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2026 Best Value Science Education Associate’s Degree Schools

[Science Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/science-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong science education education at a price that pays off.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 328 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for science education students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Associate’s Degree Science Education Schools
• Other Degree Levels

2026 Best Value Science Education Schools in the United States

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in science education, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Science Education Schools

1

Itawamba Community College
Fulton, MS

$3,420 In-State Tuition & Fees

$10,942 Avg Student Debt

$32,912 Median Earnings (10yr)

Itawamba Community College earned the #1 spot for value among science education schools in the United States. Itawamba Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Fulton. Students from in state pay about $3,420 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,820 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,942 to complete the science education program here. Soon after graduation, science education degree recipients from Itawamba Community College generally make around $40,832. That is a strong return on a $10,942 median debt.

2

Odessa College
Odessa, TX

$2,688 In-State Tuition & Fees

$9,087 Avg Student Debt

$42,026 Median Earnings (10yr)

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Odessa College earned it the #2 place for science education. Set in the city of Odessa, Odessa College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,688, while out-of-state students pay about $4,926. Typical student debt for science education graduates is $9,087. Soon after graduation, science education degree recipients from Odessa College generally make around $47,856. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

Other Science Education Degree Levels

Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Science Education rankings across degree levels:

View All Science Education Rankings >

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 · 328 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.