2026 Best Value Stem Educational Methods Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Stem Educational Methods](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/stem-educational-methods/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 35 schools to find the best return on investment for stem educational methods students.
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2026 Best Value Stem Educational Methods Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in stem educational methods, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Stem Educational Methods Schools
University Of South Florida Main Campus earned the #1 spot for value among stem educational methods schools in the United States. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,410, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Students borrow a median of $20,995 to complete the stem educational methods program here. Soon after graduation, stem educational methods degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $50,442. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Purdue University Main Campus one of the best values for stem educational methods. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Stem Educational Methods graduates carry a median of $18,646 in student loans. Early-career stem educational methods graduates make about $45,459. Set against $18,646 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 50%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Central Washington University earned it the #3 place for stem educational methods. Set in the town of Ellensburg, Central Washington University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,417, with out-of-state students paying around $27,526. Stem Educational Methods graduates carry a median of $20,205 in student loans. Early-career stem educational methods graduates make about $47,359. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Students looking for strong value in stem educational methods will find it at Wichita State University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,684 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,869. Typical student debt for stem educational methods graduates is $30,250. Soon after graduation, stem educational methods degree recipients from Wichita State University generally make around $43,764. Set against $30,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wichita State University admits about 94% of applicants.
Northern Arizona University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value stem educational methods schools. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,619, compared with $20,044 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for stem educational methods graduates is $18,500. Early-career stem educational methods graduates make about $45,032. That is a strong return on a $18,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value stem educational methods schools. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. Students from in state pay about $8,799 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. Stem Educational Methods graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Stem Educational Methods graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $44,979 early in their careers. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants.
Mercy College came in at #7 for value in stem educational methods this year. Set in the suburb of Dobbs Ferry, Mercy College is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,880. Typical student debt for stem educational methods graduates is $28,304. Soon after graduation, stem educational methods degree recipients from Mercy College generally make around $63,434. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mercy College admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Kentucky came in at #8 for value in stem educational methods this year. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,502, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for stem educational methods graduates is $23,250. Stem Educational Methods graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $41,312 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. University Of Kentucky admits about 93% of applicants.
Pennsylvania Western University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value stem educational methods schools. Pennsylvania Western University is a large public school located in the town of California. Students from in state pay about $11,436 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,054 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $47,295 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Wayland Baptist University landed the #10 spot for stem educational methods value this year. Set in the town of Plainview, Wayland Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,782. Students borrow a median of $31,694 to complete the stem educational methods program here. Early-career stem educational methods graduates make about $38,397. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Oral Roberts University landed the #11 spot for stem educational methods value this year. Oral Roberts University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Tulsa. In-state tuition and fees average $35,470. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the stem educational methods program here. Soon after graduation, stem educational methods degree recipients from Oral Roberts University generally make around $41,180. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Oral Roberts University admits about 99% of applicants.
Arcadia University placed #12 among the best values for stem educational methods. Arcadia University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Glenside. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,610. Students borrow a median of $26,921 to complete the stem educational methods program here. Early-career stem educational methods graduates make about $54,496. That is a strong return on a $26,921 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Elizabethtown College placed #13 among the best values for stem educational methods. Elizabethtown College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elizabethtown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,950. Stem Educational Methods graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, stem educational methods degree recipients from Elizabethtown College generally make around $57,397. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Elizabethtown College admits about 78% of applicants.
Messiah College landed the #14 spot for stem educational methods value this year. Located in the suburb of Mechanicsburg, Messiah College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,240. Stem Educational Methods graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, stem educational methods degree recipients from Messiah College generally make around $48,957. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Lebanon Valley College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value stem educational methods schools. Set in the suburb of Annville, Lebanon Valley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $52,080 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the stem educational methods program here. Early-career stem educational methods graduates make about $51,300. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Depaul University placed #16 among the best values for stem educational methods. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,405 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the stem educational methods program here. Early-career stem educational methods graduates make about $55,226. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Hofstra University earned the #17 position for value in stem educational methods this year. Set in the suburb of Hempstead, Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $57,660 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,359 to complete the stem educational methods program here. Soon after graduation, stem educational methods degree recipients from Hofstra University generally make around $35,353. Set against $25,359 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Hofstra University admits about 68% of applicants.
Other Stem Educational Methods Degree Levels
Explore the best-value stem educational methods schools at other degree levels:
View All Stem Educational Methods Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 35 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
