2026 Best Value Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor Schools in the Southwest 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/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 22 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 the Southwest 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
For return on investment in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor, no school beat Arizona State University this year. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $21,842 in student loans. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $46,277 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Sam Houston State University one of the best values for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor. Set in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,228 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,068. Students borrow a median of $24,850 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 Sam Houston State University earn a median of $53,444 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,850 median debt. Sam Houston State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor will find it at University Of Central Oklahoma, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Edmond, University Of Central Oklahoma is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,818, with out-of-state students paying around $19,704. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $23,321 in student loans. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of University Of Central Oklahoma earn a median of $44,085 early in their careers. Set against $23,321 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Grand Canyon University 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. Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,508. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $30,027. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of Grand Canyon University earn a median of $63,972 early in their careers. Set against $30,027 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
