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2026 Best Value Social Science Teacher Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in social science teacher education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Social Science Teacher Education Schools
Leading the list is Millikin University, our #1 best value for social science teacher education in the Great Lakes Region. Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Decatur. Students from in state pay about $26,792 in tuition and fees. Social Science Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career social science teacher education graduates make about $58,852. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Xavier University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value social science teacher education schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $38,945 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for social science teacher education graduates is $27,194. Early-career social science teacher education graduates make about $46,835. That is a strong return on a $27,194 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Youngstown State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in social science teacher education, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,926, with out-of-state students paying around $10,286. Social Science Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $26,751 in student loans. Social Science Teacher Education graduates of Youngstown State University earn a median of $49,025 early in their careers. Set against $26,751 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point one of the best values for social science teacher education. Located in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,228 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,248. Students borrow a median of $25,719 to complete the social science teacher education program here. Social Science Teacher Education graduates of University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point earn a median of $40,005 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,719 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Ferris State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in social science teacher education, landing the #5 spot this year. Ferris State University is a large public school located in the town of Big Rapids. In-state tuition and fees average $14,778. Typical student debt for social science teacher education graduates is $29,076. Social Science Teacher Education graduates of Ferris State University earn a median of $54,608 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,076 median debt. Ferris State University admits about 91% of applicants.
ADBLOCK #101
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh earned the #6 position for value in social science teacher education this year. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public school located in the city of Oshkosh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,532, with out-of-state students paying around $16,446. Typical student debt for social science teacher education graduates is $28,500. Early-career social science teacher education graduates make about $51,022. That is a strong return on a $28,500 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Saginaw Valley State University placed #7 among the best values for social science teacher education. Saginaw Valley State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of University Center. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,930, with out-of-state students paying around $30,450. Social Science Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $28,550 in student loans. Early-career social science teacher education graduates make about $50,021. Set against $28,550 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale earned the #8 position for value in social science teacher education this year. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,334. Social Science Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $21,182 in student loans. Soon after graduation, social science teacher education degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $46,566. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southern Illinois University Carbondale admits about 87% of applicants.
Wright State University Main Campus came in at #9 for value in social science teacher education this year. Located in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,991, compared with $20,691 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for social science teacher education graduates is $26,000. Social Science Teacher Education graduates of Wright State University Main Campus earn a median of $43,003 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Concordia University Chicago earned the #10 position for value in social science teacher education this year. Set in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,488. Social Science Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, social science teacher education degree recipients from Concordia University Chicago generally make around $51,796. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Concordia University Chicago admits about 93% of applicants.
Monmouth College earned the #11 position for value in social science teacher education this year. Located in the town of Monmouth, Monmouth College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $44,922. Typical student debt for social science teacher education graduates is $26,444. Soon after graduation, social science teacher education degree recipients from Monmouth College generally make around $36,675. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Monmouth College admits about 91% of applicants.
Eastern Michigan University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value social science teacher education schools. Eastern Michigan University is a large public school located in the suburb of Ypsilanti. In-state tuition and fees average $16,990. Typical student debt for social science teacher education graduates is $31,000. Social Science Teacher Education graduates of Eastern Michigan University earn a median of $47,887 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Western Michigan University placed #13 among the best values for social science teacher education. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,987, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. Typical student debt for social science teacher education graduates is $29,000. Social Science Teacher Education graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $48,966 early in their careers. Set against $29,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.
Elmhurst College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value social science teacher education schools. Located in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,955. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the social science teacher education program here. Social Science Teacher Education graduates of Elmhurst College earn a median of $46,789 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Olivet Nazarene University came in at #15 for value in social science teacher education this year. Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bourbonnais. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,900. Social Science Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career social science teacher education graduates make about $51,475. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Blackburn College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value social science teacher education schools. Blackburn College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Carlinville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,149. Typical student debt for social science teacher education graduates is $25,255. Social Science Teacher Education graduates of Blackburn College earn a median of $33,739 early in their careers. Set against $25,255 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Lakeland College came in at #17 for value in social science teacher education this year. Located in the rural area of Plymouth, Lakeland College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $33,396. Social Science Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $29,722 in student loans. Social Science Teacher Education graduates of Lakeland College earn a median of $52,412 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,722 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Indiana Wesleyan University earned the #18 position for value in social science teacher education this year. Indiana Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Marion. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,352. Social Science Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $24,875 in student loans. Early-career social science teacher education graduates make about $42,099. Set against $24,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana Wesleyan University admits about 89% of applicants.
Saint Norbert College placed #19 among the best values for social science teacher education. Saint Norbert College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of De Pere. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,580. Students borrow a median of $24,889 to complete the social science teacher education program here. Early-career social science teacher education graduates make about $43,829. Set against $24,889 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Depaul University earned the #20 position for value in social science teacher education this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $45,405 in tuition and fees. Social Science Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $26,910 in student loans. Early-career social science teacher education graduates make about $52,130. That is a strong return on a $26,910 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
[Social Science Teacher Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/social-science-teacher-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
