2026 Best Value Teacher Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Teacher Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/teacher-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 41 schools to find the best return on investment for teacher education students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Teacher Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in teacher education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Teacher Education Schools
Leading the list is Sinclair Community College, our #1 best value for teacher education in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,675, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. Students borrow a median of $12,129 to complete the teacher education program here. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $24,950. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Alpena Community College earned it the #2 place for teacher education. Located in the town of Alpena, Alpena Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,840, compared with $8,220 for out-of-state students. Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $10,000 in student loans. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $45,132. That is a strong return on a $10,000 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in teacher education will find it at Saint Xavier University, which ranked #3. Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,945. Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $29,854 in student loans. Teacher Education graduates of Saint Xavier University earn a median of $51,753 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,854 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
A rank of #4 makes Owens Community College one of the best values for teacher education. Located in the suburb of Perrysburg, Owens Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,870 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,502. Students borrow a median of $15,250 to complete the teacher education program here. Soon after graduation, teacher education degree recipients from Owens Community College generally make around $22,645. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in teacher education will find it at University Of Michigan Dearborn, which ranked #5. University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Dearborn. Students from in state pay about $15,640 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,896. Students borrow a median of $26,516 to complete the teacher education program here. Teacher Education graduates of University Of Michigan Dearborn earn a median of $62,536 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Lake Superior State University came in at #6 for value in teacher education this year. Located in the town of Sault Ste Marie, Lake Superior State University is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $14,890 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for teacher education graduates is $22,429. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $47,910. That is a strong return on a $22,429 median debt.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #7 for value in teacher education this year. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,092. Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $26,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, teacher education degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville generally make around $38,830. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville admits about 98% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale placed #8 among the best values for teacher education. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,334. Typical student debt for teacher education graduates is $21,944. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $39,496. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southern Illinois University Carbondale admits about 87% of applicants.
Purdue University Global ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value teacher education schools. Purdue University Global is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,101, with out-of-state students paying around $14,412. Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $57,500 in student loans. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $32,164. That is a strong return on a $57,500 median debt.
Saginaw Valley State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value teacher education schools. Located in the suburb of University Center, Saginaw Valley State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,930 in tuition and fees, compared with $30,450 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the teacher education program here. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $48,149. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Wright State University Main Campus landed the #11 spot for teacher education value this year. Set in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,991, with out-of-state students paying around $20,691. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the teacher education program here. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $49,077. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Toledo landed the #12 spot for teacher education value this year. University Of Toledo is a large public school located in the city of Toledo. Students from in state pay about $12,157 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,517. Students borrow a median of $24,100 to complete the teacher education program here. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $39,947. That is a strong return on a $24,100 median debt. University Of Toledo admits about 92% of applicants.
Elmhurst College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value teacher education schools. Located in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,955. Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $24,064 in student loans. Teacher Education graduates of Elmhurst College earn a median of $48,105 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus landed the #14 spot for teacher education value this year. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. Students from in state pay about $13,912 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $19,545 in student loans. Soon after graduation, teacher education degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $40,271. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Western Michigan University landed the #15 spot for teacher education value this year. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,987 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,952 for out-of-state students. Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $45,346. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Wisconsin Lutheran College earned the #16 position for value in teacher education this year. Wisconsin Lutheran College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. In-state tuition and fees average $36,110. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the teacher education program here. Teacher Education graduates of Wisconsin Lutheran College earn a median of $54,908 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Lakeland College landed the #17 spot for teacher education value this year. Lakeland College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Plymouth. Students from in state pay about $33,396 in tuition and fees. Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $29,722 in student loans. Soon after graduation, teacher education degree recipients from Lakeland College generally make around $52,412. Set against $29,722 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lakeland College admits about 86% of applicants.
Marian University Indiana earned the #18 position for value in teacher education this year. Marian University Indiana is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,664. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the teacher education program here. Soon after graduation, teacher education degree recipients from Marian University Indiana generally make around $46,587. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Carroll University placed #19 among the best values for teacher education. Located in the city of Waukesha, Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $38,890. Typical student debt for teacher education graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, teacher education degree recipients from Carroll University generally make around $52,404. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Carroll University admits about 67% of applicants.
Calvin College earned the #20 position for value in teacher education this year. Set in the city of Grand Rapids, Calvin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $39,350 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for teacher education graduates is $19,500. Teacher Education graduates of Calvin College earn a median of $45,751 early in their careers. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Edgewood College earned the #21 position for value in teacher education this year. Edgewood College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Madison. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,860. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the teacher education program here. Soon after graduation, teacher education degree recipients from Edgewood College generally make around $56,578. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Norbert College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value teacher education schools. Saint Norbert College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of De Pere. Students from in state pay about $45,580 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the teacher education program here. Teacher Education graduates of Saint Norbert College earn a median of $48,421 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Ohio Northern University earned the #23 position for value in teacher education this year. Located in the town of Ada, Ohio Northern University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,600. Typical student debt for teacher education graduates is $26,661. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $56,878. That is a strong return on a $26,661 median debt. Ohio Northern University admits about 74% of applicants.
Concordia University Wisconsin placed #24 among the best values for teacher education. Located in the suburb of Mequon, Concordia University Wisconsin is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $35,470. Typical student debt for teacher education graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, teacher education degree recipients from Concordia University Wisconsin generally make around $58,227. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Notre Dame came in at #25 for value in teacher education this year. University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Notre Dame. Students from in state pay about $65,025 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $19,891 to complete the teacher education program here. Teacher Education graduates of University Of Notre Dame earn a median of $49,822 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Rest of the Top 29 Best Value Teacher Education Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for teacher education this year:
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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 · 41 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.
