by our College Data Analytics Team
[Mathematics Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/mathematics-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong mathematics education education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 30 schools to find the best return on investment for mathematics education students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in mathematics education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Pennsylvania Western University, our #1 best value for mathematics education in Pennsylvania. Located in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,436, with out-of-state students paying around $16,054. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $47,295. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in mathematics education will find it at Holy Family University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Holy Family University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,330. Typical student debt for mathematics education graduates is $26,562. Mathematics Education graduates of Holy Family University earn a median of $59,355 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,562 median debt. Holy Family University admits about 71% of applicants.
Bucks County Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mathematics education, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Newtown, Bucks County Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,646 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $13,926. Typical student debt for mathematics education graduates is $13,068. Early-career mathematics education graduates make about $37,711. That is a strong return on a $13,068 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes York College Pennsylvania one of the best values for mathematics education. Set in the suburb of York, York College Pennsylvania is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $25,588. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the mathematics education program here. Soon after graduation, mathematics education degree recipients from York College Pennsylvania generally make around $48,624. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
A rank of #5 makes West Chester University Of Pennsylvania one of the best values for mathematics education. Located in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,775, compared with $22,599 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $61,258 ten years out. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania admits about 78% of applicants.
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Marywood University earned the #6 position for value in mathematics education this year. Set in the city of Scranton, Marywood University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,420. Typical student debt for mathematics education graduates is $27,000. Mathematics Education graduates of Marywood University earn a median of $41,848 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Geneva College landed the #7 spot for mathematics education value this year. Geneva College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Beaver Falls. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $33,450. Students borrow a median of $26,396 to complete the mathematics education program here. Soon after graduation, mathematics education degree recipients from Geneva College generally make around $46,645. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Seton Hill University landed the #8 spot for mathematics education value this year. Located in the suburb of Greensburg, Seton Hill University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $42,944 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,556 to complete the mathematics education program here. Early-career mathematics education graduates make about $53,485. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Seton Hill University admits about 80% of applicants.
Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania placed #9 among the best values for mathematics education. Set in the town of Shippensburg, Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,570, while out-of-state students pay about $15,824. Mathematics Education graduates carry a median of $26,307 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mathematics education degree recipients from Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $46,912. That is a strong return on a $26,307 median debt. Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania admits about 86% of applicants.
Point Park University earned the #10 position for value in mathematics education this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Point Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,570. Typical student debt for mathematics education graduates is $28,323. Mathematics Education graduates of Point Park University earn a median of $40,759 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Arcadia University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value mathematics education schools. Set in the suburb of Glenside, Arcadia University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $49,610 in tuition and fees. Mathematics Education graduates carry a median of $26,921 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mathematics education degree recipients from Arcadia University generally make around $46,764. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Elizabethtown College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value mathematics education schools. Elizabethtown College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elizabethtown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,950. Typical student debt for mathematics education graduates is $27,000. Early-career mathematics education graduates make about $57,397. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Messiah College earned the #13 position for value in mathematics education this year. Messiah College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Mechanicsburg. In-state tuition and fees average $42,240. Typical student debt for mathematics education graduates is $27,000. Mathematics Education graduates of Messiah College earn a median of $50,825 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Messiah College admits about 79% of applicants.
Wilkes University landed the #14 spot for mathematics education value this year. Set in the city of Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $43,496. Mathematics Education graduates carry a median of $26,601 in student loans. Mathematics Education graduates of Wilkes University earn a median of $59,372 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,601 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Temple University placed #15 among the best values for mathematics education. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $23,005 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,805. Mathematics Education graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Mathematics Education graduates of Temple University earn a median of $54,642 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Temple University admits about 80% of applicants.
Philadelphia Biblical University Langhorne came in at #16 for value in mathematics education this year. Philadelphia Biblical University Langhorne is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Langhorne. Students from in state pay about $33,659 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $28,212 to complete the mathematics education program here. Early-career mathematics education graduates make about $40,120. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus placed #17 among the best values for mathematics education. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,926, with out-of-state students paying around $41,430. Typical student debt for mathematics education graduates is $26,176. Mathematics Education graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $41,795 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,176 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.
University Of Pennsylvania landed the #18 spot for mathematics education value this year. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Students from in state pay about $68,686 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for mathematics education graduates is $16,155. Early-career mathematics education graduates make about $54,350. Set against $16,155 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Duquesne University earned the #19 position for value in mathematics education this year. Duquesne University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,986. Mathematics Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career mathematics education graduates make about $47,897. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Duquesne University admits about 84% of applicants.
Saint Josephs University came in at #20 for value in mathematics education this year. Saint Josephs University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,260. Students borrow a median of $26,426 to complete the mathematics education program here. Soon after graduation, mathematics education degree recipients from Saint Josephs University generally make around $55,186. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Drexel University placed #21 among the best values for mathematics education. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,412. Typical student debt for mathematics education graduates is $28,838. Early-career mathematics education graduates make about $52,292. That is a strong return on a $28,838 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
This ranking is produced 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 · 30 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.