2026 Best Value Secondary School Administration/Principalship Schools in the The Plains States Region

[Secondary School Administration/Principalship](/majors/education/educational-administration/secondary-school-administration-principalship/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 10 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value secondary school administration/principalship schools.
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2026 Best Value Secondary School Administration/Principalship Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the secondary school administration/principalship degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Secondary School Administration/Principalship Schools
For return on investment in secondary school administration/principalship, no school beat Southeast Missouri State University this year. Set in the city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,903. Students borrow a median of $23,289 to complete the secondary school administration/principalship program here. Secondary School Administration/principalship graduates of Southeast Missouri State University earn a median of $46,212 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,289 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in secondary school administration/principalship will find it at Northwest Missouri State University, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,611, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Typical student debt for secondary school administration/principalship graduates is $23,585. Secondary School Administration/principalship graduates of Northwest Missouri State University earn a median of $42,939 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,585 median debt. Northwest Missouri State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in secondary school administration/principalship will find it at Wayne State College, which ranked #3. Wayne State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Wayne. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,171. Typical student debt for secondary school administration/principalship graduates is $22,974. Soon after graduation, secondary school administration/principalship degree recipients from Wayne State College generally make around $65,798. That is a strong return on a $22,974 median debt.
University Of Central Missouri is a great value for students pursuing a degree in secondary school administration/principalship, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of Central Missouri is a large public school located in the town of Warrensburg. Students from in state pay about $10,050 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,600 for out-of-state students. Secondary School Administration/principalship graduates carry a median of $24,304 in student loans. Early-career secondary school administration/principalship graduates make about $45,496. Set against $24,304 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Central Missouri admits about 64% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in secondary school administration/principalship will find it at Northern State University, which ranked #5. Located in the town of Aberdeen, Northern State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,845 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,947. Typical student debt for secondary school administration/principalship graduates is $26,143. Early-career secondary school administration/principalship graduates make about $45,824. That is a strong return on a $26,143 median debt. Northern State University admits about 93% of applicants.
Capella University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value secondary school administration/principalship schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a very large private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,400. Students borrow a median of $35,998 to complete the secondary school administration/principalship program here. Soon after graduation, secondary school administration/principalship degree recipients from Capella University generally make around $67,347. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lindenwood University landed the #7 spot for secondary school administration/principalship value this year. Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Charles. In-state tuition and fees average $21,600. Secondary School Administration/principalship graduates carry a median of $28,663 in student loans. Soon after graduation, secondary school administration/principalship degree recipients from Lindenwood University generally make around $56,609. Set against $28,663 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lindenwood University admits about 57% of applicants.
University Of Mary placed #8 among the best values for secondary school administration/principalship. Set in the rural area of Bismarck, University Of Mary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $22,356. Students borrow a median of $26,983 to complete the secondary school administration/principalship program here. Soon after graduation, secondary school administration/principalship degree recipients from University Of Mary generally make around $54,998. Set against $26,983 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Mary admits about 75% of applicants.
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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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.