2026 Best Value Teacher Assistant/Aide Schools in the Far Western Region
[Teacher Assistant/Aide](/majors/education/teaching-assistants-aides/teacher-assistant-aide/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 49 schools to find the best return on investment for teacher assistant/aide students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Teacher Assistant/Aide Schools in the Far Western Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the teacher assistant/aide degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Teacher Assistant/Aide Schools
Our analysis ranked Fresno City College the best value for a degree in teacher assistant/aide in the Far Western Region. Fresno City College is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,378, compared with $8,638 for out-of-state students. Teacher Assistant/aide graduates carry a median of $7,234 in student loans. Soon after graduation, teacher assistant/aide degree recipients from Fresno City College generally make around $37,470. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mt San Antonio College earned it the #2 place for teacher assistant/aide. Located in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Typical student debt for teacher assistant/aide graduates is $9,384. Teacher Assistant/aide graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $44,391 early in their careers. Set against $9,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in teacher assistant/aide will find it at Ventura College, which ranked #3. Ventura College is a large public school located in the city of Ventura. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Teacher Assistant/aide graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, teacher assistant/aide degree recipients from Ventura College generally make around $99,778. That is a strong return on a $20,250 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Santa Ana College one of the best values for teacher assistant/aide. Set in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $10,756. Teacher Assistant/aide graduates carry a median of $11,196 in student loans. Soon after graduation, teacher assistant/aide degree recipients from Santa Ana College generally make around $39,633. Set against $11,196 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in teacher assistant/aide will find it at Long Beach City College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Long Beach, Long Beach City College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,556, with out-of-state students paying around $12,544. Teacher Assistant/aide graduates carry a median of $6,000 in student loans. Median earnings reach $38,870 ten years out. Set against $6,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chaffey College earned the #6 position for value in teacher assistant/aide this year. Located in the suburb of Rancho Cucamonga, Chaffey College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,184, while out-of-state students pay about $11,120. Teacher Assistant/aide graduates carry a median of $6,952 in student loans. Teacher Assistant/aide graduates of Chaffey College earn a median of $23,532 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Leeward Community College landed the #7 spot for teacher assistant/aide value this year. Set in the suburb of Pearl City, Leeward Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,214 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,350. Teacher Assistant/aide graduates carry a median of $10,776 in student loans. Teacher Assistant/aide graduates of Leeward Community College earn a median of $21,784 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 49 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
