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 Mary Baldwin College, our #1 best value for teacher education in Virginia. Set in the city of Staunton, Mary Baldwin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $21,187 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for teacher education graduates is $29,562. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $49,965. That is a strong return on a $29,562 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Emory And Henry College one of the best values for teacher education. Emory And Henry College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Emory. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,000. Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $26,938 in student loans. Teacher Education graduates of Emory And Henry College earn a median of $47,255 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,938 median debt. Emory And Henry College admits about 84% of applicants.
Longwood University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in teacher education, landing the #3 spot this year. Longwood University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Farmville. In-state tuition and fees average $15,740, while out-of-state students pay about $27,980. Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $25,649 in student loans. Soon after graduation, teacher education degree recipients from Longwood University generally make around $43,800. Set against $25,649 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Longwood University admits about 90% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in teacher education will find it at Shenandoah University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Winchester, Shenandoah University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $36,950. Students borrow a median of $26,005 to complete the teacher education program here. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $62,948. Set against $26,005 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Shenandoah University admits about 77% of applicants.
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The ranking above is published 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.