2026 Best Value Elementary Education Schools in Louisiana

[Elementary Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/elementary-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.
College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value elementary education schools.
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2026 Best Value Elementary Education Schools in Louisiana
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the elementary education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Elementary Education Schools
Louisiana State University Shreveport tops our 2026 list of the best value elementary education schools in Louisiana. Set in the city of Shreveport, Louisiana State University Shreveport is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,327 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the elementary education program here. Elementary Education graduates of Louisiana State University Shreveport earn a median of $48,717 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Louisiana State University Shreveport admits about 50% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of New Orleans earned it the #2 place for elementary education. Set in the city of New Orleans, University Of New Orleans is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,172, compared with $14,008 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $24,514. Elementary Education graduates of University Of New Orleans earn a median of $47,905 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,514 median debt. University Of New Orleans admits about 74% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Louisiana State University Alexandria one of the best values for elementary education. Located in the rural area of Alexandria, Louisiana State University Alexandria is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,050, with out-of-state students paying around $14,725. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $24,656 in student loans. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $40,820. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mcneese State University earned it the #4 place for elementary education. Located in the city of Lake Charles, Mcneese State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,489, while out-of-state students pay about $9,989. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $22,500. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $42,694. Set against $22,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Mcneese State University admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of Louisiana Monroe is a great value for students pursuing a degree in elementary education, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Louisiana Monroe is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Monroe. Students from in state pay about $9,190 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,290. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $25,003 in student loans. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $44,648. That is a strong return on a $25,003 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Nicholls State University earned the #6 position for value in elementary education this year. Set in the city of Thibodaux, Nicholls State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,149, compared with $9,242 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,692 to complete the elementary education program here. Elementary Education graduates of Nicholls State University earn a median of $47,173 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Southeastern Louisiana University earned the #7 position for value in elementary education this year. Set in the city of Hammond, Southeastern Louisiana University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,373, with out-of-state students paying around $20,851. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $26,013 in student loans. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $46,201. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southeastern Louisiana University admits about 99% of applicants.
Louisiana Tech University came in at #8 for value in elementary education this year. Located in the town of Ruston, Louisiana Tech University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,125, with out-of-state students paying around $16,866. Students borrow a median of $23,600 to complete the elementary education program here. Elementary Education graduates of Louisiana Tech University earn a median of $45,143 early in their careers. Set against $23,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern State University Of Louisiana ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value elementary education schools. Located in the town of Natchitoches, Northwestern State University Of Louisiana is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,864, compared with $19,652 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $23,662. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Northwestern State University Of Louisiana generally make around $46,549. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of Louisiana Lafayette ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value elementary education schools. University Of Louisiana Lafayette is a large public school located in the city of Lafayette. Students from in state pay about $10,418 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,146 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $24,502. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from University Of Louisiana Lafayette generally make around $44,154. Set against $24,502 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Louisiana College landed the #11 spot for elementary education value this year. Louisiana College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Pineville. Students from in state pay about $20,266 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $26,997. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $48,591. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Grambling State University earned the #12 position for value in elementary education this year. Grambling State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Grambling. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,683, while out-of-state students pay about $16,706. Students borrow a median of $40,941 to complete the elementary education program here. Elementary Education graduates of Grambling State University earn a median of $34,580 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Grambling State University admits about 45% of applicants.
Southern University And A And M College landed the #13 spot for elementary education value this year. Southern University And A And M College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Baton Rouge. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,922, while out-of-state students pay about $17,272. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $33,288. Elementary Education graduates of Southern University And A And M College earn a median of $45,304 early in their careers. Set against $33,288 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 35% of applicants are accepted.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College placed #14 among the best values for elementary education. Set in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,954, compared with $28,631 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete the elementary education program here. Elementary Education graduates of Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earn a median of $48,142 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,250 median debt. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College admits about 73% of applicants.
More Elementary Education Rankings
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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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.