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2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

22 Ranked Colleges
1,819 Degrees Awarded
$6,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 31,017 people earned their degree in early childhood education, making the major the 34th most popular in the United States.

Across the Southwest region, there were 3,484 early childhood education graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 1,819 early childhood education graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,605 and $16,886 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 22 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in early childhood education. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality early childhood education programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the early childhood education program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Early Childhood Education Schools

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 22 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Early Childhood Education (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region

#1

South Texas College

McAllen, Texas
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, South Texas College landed the #1 spot on the list. South Texas College is a large school located in McAllen, Texas that handed out 291 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

South Texas College also made our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $904 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend South Texas College.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at South Texas College

#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Austin Community College District. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Austin Community College District is a large school located in Austin, Texas that handed out 83 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Austin Community College District, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Austin Community College District is $3,134 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Austin Community College District

#3

Central New Mexico Community College

Albuquerque, New Mexico
#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Central New Mexico Community College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. CNM is a large school located in Albuquerque, New Mexico that handed out 66 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree child development students whose families make $0-$30k list, CNM has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $2,604 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend CNM.

Full Central New Mexico Community College Early Childhood Education Report

#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Tarrant County College District. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Tarrant County College District is a large public school situated in Fort Worth, Texas. It awarded 105 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Tarrant County College, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Tarrant County College is $5,225 for southwest region associate degree child development students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Tarrant County College District

#6

Pima Community College

Tucson, Arizona
#13 in overall quality

Pima Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Pima Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Tucson, Arizona. It awarded 26 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

Pima County Community College District also took the #13 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $2,574 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Pima County Community College District.

Full Pima Community College Early Childhood Education Report

#7

Lone Star College System

The Woodlands, Texas
#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Lone Star College System did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in The Woodlands, Texas, and it awarded 191 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

North Harris Montgomery also took the #4 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $7,146 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Lone Star College System.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at North Harris Montgomery

#8

Santa Fe Community College

Santa Fe, New Mexico
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Santa Fe Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Santa Fe, New Mexico is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s child development degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

SFCC also took the #7 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Santa Fe Community College is $6,464 for southwest region associate degree child development students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at SFCC

#9

Amarillo College

Amarillo, Texas
#11 in overall quality

Amarillo College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Amarillo College is a medium-sized public school situated in Amarillo, Texas. It awarded 24 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

Amarillo College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Amarillo College is $4,740 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Amarillo College

#9 in overall quality

Cochise County Community College District ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cochise College is a small public school situated in Sierra Vista, Arizona. It awarded 7 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cochise College, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $5,856 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Cochise County Community College District.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Cochise County Community College District

#11

Glendale Community College

Glendale, Arizona
#6 in overall quality

Glendale Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Glendale Community College is a public institution located in Glendale, Arizona. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 12 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Glendale Community College also made our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend Glendale Community College is $7,729 for southwest region associate degree child development students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Glendale Community College Early Childhood Education Report

#12

New Mexico State University - Dona Ana

Las Cruces, New Mexico
#19 in overall quality

New Mexico State University - Dona Ana landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and it awarded 23 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree child development students whose families make $0-$30k list, NMSU Dona Ana has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend NMSU Dona Ana is $4,942 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at NMSU Dona Ana

#18 in overall quality

New Mexico State University - Grants ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. NMSU Grants is a public institution located in Grants, New Mexico. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

NMSU Grants did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend New Mexico State University - Grants is $5,174 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at NMSU Grants

#8 in overall quality

San Jacinto Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Pasadena, Texas, this large public school handed out 2 diplomas to qualified associates’s child development students in 2019-2020.

San Jacinto College also took the #8 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for San Jacinto Community College is $8,232 for southwest region associate degree child development students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at San Jacinto Community College

#17 in overall quality

New Mexico State University - Alamogordo came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Alamogordo, New Mexico, this small public school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified associates’s child development students in 2019-2020.

NMSU Alamogordo not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for New Mexico State University - Alamogordo is $5,023 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students whose families make $0-$30k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at NMSU Alamogordo

#16

Arizona Western College

Yuma, Arizona
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, Arizona Western College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Yuma, Arizona, this medium-sized public school handed out 25 diplomas to qualified associates’s child development students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at AWC, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Arizona Western College is $9,734 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at AWC

#16 in overall quality

University of New Mexico - Gallup Campus ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of New Mexico - Gallup Campus is a small school located in Gallup, New Mexico that handed out 15 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

UNM Gallup also made our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #16. The yearly cost to attend UNM Gallup is $6,219 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at UNM Gallup

#18

Tyler Junior College

Tyler, Texas
#15 in overall quality

Tyler Junior College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Tyler, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s child development degrees to 42 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Tyler Junior College, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Tyler Junior College is $7,977 for southwest region associate degree child development students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Tyler Junior College Early Childhood Education Report

#20 in overall quality

University of New Mexico - Valencia County Campus ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Los Lunas, New Mexico, this small public school awarded 4 degrees to qualified associates’s child development students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNM Valencia, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNM Valencia is $7,695 for southwest region associate degree child development students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at University of New Mexico - Valencia County Campus

#22 in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, New Mexico State University - Carlsbad did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. New Mexico State University - Carlsbad is a public institution located in Carlsbad, New Mexico. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

NMSU Carlsbad did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $7,463 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend NMSU Carlsbad.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at NMSU Carlsbad

#21

University of New Mexico - Taos Campus

Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico
#21 in overall quality

University of New Mexico - Taos Campus came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of New Mexico - Taos Campus is located in Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 associates’s child development degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNM Taos, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNM Taos is $8,520 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full UNM Taos Early Childhood Education Report

#14 in overall quality

Southwestern Assemblies of God University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. Southwestern Assemblies of God University is a small school located in Waxahachie, Texas that handed out 1 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Southwestern Assemblies of God University, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $23,726 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Southwestern Assemblies of God University.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Southwestern Assemblies of God University

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Vgrigas.

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