2026 Best Value Elementary Education Schools in Arizona
[Elementary Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/elementary-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 30 schools to find the best return on investment for elementary education students.
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2026 Best Value Elementary Education Schools in Arizona
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in elementary education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Elementary Education Schools
For return on investment in elementary education, no school beat Pima Community College this year. Located in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,442, compared with $7,758 for out-of-state students. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $18,417 in student loans. Elementary Education graduates of Pima Community College earn a median of $37,485 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Yavapai College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in elementary education, landing the #2 spot this year. Yavapai College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Prescott. Students from in state pay about $2,948 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,486. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $14,087. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $52,087. Set against $14,087 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cochise College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value elementary education schools. Cochise College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Sierra Vista. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,280, while out-of-state students pay about $6,120. Students borrow a median of $12,013 to complete the elementary education program here. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $40,712. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Arizona College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value elementary education schools. Central Arizona College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Coolidge. In-state tuition and fees average $2,250, compared with $4,500 for out-of-state students. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $11,635 in student loans. Elementary Education graduates of Central Arizona College earn a median of $48,826 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in elementary education will find it at Rio Salado College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Tempe, Rio Salado College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,958. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $13,679. Elementary Education graduates of Rio Salado College earn a median of $48,564 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,679 median debt.
Arizona Western College placed #6 among the best values for elementary education. Set in the city of Yuma, Arizona Western College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,060, compared with $9,870 for out-of-state students. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $44,895.
Northland Pioneer College placed #7 among the best values for elementary education. Northland Pioneer College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Holbrook. Students from in state pay about $2,232 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,320. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $8,680. Elementary Education graduates of Northland Pioneer College earn a median of $44,117 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Eastern Arizona College landed the #8 spot for elementary education value this year. Eastern Arizona College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Thatcher. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,352, while out-of-state students pay about $9,552. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $6,781. Elementary Education graduates of Eastern Arizona College earn a median of $40,304 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Phoenix College placed #9 among the best values for elementary education. Located in the city of Phoenix, Phoenix College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $15,204 in student loans. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Phoenix College generally make around $51,053. That is a strong return on a $15,204 median debt.
Glendale Community College Glendale Az placed #10 among the best values for elementary education. Set in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $15,996 in student loans. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $51,483. That is a strong return on a $15,996 median debt.
Estrella Mountain Community College came in at #11 for value in elementary education this year. Set in the suburb of Avondale, Estrella Mountain Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $21,752 in student loans. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $78,359. Set against $21,752 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chandler Gilbert Community College landed the #12 spot for elementary education value this year. Chandler Gilbert Community College is a large public school located in the city of Chandler. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $10,447. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $46,943. Set against $10,447 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Mountain Community College landed the #13 spot for elementary education value this year. South Mountain Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Phoenix. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, compared with $8,958 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $39,825 ten years out.
Mesa Community College earned the #14 position for value in elementary education this year. Located in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $13,750. Elementary Education graduates of Mesa Community College earn a median of $54,730 early in their careers. Set against $13,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Paradise Valley Community College earned the #15 position for value in elementary education this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Paradise Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $14,204. Elementary Education graduates of Paradise Valley Community College earn a median of $71,136 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,204 median debt.
Arizona State University came in at #16 for value in elementary education this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $20,375. Elementary Education graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $49,402 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,375 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Phoenix Arizona landed the #17 spot for elementary education value this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, University Of Phoenix Arizona is a very large private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,552. Students borrow a median of $43,822 to complete the elementary education program here. Elementary Education graduates of University Of Phoenix Arizona earn a median of $46,439 early in their careers. Set against $43,822 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Scottsdale Community College earned the #18 position for value in elementary education this year. Located in the rural area of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $13,084 in student loans. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $48,039. That is a strong return on a $13,084 median debt.
Northern Arizona University landed the #19 spot for elementary education value this year. Set in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,619, with out-of-state students paying around $20,044. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $18,600. Elementary Education graduates of Northern Arizona University earn a median of $47,551 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,600 median debt. Northern Arizona University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Arizona earned the #20 position for value in elementary education this year. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,573 in tuition and fees, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $18,687 in student loans. Elementary Education graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $41,490 early in their careers. Set against $18,687 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Grand Canyon University landed the #21 spot for elementary education value this year. Located in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,508. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $36,334 in student loans. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $51,423. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Arizona Christian University came in at #22 for value in elementary education this year. Arizona Christian University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Glendale. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,098. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $22,625. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $40,702. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Arizona Christian University admits about 71% of applicants.
More Elementary Education Rankings
View All Elementary Education Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 30 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
