2027 Best Value Teacher Education Associate’s Degree Schools
[Teacher Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/teacher-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 57 schools to find the best return on investment for teacher education students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Teacher Education Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the teacher education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Teacher Education Schools
Leading the list is Tarrant County College District, our #1 best value for teacher education in the United States. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,863, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Students borrow a median of $9,750 to complete the teacher education program here. Soon after graduation, teacher education degree recipients from Tarrant County College District generally make around $24,507. That is a strong return on a $9,750 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in teacher education will find it at Odessa College, which ranked #2. Odessa College is a large public school located in the city of Odessa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,688, compared with $4,926 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for teacher education graduates is $9,087. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $47,856. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Houston Community College one of the best values for teacher education. Houston Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,040, compared with $5,460 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for teacher education graduates is $16,250. Soon after graduation, teacher education degree recipients from Houston Community College generally make around $40,365. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes St Philips College one of the best values for teacher education. Located in the city of San Antonio, St Philips College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,412, while out-of-state students pay about $9,952. Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $15,653 in student loans. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $45,185. That is a strong return on a $15,653 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at El Centro College earned it the #5 place for teacher education. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas. Students from in state pay about $2,730 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,900 for out-of-state students. Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $12,500 in student loans. Teacher Education graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $25,385 early in their careers. Set against $12,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Palo Alto College earned the #6 position for value in teacher education this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, Palo Alto College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,952. Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $9,430 in student loans. Teacher Education graduates of Palo Alto College earn a median of $29,062 early in their careers. Set against $9,430 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Antonio College earned the #7 position for value in teacher education this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, San Antonio College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Students borrow a median of $10,375 to complete the teacher education program here. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $21,184. That is a strong return on a $10,375 median debt.
Essex County College landed the #8 spot for teacher education value this year. Located in the city of Newark, Essex County College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,415, while out-of-state students pay about $9,523. Students borrow a median of $12,472 to complete the teacher education program here. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $23,768. Set against $12,472 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central New Mexico Community College placed #9 among the best values for teacher education. Set in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,060, while out-of-state students pay about $8,684. Typical student debt for teacher education graduates is $9,625. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $29,708. That is a strong return on a $9,625 median debt.
College Of Southern Idaho ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value teacher education schools. Located in the city of Twin Falls, College Of Southern Idaho is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,360, while out-of-state students pay about $6,840. Typical student debt for teacher education graduates is $8,006. Teacher Education graduates of College Of Southern Idaho earn a median of $39,099 early in their careers. Set against $8,006 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lamar State College Orange ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value teacher education schools. Located in the town of Orange, Lamar State College Orange is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,832 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $13,824. Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $18,506 in student loans. Teacher Education graduates of Lamar State College Orange earn a median of $45,299 early in their careers. Set against $18,506 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Camden County College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value teacher education schools. Located in the suburb of Blackwood, Camden County College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,320, compared with $4,416 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for teacher education graduates is $8,750. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $21,956. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The University Of Texas At Brownsville placed #13 among the best values for teacher 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. Students borrow a median of $7,750 to complete the teacher education program here. Soon after graduation, teacher education degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Brownsville generally make around $10,576. Set against $7,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Plains College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value teacher education schools. South Plains College is a large public school located in the town of Levelland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,733, compared with $5,157 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for teacher education graduates is $13,788. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $30,949. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northern Essex Community College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value teacher education schools. Set in the suburb of Haverhill, Northern Essex Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,732 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,516. Typical student debt for teacher education graduates is $10,129. Soon after graduation, teacher education degree recipients from Northern Essex Community College generally make around $28,635. That is a strong return on a $10,129 median debt.
El Paso Community College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value teacher education schools. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,274, while out-of-state students pay about $5,314. Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $19,141. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
College Of Southern Nevada came in at #17 for value in teacher education this year. Located in the city of Las Vegas, College Of Southern Nevada is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,358 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,024. Students borrow a median of $11,069 to complete the teacher education program here. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $19,662. Set against $11,069 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Midland College earned the #18 position for value in teacher education this year. Midland College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Midland. In-state tuition and fees average $3,180, compared with $6,180 for out-of-state students. Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $43,454. Set against $9,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sinclair Community College placed #19 among the best values for teacher education. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. In-state tuition and fees average $3,675, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $12,129 in student loans. Teacher Education graduates of Sinclair Community College earn a median of $24,950 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,129 median debt.
Mclennan Community College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value teacher education schools. Set in the city of Waco, Mclennan Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, compared with $5,910 for out-of-state students. Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $11,598 in student loans. Teacher Education graduates of Mclennan Community College earn a median of $40,499 early in their careers. Set against $11,598 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Amarillo College placed #21 among the best values for teacher education. Set in the city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,136, while out-of-state students pay about $4,704. Students borrow a median of $15,250 to complete the teacher education program here. Soon after graduation, teacher education degree recipients from Amarillo College generally make around $17,997. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lee College placed #22 among the best values for teacher education. Located in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,520, while out-of-state students pay about $5,045. Students borrow a median of $10,941 to complete the teacher education program here. Teacher Education graduates of Lee College earn a median of $53,448 early in their careers. Set against $10,941 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Holmes Community College came in at #23 for value in teacher education this year. Set in the rural area of Goodman, Holmes Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,710 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,610. Typical student debt for teacher education graduates is $6,200. Teacher Education graduates of Holmes Community College earn a median of $32,145 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Delaware County Community College placed #24 among the best values for teacher education. Delaware County Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Media. Students from in state pay about $6,930 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,540. Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $13,340 in student loans. Soon after graduation, teacher education degree recipients from Delaware County Community College generally make around $25,854. That is a strong return on a $13,340 median debt.
Panola College earned the #25 position for value in teacher 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, with out-of-state students paying around $5,232. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $36,072.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Teacher Education Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in teacher education:
Other Teacher Education Degree Levels
Explore the best-value teacher education schools at other degree levels:
View All Teacher Education Rankings >
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 · 57 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 57 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.
