2026 Best Value Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor Schools in New York
[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/) 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 48 schools to find the best return on investment for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor students.
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2026 Best Value Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor Schools in New York
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
For return on investment in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor, no school beat Cuny Hunter College this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,382, while out-of-state students pay about $15,332. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $11,091 in student loans. Soon after graduation, teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degree recipients from Cuny Hunter College generally make around $77,537. That is a strong return on a $11,091 median debt. Cuny Hunter College admits about 54% of applicants.
Cuny City College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor schools. Located in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,340, with out-of-state students paying around $15,290. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $13,389. Early-career teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates make about $77,140. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny City College admits about 60% of applicants.
Cuny Lehman College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor schools. Cuny Lehman College is a large public school located in the city of Bronx. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,410, with out-of-state students paying around $15,360. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $13,213 in student loans. Soon after graduation, teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degree recipients from Cuny Lehman College generally make around $78,802. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Lehman College admits about 57% of applicants.
Cuny Queens College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,538, with out-of-state students paying around $15,488. Students borrow a median of $12,157 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 Cuny Queens College generally make around $62,511. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor will find it at Mercy College, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Dobbs Ferry, Mercy College is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $22,880. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $28,304. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of Mercy College earn a median of $67,880 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Boricua College placed #6 among the best values for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor. Boricua College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $13,025. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $10,492. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of Boricua College earn a median of $65,755 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,492 median debt.
Suny At Fredonia placed #7 among the best values for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor. Located in the town of Fredonia, Suny At Fredonia is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,831, while out-of-state students pay about $19,771. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $25,806. Early-career teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates make about $34,764. Set against $25,806 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny At Fredonia admits about 78% of applicants.
Suny College At Brockport placed #8 among the best values for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor. Located in the town of Brockport, Suny College At Brockport is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,752, with out-of-state students paying around $15,822. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $24,757 in student loans. Soon after graduation, teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degree recipients from Suny College At Brockport generally make around $39,724. Set against $24,757 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Stony Brook University placed #9 among the best values for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor. Stony Brook University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,931, while out-of-state students pay about $32,741. Students borrow a median of $20,537 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 $63,269. Set against $20,537 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 49%.
Saint Josephs College New York placed #10 among the best values for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Saint Josephs College New York is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,550. Students borrow a median of $25,485 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 Saint Josephs College New York generally make around $49,214. That is a strong return on a $25,485 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
State University Of New York At New Paltz landed the #11 spot for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor value this year. Located in the town of New Paltz, State University Of New York At New Paltz is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,572, while out-of-state students pay about $18,822. Students borrow a median of $21,530 to complete the teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program here. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of State University Of New York At New Paltz earn a median of $79,209 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
College Of Mount Saint Vincent earned the #12 position for value in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor this year. Located in the city of Bronx, College Of Mount Saint Vincent is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,540. Students borrow a median of $26,385 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 College Of Mount Saint Vincent generally make around $58,239. Set against $26,385 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. College Of Mount Saint Vincent admits about 85% of applicants.
Suny College At Cortland placed #13 among the best values for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor. Suny College At Cortland is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Cortland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,874, compared with $18,784 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,369 to complete the teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program here. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of Suny College At Cortland earn a median of $38,709 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,369 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Suny At Binghamton came in at #14 for value in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor this year. Set in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,567, while out-of-state students pay about $30,447. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $20,691 in student loans. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of Suny At Binghamton earn a median of $51,766 early in their careers. Set against $20,691 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Touro College placed #15 among the best values for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor. Touro College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $20,052 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $20,285. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of Touro College earn a median of $76,615 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,285 median debt. Touro College admits about 61% of applicants.
St Johns University New York came in at #16 for value in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor this year. St Johns University New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Queens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,529. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $25,521. Soon after graduation, teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degree recipients from St Johns University New York generally make around $78,026. That is a strong return on a $25,521 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Adelphi University came in at #17 for value in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor this year. Located in the suburb of Garden City, Adelphi University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $48,775 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,487 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 Adelphi University generally make around $51,037. That is a strong return on a $25,487 median debt. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Rochester earned the #18 position for value in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor this year. Set in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,080. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $21,517. Soon after graduation, teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degree recipients from University Of Rochester generally make around $60,865. That is a strong return on a $21,517 median debt. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Pace University New York landed the #19 spot for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor value this year. Set in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,510. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $25,670. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of Pace University New York earn a median of $59,662 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
New York University placed #20 among the best values for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,796. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $21,897. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of New York University earn a median of $64,516 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,897 median debt. New York University admits about 9% of applicants.
Hofstra University placed #21 among the best values for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor. Located in the suburb of Hempstead, Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,660. Students borrow a median of $24,848 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 $55,705. That is a strong return on a $24,848 median debt. Hofstra University admits about 68% of applicants.
Fordham University earned the #22 position for value in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $64,470 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,643 to complete the teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program here. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of Fordham University earn a median of $59,403 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,643 median debt. The acceptance rate is 59%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 48 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
