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2023 Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

50 Ranked Colleges
1,437 Degrees Awarded
$11,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Early Childhood Education is the 34th most popular major in the country with 32,920 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.

Across the Plains States region, there were 1,437 early childhood education graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 50 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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The child development school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region child development students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Early Childhood Education (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UMN Twin Cities is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 33 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region child development students whose families make $0-$30k list, UMN Twin Cities has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UMN Twin Cities is $7,698 for plains states region child development students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Early Childhood Education Report

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Northern Iowa. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and it awarded 33 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

UNI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Northern Iowa is $10,513 for Plains States Region Child development students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at University of Northern Iowa

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa State University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Iowa State University is a large public school situated in Ames, Iowa. It awarded 24 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

Iowa State also made our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $9,766 for plains states region child development students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Iowa State University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Iowa State University

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Missouri - St Louis. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Missouri - St Louis is a public institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region child development students whose families make $0-$30k list, UMSL has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Missouri - St Louis is $9,991 for Plains States Region Child development students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at UMSL

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Missouri - Columbia. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Mizzou is located in Columbia, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.

Mizzou not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $11,005 for Plains States Region Child development students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Mizzou.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Mizzou Early Childhood Education Report

6

Northeast Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Northeast Community College is a public institution located in Norfolk, Nebraska. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 23 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Northeast is $6,320 for plains states region child development students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Northeast Community College Early Childhood Education Report

7
UND crest
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota

University of North Dakota ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UND is a fairly large school located in Grand Forks, North Dakota that handed out 16 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

UND also took the #8 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Dakota is $12,394 for plains states region child development students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at University of North Dakota

8
MSU crest
Minot State University
Minot, North Dakota

Minot State University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Minot, North Dakota, and it awarded 13 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region child development students whose families make $0-$30k list, MSU has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Minot State University is $8,920 for Plains States Region Child development students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at MSU

9

Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Missouri State University - Springfield is located in Springfield, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 48 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.

Missouri State also took the #4 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Missouri State is $12,381 for plains states region child development students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Missouri State University - Springfield

10

Northwest Missouri State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. Northwest Missouri State University is a medium-sized school located in Maryville, Missouri that handed out 35 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

Northwest also took the #15 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $9,906 for Plains States Region Child development students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Northwest.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Northwest Missouri State University

11
Southeast Missouri State University crest
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Southeast Missouri State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. It awarded 48 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region child development students whose families make $0-$30k list, Southeast Missouri State University has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Southeast Missouri State University is $10,359 for Plains States Region Child development students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Southeast Missouri State University

12
Mayville State University crest
Mayville State University
Mayville, North Dakota

With a ranking of #12, Mayville State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Mayville, North Dakota, this small public school handed out 9 degrees to qualified ’s child development students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Mayville State University is $9,250 for Plains States Region Child development students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Mayville State University

13
St. Cloud State University crest
Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Saint Cloud State University is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. It awarded 9 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region child development students whose families make $0-$30k list, St. Cloud State University has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,348 for plains states region child development students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Saint Cloud State University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at St. Cloud State University

14

Wichita State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Wichita, Kansas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s child development degrees to 10 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WSU, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,687 for Plains States Region Child development students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Wichita State University.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at WSU

15
Winona State crest
Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota

With a ranking of #15, Winona State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Winona State University is located in Winona, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region child development students whose families make $0-$30k list, Winona State has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,721 for Plains States Region Child development students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Winona State University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Winona State University

16
WSC crest
Wayne State College
Wayne, Nebraska

Wayne State College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. WSC is a public institution located in Wayne, Nebraska. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region child development students whose families make $0-$30k list, WSC has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for WSC is $10,608 for Plains States Region Child development students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Wayne State College Early Childhood Education Report

17
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

University of Kansas came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Lawrence, Kansas, and it awarded 21 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

KU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $15,666 for Plains States Region Child development students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Kansas.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at KU

18
UMary crest
University of Mary
Bismarck, North Dakota

University of Mary landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Bismarck, North Dakota, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 6 degrees to qualified ’s child development students in 2020-2021.

UMary also made our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #14. The yearly cost to attend University of Mary is $16,706 for Plains States Region Child development students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at University of Mary

19
UCM crest
University of Central Missouri
Warrensburg, Missouri

University of Central Missouri ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Warrensburg, Missouri, and it awarded 3 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UCM is $11,006 for plains states region child development students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full University of Central Missouri Early Childhood Education Report

20

Minnesota State University - Moorhead ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Moorhead, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school awarded 29 degrees to qualified ’s child development students in 2020-2021.

MSU Moorhead also made our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #18. The yearly cost to attend MSU Moorhead is $12,675 for Plains States Region Child development students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at MSU Moorhead

21

University of Missouri - Kansas City came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Missouri - Kansas City is a fairly large public school situated in Kansas City, Missouri. It awarded 7 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMKC, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Missouri - Kansas City is $12,724 for Plains States Region Child development students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at UMKC

22

Southwest Minnesota State University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Marshall, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school awarded 30 degrees to qualified ’s child development students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Southwest Minnesota State University is $10,578 for Plains States Region Child development students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Southwest Minnesota State University

23

Concordia University, Saint Paul came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s child development degrees to 46 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region child development students whose families make $0-$30k list, Concordia University, Saint Paul has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,421 for Plains States Region Child development students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Concordia University, Saint Paul.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Concordia University, Saint Paul

24
Saint Mary crest
College of Saint Mary
Omaha, Nebraska

College of Saint Mary ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. College of Saint Mary is located in Omaha, Nebraska and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend College of Saint Mary is $8,739 for Plains States Region Child development students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at College of Saint Mary

25

Alexandria Technical & Community College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. ATCC is a small public school situated in Alexandria, Minnesota. It awarded 16 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $10,800 for plains states region child development students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Alexandria Technical & Community College.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Alexandria Technical & Community College Early Childhood Education Report

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