2027 Best Value Teacher Education Schools in the Southwest Region
[Teacher Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/teacher-education/) 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.
College Factual analyzed 49 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value teacher education schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Teacher Education Schools in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in teacher education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Teacher Education Schools
Leading the list is Tarrant County College District, our #1 best value for teacher education in the Southwest Region. Tarrant County College District is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Worth. 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. Teacher Education graduates of Tarrant County College District earn a median of $24,507 early in their careers. Set against $9,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lamar State College Orange came in at #2 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. In-state tuition and fees average $2,832, with out-of-state students paying around $13,824. Typical student debt for teacher education graduates is $18,506. Teacher Education graduates of Lamar State College Orange earn a median of $45,299 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at El Centro College earned it the #3 place for teacher education. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,730, 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. That is a strong return on a $12,500 median debt.
The University Of Texas At Brownsville came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value teacher education schools. The University Of Texas At Brownsville is a large public school located in the city of Brownsville. Students from in state pay about $3,148 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,948. Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $7,750 in student loans. 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.
Texas A And M International University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value teacher education schools. Located in the city of Laredo, Texas A And M International University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,894 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,454. Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $15,095 in student loans. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $42,029. Set against $15,095 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 44% of applicants are accepted.
St Philips College placed #6 among the best values for teacher education. St Philips College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,412, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $15,653 in student loans. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $45,185. Set against $15,653 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Paso Community College landed the #7 spot for teacher education value this year. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,274, with out-of-state students paying around $5,314. Typical student debt for teacher education graduates is $5,500. Teacher Education graduates of El Paso Community College earn a median of $19,141 early in their careers. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Palo Alto College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value teacher education schools. Palo Alto College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,952. Typical student debt for teacher education graduates is $9,430. Teacher Education graduates of Palo Alto College earn a median of $29,062 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,430 median debt.
San Antonio College landed the #9 spot for teacher education value this year. San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $10,375 in student loans. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $21,184. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Midland College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value teacher education schools. Set in the city of Midland, Midland College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,180 in tuition and fees, 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. That is a strong return on a $9,000 median debt.
Central New Mexico Community College earned the #11 position for value in teacher education this year. Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. Students from in state pay about $2,060 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,684 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for teacher education graduates is $9,625. Teacher Education graduates of Central New Mexico Community College earn a median of $29,708 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Houston Community College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value teacher education schools. Located in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,040 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,460 for out-of-state students. Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $16,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, teacher education degree recipients from Houston Community College generally make around $40,365. That is a strong return on a $16,250 median debt.
Odessa College landed the #13 spot for teacher education value this year. Odessa College is a large public school located in the city of Odessa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,688, with out-of-state students paying around $4,926. Typical student debt for teacher education graduates is $9,087. Soon after graduation, teacher education degree recipients from Odessa College generally make around $47,856. Set against $9,087 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Amarillo College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value teacher education schools. Set in the city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,136 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,704. Typical student debt for teacher education graduates is $15,250. Teacher Education graduates of Amarillo College earn a median of $17,997 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus came in at #15 for value in teacher education this year. Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Portales. Students from in state pay about $7,074 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,054. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the teacher education program here. Teacher Education graduates of Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus earn a median of $49,087 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus admits about 92% of applicants.
Mclennan Community College came in at #16 for value in teacher education this year. Mclennan Community College is a large public school located in the city of Waco. In-state tuition and fees average $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $5,910. Students borrow a median of $11,598 to complete the teacher education program here. Teacher Education graduates of Mclennan Community College earn a median of $40,499 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Panola College came in at #17 for value in teacher education this year. Panola College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Carthage. Students from in state pay about $2,352 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,232 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $36,072 ten years out.
South Plains College came in at #18 for value in teacher education this year. Set in the town of Levelland, South Plains College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,733, with out-of-state students paying around $5,157. Typical student debt for teacher education graduates is $13,788. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $30,949. Set against $13,788 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lee College landed the #19 spot for teacher education value this year. Located in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,520, while out-of-state students pay about $5,045. Typical student debt for teacher education graduates is $10,941. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $53,448. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northeast Texas Community College came in at #20 for value in teacher education this year. Set in the rural area of Mount Pleasant, Northeast Texas Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,980, while out-of-state students pay about $5,620. Typical student debt for teacher education graduates is $15,089. Teacher Education graduates of Northeast Texas Community College earn a median of $37,839 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Luna Community College earned the #21 position for value in teacher education this year. Luna Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Las Vegas. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,474, while out-of-state students pay about $3,418. Soon after graduation, teacher education degree recipients from Luna Community College generally make around $32,091.
Paris Junior College landed the #22 spot for teacher education value this year. Paris Junior College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Paris. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,700, while out-of-state students pay about $5,700. Typical student debt for teacher education graduates is $8,846. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $38,811. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tyler Junior College placed #23 among the best values for teacher education. Set in the city of Tyler, Tyler Junior College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,424, while out-of-state students pay about $4,536. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the teacher education program here. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $43,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western New Mexico University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value teacher education schools. Located in the town of Silver City, Western New Mexico University is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,855, compared with $14,341 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for teacher education graduates is $27,425. Soon after graduation, teacher education degree recipients from Western New Mexico University generally make around $48,366. Set against $27,425 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Jacinto Community College came in at #25 for value in teacher education this year. San Jacinto Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,490, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the teacher education program here. Teacher Education graduates of San Jacinto Community College earn a median of $38,107 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 49 Best Value Teacher Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s teacher education value ranking:
Narrow Teacher Education Schools by State
More Teacher Education Rankings
View All Teacher Education Rankings >
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 · 49 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 49 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.
