Education degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 2376 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best education schools.
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Choosing a Great Education School
The education program you select can have a big impact on your future. To help, we created our Best Education Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Education School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Education Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
University Of Notre Dame is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in education. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit university. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 115 education degrees were awarded at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent year. Education graduates of University Of Notre Dame earn a median of $58,948 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,891.
Read more about the education program at University Of Notre Dame
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in education, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 581 education degrees in the most recent data year.
Read more about the education program at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Johns Hopkins University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in education, landing the #3 spot this year. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 570 education students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $81,180 in their early career. Johns Hopkins University graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans.
See the full education program report for Johns Hopkins University
Students looking for a strong education program will find one at Harvard University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. There were roughly 811 education students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Education graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $86,173 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
Read more about the education program at Harvard University
Columbia University In The City Of New York is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in education, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates 96% of students within six years. About 64 education degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Students who receive their education degree from Columbia University In The City Of New York earn around $86,770 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258.
Read more about the education program at Columbia University In The City Of New York
New York University landed the #6 spot for education this year. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. New York University awarded about 643 education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $56,279 in their early career. New York University graduates carry a median of $24,690 in student loans.
More information about a degree in education from New York University
Yale University earned the #7 position for education this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New Haven. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 30 education degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Education graduates of Yale University earn a median of $74,578 early in their careers. Yale University graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans.
Get the full education details for Yale University
University Of California Los Angeles ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. About 354 education degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Students who receive their education degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $107,100 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,097.
Get the full education details for University Of California Los Angeles
Stanford University earned the #9 position for education this year. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. Stanford University awarded about 171 education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $85,162 in their early career. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
Get the full education details for Stanford University
University Of California Irvine earned the #10 position for education this year. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. About 577 education degrees were awarded at University Of California Irvine in the most recent year. Education graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $63,497 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,575.
See the full education program report for University Of California Irvine
University Of Pennsylvania ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best education schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 705 education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Education graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $69,931 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
Get the full education details for University Of Pennsylvania
University Of California Berkeley earned the #12 position for education this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 175 education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $70,847. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in education from University Of California Berkeley
Rice University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best education schools. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 education students who graduated with this degree at Rice University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $75,299. Students borrow a median of $11,904 to complete this degree.
Read more about the education program at Rice University
University Of Southern California came in at #14 for education this year. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. There were roughly 773 education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $67,036 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete this degree.
Get the full education details for University Of Southern California
Northwestern University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best education schools. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 100 education degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Graduates of the education program make about $60,947 in their early career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
Read more about the education program at Northwestern University
Collin County Community College District placed #16 among the best education schools. Set in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public institution. About 116 education degrees were awarded at Collin County Community College District in the most recent year. Students who receive their education degree from Collin County Community College District earn around $42,177 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,125 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in education from Collin County Community College District
Texas A And M University College Station ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best education schools. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. Texas A And M University College Station awarded about 730 education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from Texas A And M University College Station earn around $68,527 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,031.
More information about a degree in education from Texas A And M University College Station
Santa Clara University placed #18 among the best education schools. Set in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. There were roughly 80 education students who graduated with this degree at Santa Clara University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from Santa Clara University earn around $79,548 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,144 to complete this degree.
See the full education program report for Santa Clara University
Fordham University came in at #19 for education this year. Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. About 234 education degrees were awarded at Fordham University in the most recent year. Education graduates of Fordham University earn a median of $82,364 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,643 to complete this degree.
See the full education program report for Fordham University
Concordia University Irvine landed the #20 spot for education this year. Concordia University Irvine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Irvine. Concordia University Irvine graduates 58% of students within six years. Concordia University Irvine awarded about 411 education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from Concordia University Irvine earn around $102,778 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,085.
More information about a degree in education from Concordia University Irvine
Middlebury College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best education schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Middlebury. About 91% of students finish within six years. Middlebury College awarded about 27 education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $54,713 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,948.
Read more about the education program at Middlebury College
Duke University earned the #22 position for education this year. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. Duke University graduates 97% of students within six years. Duke University awarded about 79 education degrees in the most recent data year. Education graduates of Duke University earn a median of $55,608 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $8,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full education details for Duke University
University Of California San Diego ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best education schools. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. University Of California San Diego graduates 86% of students within six years. University Of California San Diego awarded about 133 education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $91,736 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,101 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in education from University Of California San Diego
California State University Northridge landed the #24 spot for education this year. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 621 education degrees were awarded at California State University Northridge in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $74,099. Students borrow a median of $16,202 to complete this degree.
Read more about the education program at California State University Northridge
James Madison University landed the #25 spot for education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Harrisonburg. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. James Madison University awarded about 524 education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $55,866. Students borrow a median of $21,218 to complete this degree.
See the full education program report for James Madison University
Rest of the Top 50 Education Schools
These schools also placed among the best for education this year:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 2376 schools evaluated.
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).
