2026 Best Value Science Education Schools in the New England Region
[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 24 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for science education students.
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2026 Best Value Science Education Schools in the New England Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in science education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Science Education Schools
Our analysis ranked Rhode Island College the best value for a degree in science education in the New England Region. Rhode Island College is a large public school located in the suburb of Providence. In-state tuition and fees average $11,300, with out-of-state students paying around $27,299. Science Education graduates carry a median of $29,659 in student loans. Science Education graduates of Rhode Island College earn a median of $51,124 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Rhode Island College admits about 92% of applicants.
University Of Maine At Farmington came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value science education schools. University Of Maine At Farmington is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Farmington. In-state tuition and fees average $11,308, with out-of-state students paying around $23,878. Students borrow a median of $25,703 to complete the science education program here. Soon after graduation, science education degree recipients from University Of Maine At Farmington generally make around $35,414. That is a strong return on a $25,703 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Central Connecticut State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in science education, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of New Britain, Central Connecticut State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,050, while out-of-state students pay about $16,550. Science Education graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career science education graduates make about $60,212. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 73%.
A rank of #4 makes Bridgewater State University one of the best values for science education. Bridgewater State University is a large public school located in the suburb of Bridgewater. In-state tuition and fees average $11,734, while out-of-state students pay about $17,874. Typical student debt for science education graduates is $27,000. Science Education graduates of Bridgewater State University earn a median of $48,937 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Bridgewater State University admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Maine came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value science education schools. Set in the suburb of Orono, University Of Maine is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,326, compared with $36,756 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the science education program here. Science Education graduates of University Of Maine earn a median of $42,428 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Maine admits about 97% of applicants.
Keene State College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value science education schools. Set in the town of Keene, Keene State College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,784, while out-of-state students pay about $26,840. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete the science education program here. Early-career science education graduates make about $41,049. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Vermont ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value science education schools. Located in the city of Burlington, University Of Vermont is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,058, with out-of-state students paying around $45,502. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the science education program here. Science Education graduates of University Of Vermont earn a median of $41,099 early in their careers. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Plymouth State University placed #8 among the best values for science education. Set in the town of Plymouth, Plymouth State University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,626, compared with $25,566 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the science education program here. Science Education graduates of Plymouth State University earn a median of $45,528 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Southern Connecticut State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value science education schools. Located in the city of New Haven, Southern Connecticut State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,442, while out-of-state students pay about $16,942. Science Education graduates carry a median of $24,875 in student loans. Science Education graduates of Southern Connecticut State University earn a median of $50,876 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,875 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Connecticut placed #10 among the best values for science education. Set in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,044, compared with $43,712 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for science education graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, science education degree recipients from University Of Connecticut generally make around $58,784. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 52%.
Gordon College landed the #11 spot for science education value this year. Set in the rural area of Wenham, Gordon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $30,700. Science Education graduates carry a median of $26,372 in student loans. Early-career science education graduates make about $37,097. That is a strong return on a $26,372 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Brown University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value science education schools. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $71,312 in tuition and fees. Science Education graduates carry a median of $13,025 in student loans. Science Education graduates of Brown University earn a median of $54,632 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,025 median debt. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Boston University placed #13 among the best values for science education. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,102. Students borrow a median of $25,125 to complete the science education program here. Early-career science education graduates make about $67,277. Set against $25,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Boston University admits about 11% of applicants.
Lesley University earned the #14 position for value in science education this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Lesley University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,256. Science Education graduates carry a median of $24,818 in student loans. Soon after graduation, science education degree recipients from Lesley University generally make around $62,468. That is a strong return on a $24,818 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Merrimack College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value science education schools. Located in the suburb of North Andover, Merrimack College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $53,962 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for science education graduates is $26,913. Soon after graduation, science education degree recipients from Merrimack College generally make around $50,506. That is a strong return on a $26,913 median debt. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Sacred Heart University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value science education schools. Set in the suburb of Fairfield, Sacred Heart University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $50,404 in tuition and fees. Science Education graduates carry a median of $25,831 in student loans. Science Education graduates of Sacred Heart University earn a median of $62,864 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,831 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
