2026 Best Value Secondary Education Schools in District of Columbia

[Secondary Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/secondary-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value secondary education schools.
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2026 Best Value Secondary Education Schools in District of Columbia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in secondary education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Secondary Education Schools
Leading the list is Trinity Washington University, our #1 best value for secondary education in District of Columbia. Located in the city of Washington, Trinity Washington University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $26,610. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $31,194. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Trinity Washington University generally make around $64,890. That is a strong return on a $31,194 median debt. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
American University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in secondary education, landing the #2 spot this year. American University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Students from in state pay about $58,771 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the secondary education program here. Secondary Education graduates of American University earn a median of $59,756 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Howard University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in secondary education, landing the #3 spot this year. Howard University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,810. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $25,498. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $58,495. Set against $25,498 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Howard University admits about 41% of applicants.
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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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.