by our College Data Analytics Team
[Mathematics Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/mathematics-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 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.
For return on investment in mathematics education, no school beat Peru State College this year. Peru State College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Peru. Students from in state pay about $8,433 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for mathematics education graduates is $26,254. Early-career mathematics education graduates make about $40,993. Set against $26,254 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Chadron State College earned it the #2 place for mathematics education. Chadron State College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Chadron. In-state tuition and fees average $8,294. Mathematics Education graduates carry a median of $24,943 in student loans. Mathematics Education graduates of Chadron State College earn a median of $46,824 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in mathematics education will find it at Wayne State College, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Wayne, Wayne State College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,171. Typical student debt for mathematics education graduates is $25,957. Soon after graduation, mathematics education degree recipients from Wayne State College generally make around $42,589. That is a strong return on a $25,957 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Nebraska Lincoln earned it the #4 place for mathematics education. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public school located in the city of Lincoln. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,434, with out-of-state students paying around $28,584. Typical student debt for mathematics education graduates is $23,000. Soon after graduation, mathematics education degree recipients from University Of Nebraska Lincoln generally make around $45,786. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in mathematics education will find it at Hastings College, which ranked #5. Located in the town of Hastings, Hastings College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,770. Mathematics Education graduates carry a median of $24,125 in student loans. Mathematics Education graduates of Hastings College earn a median of $42,417 early in their careers. Set against $24,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
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This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.