[Education](/majors/education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong education education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 431 schools to find the best return on investment for education students.
For return on investment in education, no school beat Tarrant County College District this year. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,863, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Education graduates carry a median of $9,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Tarrant County College District generally make around $24,507. Set against $9,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Moorpark College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in education, landing the #2 spot this year. Moorpark College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Moorpark. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,075 to complete the education program here. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Moorpark College generally make around $105,599. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in education will find it at Indian River State College, which ranked #3. Indian River State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fort Pierce. Students from in state pay about $2,764 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,201. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the education program here. Early-career education graduates make about $48,612. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
St Petersburg College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value education schools. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,682, while out-of-state students pay about $9,286. Typical student debt for education graduates is $19,956. Education graduates of St Petersburg College earn a median of $49,536 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in education will find it at College Of The Mainland, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,310 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,140 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for education graduates is $10,928. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from College Of The Mainland generally make around $40,788. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northwest Vista College came in at #6 for value in education this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, Northwest Vista College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,412, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,750 to complete the education program here. Education graduates of Northwest Vista College earn a median of $22,352 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,750 median debt.
Cuny Medgar Evers College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value education schools. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Medgar Evers College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,352, while out-of-state students pay about $15,302. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the education program here. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Cuny Medgar Evers College generally make around $49,413. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Middlesex Community College Bedford landed the #8 spot for education value this year. Set in the suburb of Bedford, Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,098, compared with $12,170 for out-of-state students. Education graduates carry a median of $11,602 in student loans. Early-career education graduates make about $27,981. That is a strong return on a $11,602 median debt.
Middlesex County College placed #9 among the best values for education. Middlesex County College is a large public school located in the suburb of Edison. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,764, while out-of-state students pay about $7,356. Typical student debt for education graduates is $7,000. Education graduates of Middlesex County College earn a median of $16,846 early in their careers. Set against $7,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Grayson College came in at #10 for value in education this year. Grayson College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Denison. In-state tuition and fees average $3,000, with out-of-state students paying around $6,300. Typical student debt for education graduates is $11,627. Education graduates of Grayson College earn a median of $42,487 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Houston Community College landed the #11 spot for education value this year. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $5,460. Typical student debt for education graduates is $16,250. Early-career education graduates make about $40,365. Set against $16,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Centro College came in at #12 for value in education this year. Set in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,730, compared with $6,900 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,500 to complete the education program here. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from El Centro College generally make around $25,385. That is a strong return on a $12,500 median debt.
Chattahoochee Technical College earned the #13 position for value in education this year. Set in the suburb of Marietta, Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,540, while out-of-state students pay about $6,108. Education graduates carry a median of $9,616 in student loans. Early-career education graduates make about $44,673. Set against $9,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Odessa College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value education schools. Odessa College is a large public school located in the city of Odessa. In-state tuition and fees average $2,688, with out-of-state students paying around $4,926. Education graduates carry a median of $9,087 in student loans. Early-career education graduates make about $47,856. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
St Philips College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value education schools. Set in the city of San Antonio, St Philips College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,412, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,653 to complete the education program here. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from St Philips College generally make around $45,185. Set against $15,653 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Ana College earned the #16 position for value in education this year. Located in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $10,756. Students borrow a median of $11,196 to complete the education program here. Education graduates of Santa Ana College earn a median of $39,633 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,196 median debt.
Palo Alto College placed #17 among the best values for education. Located in the city of San Antonio, Palo Alto College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,412, while out-of-state students pay about $9,952. Typical student debt for education graduates is $9,430. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Palo Alto College generally make around $29,062. That is a strong return on a $9,430 median debt.
Miami Dade College came in at #18 for value in education this year. Miami Dade College is a very large public school located in the city of Miami. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,838, while out-of-state students pay about $9,661. Typical student debt for education graduates is $9,671. Early-career education graduates make about $53,272. Set against $9,671 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oxnard College came in at #19 for value in education this year. Set in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,393 ten years after entry.
Oklahoma City Community College landed the #20 spot for education value this year. Set in the city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,059 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,810. Typical student debt for education graduates is $8,999. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Oklahoma City Community College generally make around $39,848. Set against $8,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Antonio College earned the #21 position for value in education this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, San Antonio College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,412, while out-of-state students pay about $9,952. Students borrow a median of $10,375 to complete the education program here. Education graduates of San Antonio College earn a median of $21,184 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lamar State College Orange landed the #22 spot for education value this year. Lamar State College Orange is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Orange. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,832, compared with $13,824 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for education graduates is $18,506. Education graduates of Lamar State College Orange earn a median of $45,299 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,506 median debt.
Santa Monica College came in at #23 for value in education this year. Located in the city of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,156, with out-of-state students paying around $10,708. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,193.
South Georgia Technical College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value education schools. Set in the town of Americus, South Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,992, with out-of-state students paying around $7,202. Education graduates carry a median of $10,423 in student loans. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from South Georgia Technical College generally make around $40,497. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central New Mexico Community College landed the #25 spot for education value this year. Set in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,060 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. Students borrow a median of $9,625 to complete the education program here. Early-career education graduates make about $29,708. Set against $9,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s education value ranking:
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 · 431 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 431 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).
[Education](/majors/education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong education education at a price that pays off.
