DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/education/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/education/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/education/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/education/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/education/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/education/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/education/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 6
DEBUG: ROOT LEVEL MAJOR detected (no cip4), lowering min_relevance to 0.5
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.5, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "Education (I Have a Masters)" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Education (I Have a Masters)" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Education & Teaching Associate Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Education & Teaching Associate Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Education & Teaching Doctorate & EdD Programs (I Have a Masters)" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Education & Teaching Doctorate & EdD Programs (I Have a Masters)" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Education & Teaching Graduate Certificate Programs (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Education & Teaching Graduate Certificate Programs (I Have a Bachelors)" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Education & Teaching Masters Programs (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Education & Teaching Masters Programs (I Have a Bachelors)" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Education & Teaching PhD Programs (I Have a Masters)" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Education & Teaching PhD Programs (I Have a Masters)" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 6
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 6 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.5
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 6
DEBUG: ESYOH offers found, rendering ESYOH widget
DEBUG: most_relevant_only = true, filtering for most relevant
DEBUG: Found 6 offers with relevance >= 1.0
2026 Best Value Education Schools in Texas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Education Schools
For return on investment in education, no school beat Texas A And M University Central Texas this year. Located in the rural area of Killeen, Texas A And M University Central Texas is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,363, with out-of-state students paying around $17,155. Education graduates carry a median of $23,160 in student loans. Education graduates of Texas A And M University Central Texas earn a median of $50,370 early in their careers. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes College Of The Mainland one of the best values for education. College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Texas City. Students from in state pay about $2,310 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,140. Students borrow a median of $10,928 to complete the education program here. Early-career education graduates make about $40,788. Set against $10,928 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Texas A And M International University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value education schools. Located in the city of Laredo, Texas A And M International University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,894, while out-of-state students pay about $19,454. Typical student debt for education graduates is $17,940. Early-career education graduates make about $59,037. That is a strong return on a $17,940 median debt. The acceptance rate is 44%.
Students looking for strong value in education will find it at Northwest Vista College, which ranked #4. Located in the city of San Antonio, Northwest Vista College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,412, while out-of-state students pay about $9,952. Typical student debt for education graduates is $8,750. Education graduates of Northwest Vista College earn a median of $22,352 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Texas College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value education schools. Located in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,920, compared with $7,620 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for education graduates is $5,500. Early-career education graduates make about $16,902. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
ADBLOCK #101
Brazosport College placed #6 among the best values for education. Brazosport College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Lake Jackson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,388, while out-of-state students pay about $4,711. Typical student debt for education graduates is $6,625. Education graduates of Brazosport College earn a median of $32,746 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Palo Alto College placed #7 among the best values for education. Located in the city of San Antonio, Palo Alto College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,412, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Education graduates carry a median of $9,430 in student loans. Education graduates of Palo Alto College earn a median of $29,062 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,430 median debt.
El Centro College came in at #8 for value in education this year. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas. Students from in state pay about $2,730 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Education graduates carry a median of $12,500 in student loans. Early-career education graduates make about $25,385. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lamar State College Orange came in at #9 for value in education 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, while out-of-state students pay about $13,824. Typical student debt for education graduates is $18,506. Early-career education graduates make about $45,299. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tarrant County College District came in at #10 for value in education this year. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,863, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,750 to complete the education program here. Education graduates of Tarrant County College District earn a median of $24,507 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
St Philips College came in at #21 for value in education this year. St Philips College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,412, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Education graduates carry a median of $15,653 in student loans. Early-career education graduates make about $45,185. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The University Of Texas Pan American placed #22 among the best values for education. Located in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,799, while out-of-state students pay about $19,645. Students borrow a median of $14,694 to complete the education program here. Early-career education graduates make about $61,460. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Central Texas College earned the #23 position for value in education this year. Located in the suburb of Killeen, Central Texas College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,750, compared with $7,500 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,290 to complete the education program here. Early-career education graduates make about $53,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Paris Junior College placed #24 among the best values for education. Paris Junior College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Paris. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,700, with out-of-state students paying around $5,700. Education graduates carry a median of $8,846 in student loans. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Paris Junior College generally make around $38,811. That is a strong return on a $8,846 median debt.
San Jacinto Community College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value education schools. Located in the city of Pasadena, San Jacinto Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,490, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the education program here. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from San Jacinto Community College generally make around $19,581. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Education Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for education this year:
[Education](/majors/education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
