Secondary Education programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their secondary education programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 151 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for secondary education students pursuing a degree.
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Our analysis ranked James Madison University the best school in the country for a degree in secondary education. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. James Madison University graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 secondary education students who graduated with this degree at James Madison University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $52,997. Students borrow a median of $21,218 to complete this degree.
Get the full secondary education details for James Madison University
University Of Central Florida is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in secondary education, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. Roughly 78% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 96 secondary education degrees were awarded at University Of Central Florida in the most recent year. Graduates of the secondary education program make about $50,686 in their early career. University Of Central Florida graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans.
See the full secondary education program report for University Of Central Florida
Students looking for a strong secondary education program will find one at Florida Atlantic University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public university. Florida Atlantic University graduates 63% of students within six years. Florida Atlantic University awarded about 10 secondary education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their secondary education degree from Florida Atlantic University earn around $50,178 in the first couple years of their career. Florida Atlantic University graduates carry a median of $17,661 in student loans.
More information about a degree in secondary education from Florida Atlantic University
Florida Gulf Coast University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in secondary education, ranking #4. Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public school located in the suburb of Fort Myers. About 57% of students finish within six years. Florida Gulf Coast University awarded about 12 secondary education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their secondary education degree from Florida Gulf Coast University earn around $50,951 in the first couple years of their career. Florida Gulf Coast University graduates carry a median of $19,489 in student loans.
See the full secondary education program report for Florida Gulf Coast University
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in secondary education, landing the #5 spot this year. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public school located in the city of Baton Rouge. About 66% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 secondary education students who graduated with this degree at Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College in the most recent data year. Secondary Education graduates of Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earn a median of $48,142 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,250.
See the full secondary education program report for Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College
Vanderbilt University came in at #6 for secondary education this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Vanderbilt University awarded about 28 secondary education degrees in the most recent data year. Secondary Education graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $50,383 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,975.
More information about a degree in secondary education from Vanderbilt University
University Of North Florida came in at #7 for secondary education this year. Set in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. University Of North Florida awarded about 25 secondary education degrees in the most recent data year. Secondary Education graduates of University Of North Florida earn a median of $48,255 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,097.
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The University Of Tampa landed the #8 spot for secondary education this year. Set in the city of Tampa, The University Of Tampa is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. There were roughly 10 secondary education students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tampa in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from The University Of Tampa generally make around $50,477. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the secondary education program at The University Of Tampa
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University earned the #9 position for secondary education this year. Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University is a large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. About 53% of students finish within six years. Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University awarded about 10 secondary education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the secondary education program make about $50,736 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,824 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in secondary education from Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University
Auburn University landed the #10 spot for secondary education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Auburn. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 29 secondary education degrees were awarded at Auburn University in the most recent year. Students who receive their secondary education degree from Auburn University earn around $47,618 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in secondary education from Auburn University
University Of Arkansas came in at #11 for secondary education this year. Set in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 37 secondary education degrees were awarded at University Of Arkansas in the most recent year. Graduates of the secondary education program make about $49,641 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,141.
More information about a degree in secondary education from University Of Arkansas
The University Of Alabama ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best secondary education schools. The University Of Alabama is a very large public school located in the city of Tuscaloosa. About 73% of students finish within six years. About 61 secondary education degrees were awarded at The University Of Alabama in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from The University Of Alabama generally make around $47,876. The University Of Alabama graduates carry a median of $26,875 in student loans.
See the full secondary education program report for The University Of Alabama
Samford University earned the #13 position for secondary education this year. Set in the suburb of Birmingham, Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Samford University graduates 77% of students within six years. Samford University awarded about 14 secondary education degrees in the most recent data year. Secondary Education graduates of Samford University earn a median of $46,164 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,250.
More information about a degree in secondary education from Samford University
Clemson University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best secondary education schools. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. About 87% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 64 secondary education students who graduated with this degree at Clemson University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their secondary education degree from Clemson University earn around $41,080 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,783.
See the full secondary education program report for Clemson University
Wake Forest University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best secondary education schools. Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 15 secondary education degrees were awarded at Wake Forest University in the most recent year. Graduates of the secondary education program make about $67,369 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,577.
More information about a degree in secondary education from Wake Forest University
Shepherd University landed the #16 spot for secondary education this year. Located in the rural area of Shepherdstown, Shepherd University is a mid-sized public university. About 51% of students finish within six years. Shepherd University awarded about 22 secondary education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Shepherd University generally make around $46,549. Shepherd University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
See the full secondary education program report for Shepherd University
University Of Alabama At Huntsville ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best secondary education schools. University Of Alabama At Huntsville is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Huntsville. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 secondary education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Alabama At Huntsville in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from University Of Alabama At Huntsville generally make around $54,661. Typical student debt for the program is $24,797.
See the full secondary education program report for University Of Alabama At Huntsville
Tennessee Technological University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best secondary education schools. Tennessee Technological University is a large public school located in the town of Cookeville. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Tennessee Technological University awarded about 36 secondary education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the secondary education program make about $39,034 in their early career. Tennessee Technological University graduates carry a median of $14,566 in student loans.
More information about a degree in secondary education from Tennessee Technological University
University Of South Carolina Columbia came in at #19 for secondary education this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public university. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates 79% of students within six years. University Of South Carolina Columbia awarded about 29 secondary education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the secondary education program make about $43,172 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
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University Of Louisiana Lafayette earned the #20 position for secondary education this year. This large public university is located in the city of Lafayette. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 secondary education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Louisiana Lafayette in the most recent data year. Students who receive their secondary education degree from University Of Louisiana Lafayette earn around $44,154 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,502.
See the full secondary education program report for University Of Louisiana Lafayette
University Of West Georgia ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best secondary education schools. This large public university is located in the town of Carrollton. University Of West Georgia graduates 44% of students within six years. University Of West Georgia awarded about 56 secondary education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their secondary education degree from University Of West Georgia earn around $50,204 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,217.
More information about a degree in secondary education from University Of West Georgia
Georgia College And State University landed the #22 spot for secondary education this year. Located in the town of Milledgeville, Georgia College And State University is a moderately-sized public university. About 64% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 60 secondary education students who graduated with this degree at Georgia College And State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Georgia College And State University generally make around $50,511. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in secondary education from Georgia College And State University
Mississippi State University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best secondary education schools. Mississippi State University is a very large public school located in the town of Mississippi State. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 98 secondary education students who graduated with this degree at Mississippi State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Mississippi State University generally make around $40,198. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
More information about a degree in secondary education from Mississippi State University
Kennesaw State University landed the #24 spot for secondary education this year. Kennesaw State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kennesaw. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 121 secondary education students who graduated with this degree at Kennesaw State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Kennesaw State University generally make around $63,630. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full secondary education program report for Kennesaw State University
University Of North Alabama placed #25 among the best secondary education schools. Set in the city of Florence, University Of North Alabama is a large public institution. About 55% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 72 secondary education students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Alabama in the most recent data year. Graduates of the secondary education program make about $47,767 in their early career. University Of North Alabama graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
Read more about the secondary education program at University Of North Alabama
Rest of the Top 50 Secondary Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s secondary education ranking:
This list is compiled 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 · 151 schools evaluated.
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).