2027 Best Value Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor](/majors/education/teaching-french-foreign-language/english-as-a-second-or-foreign-language-esl-language-instructor/) 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 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor students.
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2027 Best Value Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor Schools
Leading the list is Harper College, our #1 best value for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor in the Great Lakes Region. Harper College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Palatine. Students from in state pay about $3,894 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,874. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $10,963. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of Harper College earn a median of $44,523 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,963 median debt.
Washtenaw Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,736, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $17,616. Early-career teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates make about $45,332. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wayne State University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor schools. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $16,159 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $26,689 in student loans. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of $55,469 early in their careers. Set against $26,689 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Governors State University earned it the #4 place for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor. Set in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,004. Students borrow a median of $24,990 to complete the teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program here. Soon after graduation, teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degree recipients from Governors State University generally make around $51,711. Set against $24,990 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Governors State University admits about 48% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans. Early-career teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates make about $57,461. That is a strong return on a $20,778 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Goshen College earned the #6 position for value in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor this year. Set in the city of Goshen, Goshen College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,890. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $27,000. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of Goshen College earn a median of $71,791 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Goshen College admits about 84% of applicants.
Ball State University placed #7 among the best values for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor. Set in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,082 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,630. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $24,518. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $47,863 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,518 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Western Michigan University came in at #8 for value in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor this year. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,987, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $27,981. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $59,481 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,981 median debt. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor schools. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete the teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program here. Soon after graduation, teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $59,877. That is a strong return on a $21,813 median debt. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global earned the #10 position for value in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor this year. Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Marion. Students from in state pay about $9,648 in tuition and fees. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $33,307 in student loans. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global earn a median of $53,372 early in their careers. Set against $33,307 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Olivet Nazarene University earned the #11 position for value in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor this year. Set in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $38,900 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $26,797. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of Olivet Nazarene University earn a median of $59,061 early in their careers. Set against $26,797 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Olivet Nazarene University admits about 56% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus earned the #12 position for value in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $24,546. Early-career teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates make about $49,736. Set against $24,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Kent State University At Kent ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor schools. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,220 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $27,423 in student loans. Soon after graduation, teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $22,149. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor schools. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,363, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $23,530 in student loans. Early-career teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates make about $58,659. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Wheaton College Illinois came in at #15 for value in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor this year. Set in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,546. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $23,292 in student loans. Early-career teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates make about $43,654. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wheaton College Illinois admits about 87% of applicants.
Miami University Oxford landed the #16 spot for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor value this year. Miami University Oxford is a very large public school located in the town of Oxford. In-state tuition and fees average $17,519, with out-of-state students paying around $38,965. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete the teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program here. Early-career teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates make about $38,002. Set against $24,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
