by our College Data Analytics Team
[Teacher Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/teacher-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for teacher education students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in teacher education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Heritage University, our #1 best value for teacher education in Washington. Heritage University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Toppenish. In-state tuition and fees average $20,928. Students borrow a median of $20,049 to complete the teacher education program here. Teacher Education graduates of Heritage University earn a median of $51,116 early in their careers. Set against $20,049 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Washington Seattle Campus one of the best values for teacher education. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Typical student debt for teacher education graduates is $17,342. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $65,681. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Students looking for strong value in teacher education will find it at Washington State University, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Pullman, Washington State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,391, compared with $29,950 for out-of-state students. Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $22,960 in student loans. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $54,794. Set against $22,960 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
The Evergreen State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in teacher education, landing the #4 spot this year. The Evergreen State College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Olympia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,264, while out-of-state students pay about $31,905. Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $21,850 in student loans. Soon after graduation, teacher education degree recipients from The Evergreen State College generally make around $26,942. That is a strong return on a $21,850 median debt. The Evergreen State College admits about 96% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Saint Martins University earned it the #5 place for teacher education. Saint Martins University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lacey. Students from in state pay about $45,510 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,818 to complete the teacher education program here. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $60,864. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Martins University admits about 90% of applicants.
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Seattle University landed the #6 spot for teacher education value this year. Seattle University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Seattle. Students from in state pay about $56,721 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,289 to complete the teacher education program here. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $72,295. That is a strong return on a $22,289 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
This ranking is produced 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.