2026 Best Value Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[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/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 75 schools to find the best return on investment for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor Schools in the Great Lakes Region
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 Harper College, our #1 best value for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,894, while out-of-state students pay about $11,874. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $10,963 in student loans. Soon after graduation, teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degree recipients from Harper College generally make around $44,523. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor will find it at College Of Lake County, which ranked #2. College Of Lake County is a very large public school located in the suburb of Grayslake. In-state tuition and fees average $4,788, with out-of-state students paying around $14,400. Students borrow a median of $9,785 to complete the teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program here. Soon after graduation, teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degree recipients from College Of Lake County generally make around $50,314. Set against $9,785 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Northeastern Illinois University one of the best values for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor. Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,383, with out-of-state students paying around $22,726. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $17,600. Early-career teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates make about $49,254. That is a strong return on a $17,600 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Students looking for strong value in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor will find it at Indiana State University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,258, while out-of-state students pay about $22,322. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $25,582 in student loans. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of Indiana State University earn a median of $53,952 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Dominican University earned it the #5 place for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor. Located in the suburb of River Forest, Dominican University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $38,828 in tuition and fees. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $26,236 in student loans. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of Dominican University earn a median of $45,546 early in their careers. Set against $26,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Dominican University admits about 90% of applicants.
Goshen College came in at #6 for value in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor this year. Set in the city of Goshen, Goshen College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $38,890 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program here. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of Goshen College earn a median of $71,791 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Goshen College admits about 84% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #7 for value in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,813 median debt. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Western Michigan University placed #8 among the best values for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,987, compared with $19,952 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $27,981. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $59,481 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Kent State University At Kent earned the #9 position for value in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor this year. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,220, while out-of-state students pay about $21,575. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $27,423 in student loans. Soon after graduation, teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $22,149. That is a strong return on a $27,423 median debt. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
Ohio Dominican University landed the #10 spot for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor value this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio Dominican University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $35,720. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $28,166 in student loans. Soon after graduation, teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degree recipients from Ohio Dominican University generally make around $59,666. That is a strong return on a $28,166 median debt. Ohio Dominican University admits about 94% of applicants.
Olivet Nazarene University placed #11 among the best values for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor. Set in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $38,900 in tuition and fees. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $26,797 in student loans. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of Olivet Nazarene University earn a median of $59,061 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 56%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor schools. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,363 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $23,530 in student loans. Soon after graduation, teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $58,659. Set against $23,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Wheaton College Illinois landed the #13 spot for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor value this year. Set in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $45,546. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $23,292 in student loans. Early-career teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates make about $43,654. That is a strong return on a $23,292 median debt. Wheaton College Illinois admits about 87% of applicants.
Narrow Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor Schools by State
More Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor Rankings
View All Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 75 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.
