by our College Data Analytics Team
[Secondary Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/secondary-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong secondary education education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for secondary education students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the secondary education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Salish Kootenai College the best value for a degree in secondary education in Montana. Set in the rural area of Pablo, Salish Kootenai College is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,311, compared with $11,583 for out-of-state students. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Salish Kootenai College generally make around $52,607.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Montana State University Northern earned it the #2 place for secondary education. Set in the town of Havre, Montana State University Northern is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,982, with out-of-state students paying around $21,875. Students borrow a median of $23,855 to complete the secondary education program here. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Montana State University Northern generally make around $50,896. That is a strong return on a $23,855 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in secondary education will find it at The University Of Montana Western, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Dillon, The University Of Montana Western is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,669, with out-of-state students paying around $20,130. Students borrow a median of $23,269 to complete the secondary education program here. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from The University Of Montana Western generally make around $36,742. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Montana Western admits about 100% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Montana earned it the #4 place for secondary education. Set in the city of Missoula, The University Of Montana is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,552, compared with $33,671 for out-of-state students. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $24,880 in student loans. Secondary Education graduates of The University Of Montana earn a median of $42,654 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,880 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
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This ranking is produced 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.