2026 Best Value Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor Schools in the Southeast 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/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 91 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 the Southeast 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
For return on investment in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor, no school beat Florida Atlantic University this year. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,879 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $20,212. Early-career teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates make about $49,340. Set against $20,212 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida Atlantic University admits about 66% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor will find it at University Of Central Florida, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,368, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Students borrow a median of $21,620 to complete the teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program here. Early-career teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates make about $51,790. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 40%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Mississippi Main Campus earned it the #3 place for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor. Set in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,772, compared with $28,600 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,444 to complete the teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program here. Early-career teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates make about $50,876. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Old Dominion University earned it the #4 place for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor. Located in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,750 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,780 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $26,001. Early-career teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates make about $57,131. Set against $26,001 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Trevecca Nazarene University earned it the #5 place for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor. Trevecca Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Students from in state pay about $31,300 in tuition and fees. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $24,962 in student loans. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of Trevecca Nazarene University earn a median of $51,073 early in their careers. Set against $24,962 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Trevecca Nazarene University admits about 69% of applicants.
Georgia State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor schools. Georgia State University is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,664, with out-of-state students paying around $24,840. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $26,091. Early-career teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates make about $51,103. Set against $26,091 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
University Of Arkansas ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor schools. University Of Arkansas is a very large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,104, compared with $29,966 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $24,019. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of University Of Arkansas earn a median of $52,555 early in their careers. Set against $24,019 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Henderson State University placed #8 among the best values for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor. Henderson State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Arkadelphia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,244, while out-of-state students pay about $10,620. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $23,234 in student loans. Soon after graduation, teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degree recipients from Henderson State University generally make around $40,131. Set against $23,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor schools. Located in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,098, with out-of-state students paying around $22,562. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $26,162 in student loans. Early-career teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates make about $52,702. Set against $26,162 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Vanderbilt 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 Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,498. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $13,975. Soon after graduation, teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
Greensboro College landed the #11 spot for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor value this year. Set in the city of Greensboro, Greensboro College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $21,000 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $33,915. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of Greensboro College earn a median of $38,134 early in their careers. Set against $33,915 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Regent University earned the #12 position for value in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor this year. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,650. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $29,451. Soon after graduation, teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degree recipients from Regent University generally make around $48,250. That is a strong return on a $29,451 median debt. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Asbury University landed the #13 spot for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor value this year. Set in the town of Wilmore, Asbury University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $33,640. Students borrow a median of $28,104 to complete the teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program here. Early-career teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates make about $50,086. That is a strong return on a $28,104 median debt. The acceptance rate is 63%.
The University Of Alabama ranked #14 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 Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,180 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,172. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $24,496. Early-career teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates make about $50,740. Set against $24,496 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Lipscomb University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor schools. Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,572. Students borrow a median of $23,529 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 Lipscomb University earn a median of $48,949 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Liberty University placed #16 among the best values for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,173. Students borrow a median of $27,000 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 Liberty University generally make around $34,876. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Nova Southeastern University came in at #17 for value in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor this year. Located in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale, Nova Southeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,700. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $25,021 in student loans. Soon after graduation, teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degree recipients from Nova Southeastern University generally make around $70,595. Set against $25,021 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 91 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
