2026 Best Value Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor Schools in California

[Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor](/majors/education/teaching-french-foreign-language/english-as-a-second-or-foreign-language-esl-language-instructor/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 22 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor schools.
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2026 Best Value Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor Schools in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor Schools
Leading the list is California State University Los Angeles, our #1 best value for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor in California. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,164, while out-of-state students pay about $19,764. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $14,430 in student loans. Early-career teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates make about $48,403. Set against $14,430 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
California State University San Bernardino is a great value for students pursuing a degree in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,088, with out-of-state students paying around $20,688. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $15,149 in student loans. Early-career teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates make about $42,421. That is a strong return on a $15,149 median debt. California State University San Bernardino admits about 94% of applicants.
Azusa Pacific University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor, landing the #3 spot this year. Azusa Pacific University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Azusa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,458. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $23,709. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of Azusa Pacific University earn a median of $44,473 early in their careers. Set against $23,709 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Azusa Pacific University admits about 88% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor will find it at Biola University, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of La Mirada, Biola University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,984. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $25,308. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of Biola University earn a median of $45,003 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,308 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Students looking for strong value in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor will find it at University Of Southern California, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $71,647. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans. Early-career teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates make about $22,489. Set against $15,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 10% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.