2026 Best Value Education Philosophy Bachelor’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Education Philosophy bachelor’s degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 83 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor reviewed schools to produce 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 Education Philosophy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Leading the list is University Of California Santa Cruz, our #1 best-value Education Philosophy school in the United States. This public school is set in Santa Cruz, CA. In-state tuition and fees average $15,035, compared with $46,923 for out-of-state students. University Of California Santa Cruz Education Philosophy students take on a median of $18,559 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $68,396. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted. Get the full University Of California Santa Cruz report
You'll get strong value at University Of Wisconsin Madison, which ranked #2 this year. Set in Madison, WI, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete their Education Philosophy program here. University Of Wisconsin Madison alumni report median earnings of $73,792 a decade after entry. Set against $21,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Madison has an acceptance rate of 45%. Read more about University Of Wisconsin Madison
Out of the 83 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, University Of California Riverside landed the #3 spot. This public school is set in Riverside, CA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,636, with out-of-state students paying around $46,524. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete their Education Philosophy program here. Median earnings reach $67,699 ten years out. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Riverside has an acceptance rate of 76%. Read more about University Of California Riverside
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Los Angeles earned it the #4 place in the United States. University Of California Los Angeles is a public school based in Los Angeles, CA. In-state tuition and fees average $14,233, while out-of-state students pay about $46,121. Typical Education Philosophy student debt is $16,097. Graduates go on to earn a median of $82,511 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Los Angeles has an acceptance rate of 9%. Read the full report on University Of California Los Angeles
A rank of #5 makes High Point University one of the best values in the United States. Located in High Point, NC, High Point University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $45,312. High Point University Education Philosophy students take on a median of $23,785 in debt. Median earnings reach $61,389 ten years out. Set against $23,785 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. High Point University has an acceptance rate of 75%. See the full High Point University profile
Iowa State University offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Read more about Iowa State University
University Of Arkansas landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Arkansas
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #8 among the best-value Education Philosophy schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
George Mason University landed the #9 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full George Mason University profile
University Of South Carolina Columbia landed the #10 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about University Of South Carolina Columbia
Dickinson College offered strong value this year, earning the #11 position. See the full Dickinson College profile
Florida State University offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. Read the full report on Florida State University
Indiana University Bloomington ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Education Philosophy schools. More on Indiana University Bloomington
Northern Kentucky University landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Northern Kentucky University
Syracuse University placed #15 among the best-value Education Philosophy schools in the United States. Read the full report on Syracuse University
Eastern Washington University came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. More on Eastern Washington University
Georgia State University landed the #17 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Georgia State University
University Of Northern Iowa offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. Read more about University Of Northern Iowa
Western Michigan University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Education Philosophy schools. More on Western Michigan University
East Carolina University came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on East Carolina University
Southern Utah University came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. More on Southern Utah University
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro placed #22 among the best-value Education Philosophy schools in the United States. Get the full University Of North Carolina At Greensboro report
University Of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of St Thomas Minnesota
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value Education Philosophy schools. Read the full report on University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee
The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #25 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about The University Of Texas At Austin
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Education Philosophy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Sam Houston State University ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best-value Education Philosophy schools. More on Sam Houston State University
University Of Colorado Boulder placed #27 among the best-value Education Philosophy schools in the United States. See the full University Of Colorado Boulder profile
Angelo State University ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best-value Education Philosophy schools. Read the full report on Angelo State University
University Of Utah offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. Read more about University Of Utah
Teachers College At Columbia University ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best-value Education Philosophy schools. Read the full report on Teachers College At Columbia University
Northwestern University landed the #31 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Northwestern University
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #32 among the best-value Education Philosophy schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Oklahoma State University Main Campus came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. More on Oklahoma State University Main Campus
Drury University
Drury University landed the #34 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Drury University
University Of St Thomas Texas landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of St Thomas Texas report
Hofstra University came in at #36 in this year's value ranking. More on Hofstra University
East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best-value Education Philosophy schools. Read the full report on East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania
Columbia University In The City Of New York placed #38 among the best-value Education Philosophy schools in the United States. Read the full report on Columbia University In The City Of New York
University At Buffalo came in at #39 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University At Buffalo report
Eastern Mennonite University ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best-value Education Philosophy schools. Get the full Eastern Mennonite University report
University Of Toledo ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Education Philosophy schools. Read the full report on University Of Toledo
University Of Oregon offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. More on University Of Oregon
Cuny Graduate School And University Center placed #43 among the best-value Education Philosophy schools in the United States. Read more about Cuny Graduate School And University Center
Rutgers University New Brunswick ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best-value Education Philosophy schools. See the full Rutgers University New Brunswick profile
Northern Illinois University came in at #45 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Northern Illinois University report
University Of Iowa placed #46 among the best-value Education Philosophy schools in the United States. See the full University Of Iowa profile
University Of Kentucky landed the #47 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Kentucky report
Chapman University placed #48 among the best-value Education Philosophy schools in the United States. Read the full report on Chapman University
Cuny Lehman College landed the #49 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Cuny Lehman College
San Francisco State University placed #50 among the best-value Education Philosophy schools in the United States. Read the full report on San Francisco State University
Related Education Philosophy Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Education Philosophy Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Education Philosophy Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Education Philosophy Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Education Philosophy Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Education Philosophy Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Education Philosophy Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Education Philosophy Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 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 · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 83 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).