2026 Best Value Teacher Education And Development Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Teacher Education And Development associate’s degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 1272 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Teaching Degree Search evaluated schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Teacher Education And Development Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Itawamba Community College earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. Located in Fulton, MS, Itawamba Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,420, compared with $5,820 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $10,942 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $32,912. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full Itawamba Community College report
Out of the 1272 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Spokane Falls Community College landed the #2 spot. This public school is set in Spokane, WA. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,461, while out-of-state students pay about $6,612. The median Teacher Education And Development program debt is $17,031. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $38,955. Set against $17,031 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Spokane Falls Community College
Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff came in at #3 on this year's best-value Teacher Education And Development ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Poplar Bluff, MO. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,830, with out-of-state students paying around $6,060. Graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $32,442. That is a strong return on a $9,000 median debt. See the full Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff profile
Northeast Community College came in at #4 on this year's best-value Teacher Education And Development ranking in the United States. Located in Norfolk, NE, Northeast Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,840, while out-of-state students pay about $5,130. The median Teacher Education And Development program debt is $11,937. Median earnings reach $42,634 ten years out. Set against $11,937 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full Northeast Community College profile
Essex County College came in at #5 on this year's best-value Teacher Education And Development ranking in the United States. Located in Newark, NJ, Essex County College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,415, with out-of-state students paying around $9,523. The median Teacher Education And Development program debt is $12,472. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $37,230. Set against $12,472 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about Essex County College
Sinclair Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Located in Dayton, OH, Sinclair Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,675 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,556 for out-of-state students. The median Teacher Education And Development program debt is $12,525. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,558 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $12,525 median debt. Get the full Sinclair Community College report
Carl Albert State College landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Poteau, OK, Carl Albert State College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,230 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,708. The median Teacher Education And Development program debt is $10,583. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $34,117. That is a strong return on a $10,583 median debt. Read the full report on Carl Albert State College
Gloucester County College landed the #9 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Sewell, NJ, Gloucester County College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,160, compared with $6,000 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,236 to complete their Teacher Education And Development program here. Gloucester County College alumni report median earnings of $41,751 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $13,236 median debt. Read more about Gloucester County College
Clark College offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. Based in Vancouver, WA, Clark College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,233, with out-of-state students paying around $11,183. The median Teacher Education And Development program debt is $15,432. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,356 ten years after entry. Set against $15,432 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about Clark College
Bucks County Community College came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. Located in Newtown, PA, Bucks County Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,646, with out-of-state students paying around $13,926. The median Teacher Education And Development program debt is $13,068. Median earnings reach $47,324 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on Bucks County Community College
Delaware Technical Community College Terry came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Dover, DE. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,332, compared with $5,763 for out-of-state students. Typical Teacher Education And Development student debt is $11,154. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $41,448. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on Delaware Technical Community College Terry
Butler Community College placed #15 among the best-value Teacher Education And Development schools in the United States. Butler Community College is a public school based in El Dorado, KS. In-state tuition and fees average $3,541, with out-of-state students paying around $6,271. Students borrow a median of $16,670 to complete their Teacher Education And Development program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $41,206. That is a strong return on a $16,670 median debt. Read the full report on Butler Community College
Montgomery College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teacher Education And Development schools. This public school is set in Rockville, MD. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,394, with out-of-state students paying around $14,250. Students borrow a median of $11,230 to complete their Teacher Education And Development program here. Montgomery College alumni report median earnings of $50,159 a decade after entry. Set against $11,230 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Montgomery College report
Murray State University offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. This public school is set in Murray, KY. Students from in state pay about $9,900 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,836. The median Teacher Education And Development program debt is $23,420. Median earnings reach $44,737 ten years out. Set against $23,420 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Murray State University has an acceptance rate of 86%. See the full Murray State University profile
Western Kentucky University offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. Located in Bowling Green, KY, Western Kentucky University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,652, compared with $27,000 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $30,375 in student loans. Median earnings reach $43,889 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western Kentucky University has an acceptance rate of 94%. See the full Western Kentucky University profile
Eastern Kentucky University came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Set in Richmond, KY, Eastern Kentucky University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,320, while out-of-state students pay about $21,230. Typical Teacher Education And Development student debt is $19,750. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $45,795. Set against $19,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 78% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on Eastern Kentucky University
Brookdale Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teacher Education And Development schools. Located in Lincroft, NJ, Brookdale Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,270, while out-of-state students pay about $10,140. Brookdale Community College Teacher Education And Development students take on a median of $12,651 in debt. Median earnings reach $44,379 ten years out. Set against $12,651 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Brookdale Community College report
Vincennes University placed #21 among the best-value Teacher Education And Development schools in the United States. This public school is set in Vincennes, IN. In-state tuition and fees average $7,126, compared with $16,858 for out-of-state students. Vincennes University Teacher Education And Development students take on a median of $14,506 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $41,110. That is a strong return on a $14,506 median debt. Get the full Vincennes University report
Suffolk County Community College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teacher Education And Development schools. Located in Selden, NY, Suffolk County Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,630, with out-of-state students paying around $12,460. Suffolk County Community College Teacher Education And Development students take on a median of $11,246 in debt. Suffolk County Community College alumni report median earnings of $49,907 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $11,246 median debt. Get the full Suffolk County Community College report
Defiance College
Defiance College came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. More on Defiance College
Franklin Pierce University landed the #21 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Franklin Pierce University
Johns Hopkins University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teacher Education And Development schools. More on Johns Hopkins University
Mckendree University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teacher Education And Development schools. Get the full Mckendree University report
Nebraska Wesleyan University came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. See the full Nebraska Wesleyan University profile
Truman State University came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Truman State University report
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Teacher Education And Development Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Austin College
Austin College landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Austin College report
Howard Payne University ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teacher Education And Development schools. Get the full Howard Payne University report
Huertas Junior College placed #28 among the best-value Teacher Education And Development schools in the United States. Read more about Huertas Junior College
Montana State University landed the #29 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Montana State University
Northland College came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. More on Northland College
Teachers College At Columbia University came in at #31 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Teachers College At Columbia University report
University Of Michigan Dearborn landed the #32 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Michigan Dearborn
University Of Nevada Reno placed #33 among the best-value Teacher Education And Development schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Nevada Reno
University Of Puerto Rico Aguadilla ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teacher Education And Development schools. Read the full report on University Of Puerto Rico Aguadilla
University Of Southern Indiana offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. Read more about University Of Southern Indiana
Winthrop University landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Winthrop University
Lancaster Bible College offered strong value this year, earning the #37 position. See the full Lancaster Bible College profile
St Catherine University offered strong value this year, earning the #38 position. See the full St Catherine University profile
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. Get the full University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth report
Alma College
Alma College offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. Read the full report on Alma College
Anderson University Indiana landed the #41 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Anderson University Indiana
Colorado State University Pueblo ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teacher Education And Development schools. See the full Colorado State University Pueblo profile
Drew University
Drew University ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teacher Education And Development schools. More on Drew University
Edgewood College
Edgewood College ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teacher Education And Development schools. Read more about Edgewood College
Hiram College
Hiram College came in at #45 in this year's value ranking. See the full Hiram College profile
Indiana State University offered strong value this year, earning the #46 position. More on Indiana State University
Isothermal Community College placed #47 among the best-value Teacher Education And Development schools in the United States. Read more about Isothermal Community College
Kennesaw State University came in at #48 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Kennesaw State University
Kent State University At Kent ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teacher Education And Development schools. More on Kent State University At Kent
Otero Junior College offered strong value this year, earning the #50 position. See the full Otero Junior College profile
Related Teacher Education And Development Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Value Teacher Education And Development Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Teacher Education And Development Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Teacher Education And Development Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Teacher Education And Development Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Teacher Education And Development Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Teacher Education And Development Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Teacher Education And Development Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Teaching Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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 · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 1272 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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