2027 Best Value Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor Schools in the The Plains States 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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools to find the best return on investment for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor Schools
Leading the list is University Of Nebraska At Omaha, our #1 best value for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor in the The Plains States Region. Set in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,718, compared with $23,206 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $21,783. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of University Of Nebraska At Omaha earn a median of $48,906 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
A rank of #2 makes Saint Cloud State University one of the best values for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,245. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $25,076 in student loans. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of Saint Cloud State University earn a median of $62,332 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,076 median debt. Saint Cloud State University admits about 95% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Northern Iowa earned it the #3 place for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,936, with out-of-state students paying around $21,712. Students borrow a median of $26,250 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 $41,267. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Minnesota Twin Cities one of the best values for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $19,000. Soon after graduation, teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $23,288. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor will find it at Southeast Missouri State University, which ranked #5. Southeast Missouri State University is a large public school located in the city of Cape Girardeau. Students from in state pay about $9,903 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,289 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 Southeast Missouri State University earn a median of $43,255 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Missouri State University Springfield ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor schools. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. Students from in state pay about $9,502 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $24,408. Early-career teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates make about $45,593. That is a strong return on a $24,408 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Kansas came in at #7 for value in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor this year. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, compared with $30,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,608 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 Kansas generally make around $56,289. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Minnesota State University Mankato came in at #8 for value in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor this year. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,572 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,942. Students borrow a median of $25,260 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 Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $53,088. That is a strong return on a $25,260 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Hamline University landed the #9 spot for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor value this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $50,004 in tuition and fees. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $25,530 in student loans. Early-career teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates make about $62,210. That is a strong return on a $25,530 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Midland University came in at #10 for value in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor this year. Set in the town of Fremont, Midland University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,050. Students borrow a median of $27,536 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 $51,524. That is a strong return on a $27,536 median debt. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Morningside College came in at #11 for value in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor this year. Set in the city of Sioux City, Morningside College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $39,519. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $27,281 in student loans. Soon after graduation, teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degree recipients from Morningside College generally make around $54,988. That is a strong return on a $27,281 median debt. Morningside College admits about 71% of applicants.
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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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.