2026 Best Value Social Science Teacher Education Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Social Science Teacher Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/social-science-teacher-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 33 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for social science teacher education students.
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2026 Best Value Social Science Teacher Education Schools in the The Plains States 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
For return on investment in social science teacher education, no school beat Truman State University this year. Set in the town of Kirksville, Truman State University is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,838, compared with $18,566 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for social science teacher education graduates is $23,168. Early-career social science teacher education graduates make about $39,321. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Truman State University admits about 84% of applicants.
Chadron State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in social science teacher education, landing the #2 spot this year. Chadron State College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Chadron. Students from in state pay about $8,294 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for social science teacher education graduates is $24,943. Early-career social science teacher education graduates make about $46,824. Set against $24,943 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Peru State College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value social science teacher education schools. Set in the rural area of Peru, Peru State College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,433 in tuition and fees. Social Science Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $26,254 in student loans. Social Science Teacher Education graduates of Peru State College earn a median of $40,993 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Valley City State University earned it the #4 place for social science teacher education. Valley City State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Valley City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,580, with out-of-state students paying around $13,544. Students borrow a median of $24,394 to complete the social science teacher education program here. Soon after graduation, social science teacher education degree recipients from Valley City State University generally make around $51,170. That is a strong return on a $24,394 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Minot State University earned it the #5 place for social science teacher education. Set in the city of Minot, Minot State University is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,702. Social Science Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $28,324 in student loans. Early-career social science teacher education graduates make about $44,973. Set against $28,324 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Northern Iowa placed #6 among the best values for social science teacher education. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. In-state tuition and fees average $9,936, compared with $21,712 for out-of-state students. Social Science Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Social Science Teacher Education graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $52,307 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Mayville State University earned the #7 position for value in social science teacher education this year. Located in the rural area of Mayville, Mayville State University is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,979, compared with $11,237 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for social science teacher education graduates is $27,464. Early-career social science teacher education graduates make about $47,650. That is a strong return on a $27,464 median debt.
Northwest Missouri State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value social science teacher education schools. Set in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,611, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for social science teacher education graduates is $26,221. Social Science Teacher Education graduates of Northwest Missouri State University earn a median of $38,832 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northwest Missouri State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Wayne State College placed #9 among the best values for social science teacher education. Set in the town of Wayne, Wayne State College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,171. Students borrow a median of $25,957 to complete the social science teacher education program here. Soon after graduation, social science teacher education degree recipients from Wayne State College generally make around $42,589. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln earned the #10 position for value in social science teacher education this year. Located in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,434, with out-of-state students paying around $28,584. Typical student debt for social science teacher education graduates is $23,000. Early-career social science teacher education graduates make about $45,786. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Nebraska Lincoln admits about 88% of applicants.
Dickinson State University landed the #11 spot for social science teacher education value this year. Dickinson State University is a small public school located in the town of Dickinson. Students from in state pay about $9,118 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,266 to complete the social science teacher education program here. Social Science Teacher Education graduates of Dickinson State University earn a median of $44,841 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,266 median debt. The acceptance rate is 37%.
Winona State University came in at #12 for value in social science teacher education this year. Located in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,576 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,308 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,762 to complete the social science teacher education program here. Social Science Teacher Education graduates of Winona State University earn a median of $44,002 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Buena Vista University landed the #13 spot for social science teacher education value this year. Located in the town of Storm Lake, Buena Vista University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $41,798. Students borrow a median of $29,008 to complete the social science teacher education program here. Early-career social science teacher education graduates make about $44,780. That is a strong return on a $29,008 median debt. Buena Vista University admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of Mary came in at #14 for value in social science teacher education this year. Set in the rural area of Bismarck, University Of Mary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $22,356. Typical student debt for social science teacher education graduates is $27,399. Early-career social science teacher education graduates make about $43,299. Set against $27,399 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Evangel University placed #15 among the best values for social science teacher education. Set in the city of Springfield, Evangel University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,548. Social Science Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $30,175 in student loans. Early-career social science teacher education graduates make about $34,872. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Southwest Baptist University placed #16 among the best values for social science teacher education. Set in the town of Bolivar, Southwest Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $30,566 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for social science teacher education graduates is $25,762. Soon after graduation, social science teacher education degree recipients from Southwest Baptist University generally make around $35,507. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Hastings College placed #17 among the best values for social science teacher education. Located in the town of Hastings, Hastings College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,770. Social Science Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $24,125 in student loans. Soon after graduation, social science teacher education degree recipients from Hastings College generally make around $42,417. Set against $24,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Nebraska Wesleyan University landed the #18 spot for social science teacher education value this year. Located in the city of Lincoln, Nebraska Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,572. Typical student debt for social science teacher education graduates is $27,667. Social Science Teacher Education graduates of Nebraska Wesleyan University earn a median of $52,199 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,667 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Upper Iowa University landed the #19 spot for social science teacher education value this year. Located in the rural area of Fayette, Upper Iowa University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,475. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the social science teacher education program here. Soon after graduation, social science teacher education degree recipients from Upper Iowa University generally make around $50,705. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences earned the #20 position for value in social science teacher education this year. Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Fayette. Students from in state pay about $28,620 in tuition and fees. Social Science Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $24,633 in student loans. Soon after graduation, social science teacher education degree recipients from Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences generally make around $47,538. Set against $24,633 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences admits about 57% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 33 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
