2026 Best Value Secondary Education Schools in Georgia
[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 17 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for secondary education students.
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2026 Best Value Secondary Education Schools in Georgia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in secondary education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Secondary Education Schools
For return on investment in secondary education, no school beat University Of North Georgia this year. Located in the town of Dahlonega, University Of North Georgia is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,444, with out-of-state students paying around $16,956. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from University Of North Georgia generally make around $49,402. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Georgia admits about 68% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Valdosta State University earned it the #2 place for secondary education. Set in the city of Valdosta, Valdosta State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,124, compared with $17,836 for out-of-state students. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Valdosta State University generally make around $48,722. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Young Harris College one of the best values for secondary education. Set in the rural area of Young Harris, Young Harris College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,305. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $24,689. Median earnings reach $47,195 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 63%.
A rank of #4 makes Columbus State University one of the best values for secondary education. Columbus State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Columbus. In-state tuition and fees average $5,898, while out-of-state students pay about $17,610. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $30,977 in student loans. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Columbus State University generally make around $55,147. Set against $30,977 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of West Georgia earned it the #5 place for secondary education. Set in the town of Carrollton, University Of West Georgia is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,088, with out-of-state students paying around $17,800. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $25,217 in student loans. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from University Of West Georgia generally make around $50,204. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 52% of applicants are accepted.
Albany State University landed the #6 spot for secondary education value this year. Albany State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Albany. Students from in state pay about $5,656 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,008. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Secondary Education graduates of Albany State University earn a median of $44,703 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt.
Georgia Southern University placed #7 among the best values for secondary education. Set in the town of Statesboro, Georgia Southern University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,022, while out-of-state students pay about $17,734. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $26,750. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Georgia Southern University generally make around $47,263. Set against $26,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Kennesaw State University came in at #8 for value in secondary education this year. Located in the suburb of Kennesaw, Kennesaw State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,808, with out-of-state students paying around $17,736. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $27,000. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $63,630. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Georgia College And State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value secondary education schools. Located in the town of Milledgeville, Georgia College And State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,186, compared with $29,512 for out-of-state students. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $50,511. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Thomas University earned the #10 position for value in secondary education this year. Thomas University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Thomasville. Students from in state pay about $11,640 in tuition and fees. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $28,500 in student loans. Secondary Education graduates of Thomas University earn a median of $59,006 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Thomas University admits about 38% of applicants.
Brenau University placed #11 among the best values for secondary education. Brenau University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Gainesville. Students from in state pay about $33,757 in tuition and fees. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $38,250 in student loans. Secondary Education graduates of Brenau University earn a median of $47,002 early in their careers. Set against $38,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Piedmont College earned the #12 position for value in secondary education this year. Located in the town of Demorest, Piedmont College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $31,700 in tuition and fees. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $30,026 in student loans. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $48,916. That is a strong return on a $30,026 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Berry College landed the #13 spot for secondary education value this year. Set in the suburb of Mount Berry, Berry College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,486. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $25,750 in student loans. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $50,785. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Mercer University landed the #14 spot for secondary education value this year. Set in the city of Macon, Mercer University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,565. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $47,750. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $53,846. Set against $47,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Mercer University admits about 69% of applicants.
Covenant College placed #15 among the best values for secondary education. Set in the suburb of Lookout Mountain, Covenant College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $42,040 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $23,700. Secondary Education graduates of Covenant College earn a median of $37,404 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,700 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
More Secondary Education Rankings
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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 · 17 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.
