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Best Value Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language Colleges

Ranked by best return on investment (earnings vs. cost). See our methodology.

Puerto Rican institutions dominate the most affordable Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language programs, with the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras offering the lowest net price at $6,507. However, this creates an earnings paradox where the cheapest program yields the lowest graduate earnings at $15,922, while University of Northern Iowa graduates earn $39,369 despite paying $14,609 annually. The field benefits from growing demand for ESL instruction across the mainland United States, where Hispanic population growth has increased 23% over the past decade, creating steady employment for qualified language educators. Public universities generally provide better value propositions than private institutions, with Miami University-Oxford achieving an impressive 81.80% graduation rate at $27,662 net cost. The earnings gap between lowest and highest-paying programs spans over $23,000, suggesting that location and institutional reputation significantly impact career outcomes for language education graduates.
50
Programs
$3,830 – $31,680
Net Price Range
$27,323
Avg. Program Earnings
59.3%
Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price Program Earnings In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $8,264 $27,439 $6,238 42.1% 99.8%
2 $9,421 $27,439 $6,238 39.2% 98.2%
3 $10,082 $27,439 $6,340 47.9% 94.7%
4 $14,609 $39,369 $9,728 68.9% 95.0%
5 $8,036 $21,508 $5,580 35.4% 33.3%
6 $6,507 $15,922 $5,324 52.5% 51.6%
7 $29,552 $37,208 $21,222 63.5% 99.3%
8 $27,662 $33,993 $17,809 81.8% 87.9%
9 $19,614 $19,455 $12,846 65.5% 88.0%
10 $25,321 $23,456 $13,160 8.8%
11 $21,869 $24,308 55.5% 80.9%
12 $27,324 $30,200 64.3% 66.6%
13 $20,313 $37,270 41.9% 74.2%
14 $24,137 $33,450 61.7% 75.0%
15 $16,514 $7,361 62.1% 92.3%
16 $24,016 $39,330 64.1% 90.8%
17 $28,071 $40,491 55.9% 75.8%
18 $21,554 $36,130 53.3% 71.3%
19 $17,424 $10,108 65.8% 78.6%
20 $18,430 $10,560 77.8% 49.1%
21 $3,830 $7,538 60.2% 69.5%
22 $21,148 $17,290 64.7% 77.0%
23 $17,231 $8,769 60.4% 82.6%
24 $19,951 $8,815 68.2% 59.8%
25 $25,651 $30,020 71.8% 65.5%
26 $26,870 $37,840 71.8% 76.6%
27 $18,740 $38,135 70.2% 89.6%
28 $23,461 $37,504 63.9% 99.5%
29 $21,398 $10,964 73.1% 86.0%
30 $10,888 $9,068 60.7%
31 $30,209 $31,732 43.3% 60.9%
32 $13,181 $12,186 62.6% 72.8%
33 $30,557 $33,020 41.2% 87.1%
34 $25,007 $15,356 62.0% 94.1%
35 $12,093 $36,840 59.0% 84.1%
36 $19,726 $33,320 57.2% 99.5%
37 $15,725 $37,760 60.5% 93.5%
38 $12,188 $9,992 41.1% 92.3%
39 $23,069 $31,168 66.3% 86.7%
40 $12,904 $20,000 81.7% 100.0%
41 $25,140 $36,830 68.4% 92.5%
42 $16,456 $10,638 67.4% 91.1%
43 $24,817 $28,100 67.6% 91.8%
44 $18,441 $11,978 55.0% 92.7%
45 $18,597 $33,710 65.9% 91.3%
46 $31,680 $17,700 85.7%
47 $17,084 $15,510 45.5% 83.2%
48 $23,875 $43,942 52.4% 76.5%
49 $28,439 $42,930 75.2% 72.5%
50 $17,566 $25,000 58.8% 69.1%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the dramatic earnings difference between programs costing similar amounts?

University of Northern Iowa and Liberty University charge comparable net prices around $14,609 and $29,552 respectively, yet their graduates earn $39,369 and $37,208. Geographic job markets play a major role, as mainland US positions typically offer higher salaries than Puerto Rican markets. The 99.29% acceptance rate at Liberty suggests less selective admission standards, while Northern Iowa's 94.95% rate indicates slightly more competitive entry requirements.

How do Puerto Rican programs achieve such low costs compared to mainland options?

Pontifical Catholic University campuses in Puerto Rico maintain net prices between $8,036 and $10,082, significantly below mainland averages. Local economic conditions allow these institutions to operate with lower overhead costs while serving regional markets. However, graduates typically earn $21,508 to $27,439, reflecting local salary standards rather than mainland teaching positions.

Is Miami University-Oxford worth the higher cost given its graduation rate?

Miami University-Oxford achieves an 81.80% graduation rate at $27,662 net cost, substantially higher than most programs in this field. Graduates earn $33,993 annually with $24,500 in debt, creating a manageable debt-to-income ratio. The 87.92% acceptance rate indicates selective admission standards that may contribute to student success rates.

Does Ashford University provide adequate value given its low graduation rate?

Ashford University shows concerning metrics with only an 8.80% graduation rate despite charging $25,321 net price. Graduates carry $30,239 in debt while earning $23,456, creating a challenging financial situation. The for-profit structure and low completion rates suggest limited return on investment compared to public alternatives.

Where can students find the best balance of cost and career outcomes?

University of Northern Iowa offers the strongest value proposition with $14,609 net cost producing $39,369 in graduate earnings. Indiana State University provides another affordable option at $12,188 net price, though earnings data was not available for comparison. Students should prioritize programs with graduation rates above 60% and manageable debt levels relative to expected salaries.

More Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language Rankings

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.