2026 Best Value Secondary Education Schools in Missouri
[Secondary Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/secondary-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 22 schools to find the best return on investment for secondary education students.
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2026 Best Value Secondary Education Schools in Missouri
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 University Of Missouri St Louis, our #1 best value for secondary education in Missouri. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,120 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,620 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,375 to complete the secondary education program here. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from University Of Missouri St Louis generally make around $42,019. That is a strong return on a $23,375 median debt. University Of Missouri St Louis admits about 63% of applicants.
Missouri Southern State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in secondary education, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Joplin, Missouri Southern State University is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,600, while out-of-state students pay about $18,300. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $21,850. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $36,345. Set against $21,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Missouri Kansas City one of the best values for secondary education. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. In-state tuition and fees average $13,371, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $39,942. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Missouri Kansas City admits about 72% of applicants.
Southeast Missouri State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in secondary education, landing the #4 spot this year. Southeast Missouri State University is a large public school located in the city of Cape Girardeau. Students from in state pay about $9,903 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,995 to complete the secondary education program here. Secondary Education graduates of Southeast Missouri State University earn a median of $37,061 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southeast Missouri State University admits about 74% of applicants.
Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value secondary education schools. Located in the city of Springfield, Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,054. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $26,262 in student loans. Secondary Education graduates of Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies earn a median of $33,880 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,262 median debt.
Northwest Missouri State University landed the #6 spot for secondary education value this year. Set in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,611 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $26,000. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $42,939. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Missouri earned the #7 position for value in secondary education this year. University Of Central Missouri is a large public school located in the town of Warrensburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,050, with out-of-state students paying around $18,600. Students borrow a median of $24,199 to complete the secondary education program here. Secondary Education graduates of University Of Central Missouri earn a median of $38,947 early in their careers. Set against $24,199 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Central Missouri admits about 64% of applicants.
Park University came in at #8 for value in secondary education this year. Set in the suburb of Parkville, Park University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,116. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $25,732 in student loans. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Park University generally make around $36,667. Set against $25,732 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Missouri State University Springfield landed the #9 spot for secondary education value this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $26,500. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $37,907. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Columbia placed #10 among the best values for secondary education. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,837, while out-of-state students pay about $36,056. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $20,867. Secondary Education graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $37,302 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,867 median debt. University Of Missouri Columbia admits about 78% of applicants.
Hannibal Lagrange College earned the #11 position for value in secondary education this year. Set in the town of Hannibal, Hannibal Lagrange College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,880. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Secondary Education graduates of Hannibal Lagrange College earn a median of $32,927 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,250 median debt. Hannibal Lagrange College admits about 73% of applicants.
Drury University placed #12 among the best values for secondary education. Located in the city of Springfield, Drury University is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,745. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $26,262. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $31,726. That is a strong return on a $26,262 median debt. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri Baptist University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value secondary education schools. Missouri Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $33,122. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $27,000. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $38,068. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value secondary education schools. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,166. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Maryville University Of Saint Louis generally make around $67,909. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Westminster College Missouri landed the #15 spot for secondary education value this year. Set in the town of Fulton, Westminster College Missouri is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,214. Students borrow a median of $25,335 to complete the secondary education program here. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $37,667. Set against $25,335 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Westminster College Missouri admits about 79% of applicants.
More Secondary Education Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 22 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.
