2026 Best Value Teacher Assistant/Aide Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Teacher Assistant/Aide](/majors/education/teaching-assistants-aides/teacher-assistant-aide/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong teacher assistant/aide education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 36 schools to find the best return on investment for teacher assistant/aide students.
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2026 Best Value Teacher Assistant/Aide Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in teacher assistant/aide, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Teacher Assistant/Aide Schools
Henry Ford Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value teacher assistant/aide schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Dearborn, Henry Ford Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,568 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,816 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for teacher assistant/aide graduates is $18,876. Soon after graduation, teacher assistant/aide degree recipients from Henry Ford Community College generally make around $36,247. Set against $18,876 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ivy Tech Community College earned it the #2 place for teacher assistant/aide. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,154 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,889 to complete the teacher assistant/aide program here. Soon after graduation, teacher assistant/aide degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $40,734. That is a strong return on a $11,889 median debt.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value teacher assistant/aide schools. Located in the town of Rice Lake, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,926, with out-of-state students paying around $7,169. Students borrow a median of $11,384 to complete the teacher assistant/aide program here. Early-career teacher assistant/aide graduates make about $35,981. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in teacher assistant/aide will find it at Gateway Technical College, which ranked #4. Gateway Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Kenosha. In-state tuition and fees average $4,956, with out-of-state students paying around $7,199. Students borrow a median of $14,829 to complete the teacher assistant/aide program here. Teacher Assistant/aide graduates of Gateway Technical College earn a median of $42,410 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,829 median debt.
Waukesha County Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in teacher assistant/aide, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,803, compared with $7,046 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,595 to complete the teacher assistant/aide program here. Early-career teacher assistant/aide graduates make about $46,398. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College placed #6 among the best values for teacher assistant/aide. Set in the city of Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,960, while out-of-state students pay about $7,203. Students borrow a median of $14,997 to complete the teacher assistant/aide program here. Teacher Assistant/aide graduates of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College earn a median of $42,016 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,997 median debt.
Fox Valley Technical College earned the #7 position for value in teacher assistant/aide this year. Located in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $7,283. Typical student debt for teacher assistant/aide graduates is $13,319. Soon after graduation, teacher assistant/aide degree recipients from Fox Valley Technical College generally make around $44,020. That is a strong return on a $13,319 median debt.
Northcentral Technical College came in at #8 for value in teacher assistant/aide this year. Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Wausau. In-state tuition and fees average $4,889, compared with $7,132 for out-of-state students. Teacher Assistant/aide graduates carry a median of $11,709 in student loans. Early-career teacher assistant/aide graduates make about $41,696. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Technical College La Cross came in at #9 for value in teacher assistant/aide this year. Set in the city of La Crosse, Western Technical College La Cross is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,820 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,078 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,669 to complete the teacher assistant/aide program here. Teacher Assistant/aide graduates of Western Technical College La Cross earn a median of $43,479 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,669 median debt.
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Notes and References
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 · 36 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
