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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Secondary Education Associate’s Degree Schools

25 Colleges in the United States
975 Secondary Education Degrees Awarded
$34,517 Avg Early-Career Salary

Secondary Education is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 693 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for secondary education students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Secondary Education in the United States

These are the top schools for a associate’s degree in secondary education, based on student outcomes and program quality.

Top Schools in Secondary Education

1

Leading the list is Collin County Community College District, our #1 school for secondary education. Set in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public institution. Collin County Community College District awarded about 46 secondary education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their secondary education degree from Collin County Community College District earn around $42,177 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,125 to complete this degree. Read more about the secondary education program at Collin County Community College District

2

Tarrant County College District is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in secondary education, landing the #2 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Fort Worth. Tarrant County College District awarded about 26 secondary education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their secondary education degree from Tarrant County College District earn around $24,507 in the first couple years of their career. Tarrant County College District graduates carry a median of $9,750 in student loans. Read more about the secondary education program at Tarrant County College District

3

Austin Community College District came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best secondary education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. About 15 secondary education degrees were awarded at Austin Community College District in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Austin Community College District generally make around $46,430. Typical student debt for the program is $17,785. More information about a degree in secondary education from Austin Community College District

4

A rank of #4 makes University Of Cincinnati Main Campus one of the top schools for secondary education. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 55 secondary education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $29,867. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans. See the full secondary education program report for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus

5

San Jacinto Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in secondary education, ranking #5. San Jacinto Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. About 72 secondary education degrees were awarded at San Jacinto Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from San Jacinto Community College generally make around $19,581. San Jacinto Community College graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Read more about the secondary education program at San Jacinto Community College

6

Central New Mexico Community College came in at #6 for secondary education this year. Set in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public institution. Central New Mexico Community College awarded about 35 secondary education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their secondary education degree from Central New Mexico Community College earn around $29,708 in the first couple years of their career. Central New Mexico Community College graduates carry a median of $9,625 in student loans. More information about a degree in secondary education from Central New Mexico Community College

7

Chandler Gilbert Community College came in at #7 for secondary education this year. Located in the city of Chandler, Chandler Gilbert Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 15 secondary education students who graduated with this degree at Chandler Gilbert Community College in the most recent data year. Secondary Education graduates of Chandler Gilbert Community College earn a median of $46,943 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,447. Read more about the secondary education program at Chandler Gilbert Community College

8

Glendale Community College Glendale Az came in at #8 for secondary education this year. Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glendale. Glendale Community College Glendale Az awarded about 13 secondary education degrees in the most recent data year. Secondary Education graduates of Glendale Community College Glendale Az earn a median of $51,483 early in their careers. Glendale Community College Glendale Az graduates carry a median of $15,996 in student loans. Read more about the secondary education program at Glendale Community College Glendale Az

9

Pennsylvania Western University landed the #9 spot for secondary education this year. Set in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. There were roughly 92 secondary education students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania Western University in the most recent data year. Get the full secondary education details for Pennsylvania Western University

10

Western New Mexico University came in at #10 for secondary education this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Silver City. The six-year graduation rate is 26%. Western New Mexico University awarded about 38 secondary education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their secondary education degree from Western New Mexico University earn around $48,366 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,425. Get the full secondary education details for Western New Mexico University

11
El Centro College crest
El Centro College
Dallas, TX

El Centro College came in at #11 for secondary education this year. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. El Centro College awarded about 29 secondary education degrees in the most recent data year. Secondary Education graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $25,385 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,500 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in secondary education from El Centro College

12

College Of Southern Nevada came in at #12 for secondary education this year. Set in the city of Las Vegas, College Of Southern Nevada is a very large public institution. About 49 secondary education degrees were awarded at College Of Southern Nevada in the most recent year. Graduates of the secondary education program make about $19,662 in their early career. College Of Southern Nevada graduates carry a median of $11,069 in student loans. See the full secondary education program report for College Of Southern Nevada

13
Grayson College crest
Grayson College
Denison, TX

Grayson College came in at #13 for secondary education this year. Set in the rural area of Denison, Grayson College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 10 secondary education degrees were awarded at Grayson College in the most recent year. Secondary Education graduates of Grayson College earn a median of $42,487 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,627. Get the full secondary education details for Grayson College

14

Mesa Community College earned the #14 position for secondary education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Mesa. About 14 secondary education degrees were awarded at Mesa Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Mesa Community College generally make around $54,730. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete this degree. Get the full secondary education details for Mesa Community College

15

Holmes Community College landed the #15 spot for secondary education this year. Set in the rural area of Goodman, Holmes Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 17 secondary education students who graduated with this degree at Holmes Community College in the most recent data year. Secondary Education graduates of Holmes Community College earn a median of $18,553 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $6,200. See the full secondary education program report for Holmes Community College

16

Indian Hills Community College placed #16 among the best secondary education schools. Located in the town of Ottumwa, Indian Hills Community College is a mid-sized public university. About 10 secondary education degrees were awarded at Indian Hills Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the secondary education program make about $49,626 in their early career. Indian Hills Community College graduates carry a median of $15,390 in student loans. See the full secondary education program report for Indian Hills Community College

17

Pima Community College landed the #17 spot for secondary education this year. Located in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public university. About 30 secondary education degrees were awarded at Pima Community College in the most recent year. Secondary Education graduates of Pima Community College earn a median of $27,679 early in their careers. Pima Community College graduates carry a median of $18,417 in student loans. More information about a degree in secondary education from Pima Community College

18

Northampton County Area Community College landed the #18 spot for secondary education this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Bethlehem. There were roughly 12 secondary education students who graduated with this degree at Northampton County Area Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Northampton County Area Community College generally make around $26,956. Students borrow a median of $13,796 to complete this degree. Get the full secondary education details for Northampton County Area Community College

19

The University Of Texas At Brownsville ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best secondary education schools. This large public university is located in the city of Brownsville. The University Of Texas At Brownsville awarded about 14 secondary education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the secondary education program make about $10,576 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,750. More information about a degree in secondary education from The University Of Texas At Brownsville

20

South Texas College landed the #20 spot for secondary education this year. Set in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public institution. Roughly 20% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 76 secondary education degrees were awarded at South Texas College in the most recent year. Students who receive their secondary education degree from South Texas College earn around $16,902 in the first couple years of their career. South Texas College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Read more about the secondary education program at South Texas College

21

Laramie County Community College earned the #21 position for secondary education this year. Located in the rural area of Cheyenne, Laramie County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 14 secondary education degrees were awarded at Laramie County Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their secondary education degree from Laramie County Community College earn around $51,302 in the first couple years of their career. Laramie County Community College graduates carry a median of $15,309 in student loans. See the full secondary education program report for Laramie County Community College

22

Butler Community College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best secondary education schools. Butler Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of El Dorado. About 15 secondary education degrees were awarded at Butler Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Butler Community College generally make around $39,404. Butler Community College graduates carry a median of $16,670 in student loans. More information about a degree in secondary education from Butler Community College

23
Blinn College crest
Blinn College
Brenham, TX

Blinn College placed #23 among the best secondary education schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Brenham. There were roughly 25 secondary education students who graduated with this degree at Blinn College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Blinn College generally make around $43,408. Students borrow a median of $19,875 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in secondary education from Blinn College

24

Montgomery County Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best secondary education schools. Located in the suburb of Blue Bell, Montgomery County Community College is a large public university. Montgomery County Community College awarded about 15 secondary education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Montgomery County Community College generally make around $20,885. Typical student debt for the program is $14,250. Read more about the secondary education program at Montgomery County Community College

25

College Of Western Idaho placed #25 among the best secondary education schools. Set in the rural area of Nampa, College Of Western Idaho is a very large public institution. About 11 secondary education degrees were awarded at College Of Western Idaho in the most recent year. Students who receive their secondary education degree from College Of Western Idaho earn around $40,963 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,626 to complete this degree. Read more about the secondary education program at College Of Western Idaho

Rest of the Top 32 Secondary Education Schools

Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong secondary education education:

26
Panola College crest
Panola College
Carthage, TX
27
28
29
30
Howard College crest
Howard College
Big Spring, TX
31
32
Liberty University crest
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA

Other Secondary Education Degree Levels

Looking for a different degree level? Compare Secondary Education rankings across degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Secondary Education
Bachelor's Degrees in Secondary Education
Master's Degrees in Secondary Education
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View All 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 a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 693 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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