state tuition and fees average $2,014, while out-of-state students pay about $6,064. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $9,125. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Collin County Community College District generally make around $42,177. Set against $9,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Howard College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value secondary education schools. Set in the town of Big Spring, Howard College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,766 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,716 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,242 to complete the secondary education program here. Secondary Education graduates of Howard College earn a median of $41,039 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,242 median debt.
Alvin Community College came in at #19 for value in secondary education this year. Set in the suburb of Alvin, Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,906, with out-of-state students paying around $4,402. Students borrow a median of $8,600 to complete the secondary education program here. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Alvin Community College generally make around $55,057. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rio Salado College earned the #20 position for value in secondary education this year. Rio Salado College is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,958. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $13,679 in student loans. Secondary Education graduates of Rio Salado College earn a median of $48,564 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western New Mexico University earned the #21 position for value in secondary education this year. Located in the town of Silver City, Western New Mexico University is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $7,855 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,341. Students borrow a median of $27,425 to complete the secondary education program here. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $48,366. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
New Mexico State University Main Campus landed the #22 spot for secondary education value this year. New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Las Cruces. Students from in state pay about $8,183 in tuition and fees, compared with $25,307 for out-of-state students. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $24,705 in student loans. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $41,888. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Arizona Western College landed the #23 spot for secondary education value this year. Set in the city of Yuma, Arizona Western College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,060, while out-of-state students pay about $9,870. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $44,895.
Northern New Mexico College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value secondary education schools. Northern New Mexico College is a small public school located in the town of Espanola. In-state tuition and fees average $5,064, with out-of-state students paying around $14,328. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,112 ten years after entry.
Tyler Junior College came in at #25 for value in secondary education this year. Tyler Junior College is a large public school located in the city of Tyler. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,424, compared with $4,536 for out-of-state students. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Secondary Education graduates of Tyler Junior College earn a median of $43,348 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Secondary Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s secondary education value ranking:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 68 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 68 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.
