2026 Best Value Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor Schools in the The Plains States 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/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. 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.
College Factual analyzed 46 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 The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor Schools
University Of Nebraska At Omaha tops our 2026 list of the best value teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor schools in the The Plains States Region. Set in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,718 in tuition and fees, compared with $23,206 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $21,783. Soon after graduation, teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degree recipients from University Of Nebraska At Omaha generally make around $48,906. That is a strong return on a $21,783 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of Northern Iowa 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. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. Students from in state pay about $9,936 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,712. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $26,250 in student loans. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $41,267 early in their careers. Set against $26,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities 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. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Early-career teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates make about $23,288. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
Saint Cloud State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,245 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $25,076. Early-career teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates make about $62,332. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor will find it at Southeast Missouri State University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,903. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $23,289 in student loans. Early-career teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates make about $43,255. Set against $23,289 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southeast Missouri State University admits about 74% of applicants.
Missouri State University Springfield landed the #6 spot for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor value this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,502, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,408 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 Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $45,593. Set against $24,408 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Buena Vista University earned the #7 position for value in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor this year. Set in the town of Storm Lake, Buena Vista University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $41,798. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $29,317. Soon after graduation, teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degree recipients from Buena Vista University generally make around $44,780. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Hamline University placed #8 among the best values for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor. Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $50,004. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates carry a median of $25,530 in student loans. Soon after graduation, teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degree recipients from Hamline University generally make around $62,210. Set against $25,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Concordia University Seward landed the #9 spot for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor value this year. Concordia University Seward is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Seward. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,640. Students borrow a median of $26,726 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 $56,930. That is a strong return on a $26,726 median debt. Concordia University Seward admits about 86% of applicants.
Midland University earned the #10 position for value in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor this year. Located in the town of Fremont, Midland University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $42,050 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates is $27,536. Early-career teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates make about $51,524. Set against $27,536 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% 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 · 46 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
