[Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education & Teaching](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/junior-high-intermediate-middle-school-education-and-teaching/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 56 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching, balancing cost against outcomes.
University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College tops our 2026 list of the best value junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching schools in Ohio. Set in the suburb of Blue Ash, University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,106, with out-of-state students paying around $15,904. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete the junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching program here. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates of University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College earn a median of $29,867 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching will find it at University Of Cincinnati Clermont College, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Batavia, University Of Cincinnati Clermont College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,639, compared with $13,871 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates is $15,625. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates of University Of Cincinnati Clermont College earn a median of $29,867 early in their careers. Set against $15,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching will find it at Ohio State University Marion Campus, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Marion, Ohio State University Marion Campus is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,488, compared with $36,266 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,432 to complete the junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching program here. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates of Ohio State University Marion Campus earn a median of $36,483 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching will find it at Youngstown State University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,926, compared with $10,286 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates is $29,500. Early-career junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates make about $33,735. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Wright State University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching, landing the #5 spot this year. Wright State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Dayton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,991, compared with $20,691 for out-of-state students. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching degree recipients from Wright State University Main Campus generally make around $37,693. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wright State University Main Campus admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of Akron Main Campus came in at #6 for value in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching this year. University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Akron. Students from in state pay about $13,135 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,815. Typical student debt for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates is $27,000. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates of University Of Akron Main Campus earn a median of $35,368 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Cleveland State University landed the #7 spot for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching value this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,982 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,502 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching program here. Early-career junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates make about $39,226. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Cleveland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Wright State University Lake Campus ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching schools. Wright State University Lake Campus is a small public school located in the rural area of Celina. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,372, with out-of-state students paying around $17,072. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates make about $36,332. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt.
Shawnee State University earned the #9 position for value in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching this year. Shawnee State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Portsmouth. In-state tuition and fees average $9,448, while out-of-state students pay about $16,032. Students borrow a median of $25,233 to complete the junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching program here. Early-career junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates make about $42,878. Set against $25,233 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #10 spot for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching value this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates carry a median of $25,432 in student loans. Soon after graduation, junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $36,483. That is a strong return on a $25,432 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
College Of Mount St Joseph came in at #11 for value in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching this year. College Of Mount St Joseph is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Cincinnati. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,150. Typical student debt for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates is $28,343. Early-career junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates make about $43,888. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Toledo placed #12 among the best values for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching. University Of Toledo is a large public school located in the city of Toledo. In-state tuition and fees average $12,157, compared with $21,517 for out-of-state students. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates carry a median of $24,100 in student loans. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates of University Of Toledo earn a median of $39,947 early in their careers. Set against $24,100 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Central State University landed the #13 spot for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching value this year. Located in the rural area of Wilberforce, Central State University is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,058 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,058 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates is $31,318. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates of Central State University earn a median of $27,388 early in their careers. Set against $31,318 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Central State University admits about 99% of applicants.
Ohio State University Mansfield Campus came in at #14 for value in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching this year. Set in the rural area of Mansfield, Ohio State University Mansfield Campus is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,488, while out-of-state students pay about $36,266. Typical student debt for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates is $25,432. Early-career junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates make about $36,483. Set against $25,432 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bluffton University landed the #15 spot for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching value this year. Set in the rural area of Bluffton, Bluffton University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,362. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans. Early-career junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates make about $41,821. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
Kent State University At Kent ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching schools. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. Students from in state pay about $12,220 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates carry a median of $21,637 in student loans. Early-career junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates make about $31,139. That is a strong return on a $21,637 median debt. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus landed the #17 spot for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching value this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Students borrow a median of $23,050 to complete the junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching program here. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $34,983 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,050 median debt. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Eastern Gateway Community College came in at #18 for value in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching this year. Eastern Gateway Community College is a large public school located in the city of Steubenville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,225, with out-of-state students paying around $6,071. Students borrow a median of $10,642 to complete the junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching program here. Early-career junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates make about $37,052. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus landed the #19 spot for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching value this year. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. In-state tuition and fees average $13,912, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. Students borrow a median of $19,545 to complete the junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching program here. Early-career junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates make about $40,271. That is a strong return on a $19,545 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Walsh University placed #20 among the best values for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching. Walsh University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of North Canton. Students from in state pay about $33,030 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates is $27,000. Early-career junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates make about $34,355. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Muskingum University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching schools. Muskingum University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of New Concord. In-state tuition and fees average $31,701. Students borrow a median of $25,215 to complete the junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching program here. Soon after graduation, junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching degree recipients from Muskingum University generally make around $35,861. That is a strong return on a $25,215 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Heidelberg University placed #22 among the best values for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching. Located in the town of Tiffin, Heidelberg University is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,600. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates make about $42,334. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Heidelberg University admits about 86% of applicants.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University earned the #23 position for value in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching this year. Located in the town of Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $27,193. Typical student debt for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates is $27,000. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates of Mount Vernon Nazarene University earn a median of $35,268 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Otterbein University placed #24 among the best values for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching. Otterbein University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Westerville. Students from in state pay about $35,548 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates is $26,000. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates of Otterbein University earn a median of $38,651 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Ashland University landed the #25 spot for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching value this year. Set in the town of Ashland, Ashland University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $31,210. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching program here. Soon after graduation, junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching degree recipients from Ashland University generally make around $28,468. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
These schools also delivered strong value for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching this year:
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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 · 56 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 26 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.
