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2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Early Childhood Education (Income $30-$48k) in the Southwest Region

22 Ranked Colleges
1,819 Degrees Awarded
$7,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Early Childhood Education is the 34th most popular major in the country with 31,017 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

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.

For this year’s “Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 22 colleges that offer a degree in early childhood education. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent early childhood education programs, but they also cost less that 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.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to 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 $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region associate degree child development students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 22 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Early Childhood Education (Income $30-$48k) 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 $30-$48k 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 not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend South Texas College is $1,390 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at South Texas College

#2

Central New Mexico Community College

Albuquerque, New Mexico
#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Central New Mexico Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, this large public school handed out 66 diplomas to qualified associates’s child development students in 2019-2020.

CNM also took the #5 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $3,626 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Central New Mexico Community College.

Full CNM Early Childhood Education Report

#2 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 $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Austin Community College District landed the #3 spot on the 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.

Austin Community College District did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Austin Community College District is $4,362 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Tarrant County College District. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Fort Worth, Texas, and it awarded 105 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

Tarrant County College also made our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #1. The yearly cost to attend Tarrant County College is $5,742 for southwest region associate degree child development students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Tarrant County College Early Childhood Education Report

#6

Lone Star College System

The Woodlands, Texas
#4 in overall quality

Lone Star College System ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Lone Star College System is a large public school situated in The Woodlands, Texas. 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. The estimated yearly cost for North Harris Montgomery is $7,538 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at North Harris Montgomery

#7

Pima Community College

Tucson, Arizona
#13 in overall quality

Pima Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Pima County Community College District is a fairly large school located in Tucson, Arizona that handed out 26 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree child development students whose families make $30-$48k list, Pima County Community College District has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Pima County Community College District is $3,417 for southwest region associate degree child development students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Pima Community College Early Childhood Education Report

#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 $30-$48k list. Santa Fe Community College is a public institution located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SFCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $7,310 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend SFCC.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Santa Fe Community College

#9

Amarillo College

Amarillo, Texas
#11 in overall quality

Amarillo College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Amarillo College is a public institution located in Amarillo, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 24 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Amarillo College, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $5,506 for southwest region associate degree child development students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Amarillo College.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Amarillo College

#9 in overall quality

Cochise County Community College District landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Cochise College is a public institution located in Sierra Vista, Arizona. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Cochise College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Cochise College is $6,543 for southwest region associate degree child development students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Cochise County Community College District Early Childhood Education Report

#8 in overall quality

San Jacinto Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. 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 did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend San Jacinto College is $8,502 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at San Jacinto Community College

#12

Glendale Community College

Glendale, Arizona
#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, Glendale Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. 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 $8,465 for southwest region associate degree child development students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Glendale Community College

#13

New Mexico State University - Dona Ana

Las Cruces, New Mexico
#19 in overall quality

New Mexico State University - Dona Ana did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. New Mexico State University - Dona Ana is a medium-sized school located in Las Cruces, New Mexico that handed out 23 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NMSU Dona Ana, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for NMSU Dona Ana is $5,658 for southwest region associate degree child development students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at New Mexico State University - Dona Ana

#17 in overall quality

New Mexico State University - Alamogordo ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Alamogordo, New Mexico, this small public school handed out 6 degrees to qualified associates’s child development students in 2019-2020.

NMSU Alamogordo also made our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #17. The estimated yearly cost for NMSU Alamogordo is $6,643 for southwest region associate degree child development students whose families make $30-$48k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full NMSU Alamogordo Early Childhood Education Report

#16 in overall quality

University of New Mexico - Gallup Campus landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. 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.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree child development students whose families make $30-$48k list, UNM Gallup has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $6,771 for southwest region associate degree child development students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UNM Gallup.

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

#18 in overall quality

New Mexico State University - Grants came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. NMSU Grants is a small school located in Grants, New Mexico that handed out 2 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree child development students whose families make $30-$48k list, NMSU Grants has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for NMSU Grants is $3,505 for southwest region associate degree child development students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at NMSU Grants

#17

Arizona Western College

Yuma, Arizona
#10 in overall quality

Arizona Western College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Yuma, Arizona, and it awarded 25 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

AWC also made our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend Arizona Western College is $10,238 for southwest region associate degree child development students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at AWC

#18

Tyler Junior College

Tyler, Texas
#15 in overall quality

Tyler Junior College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #18. Tyler Junior College is a fairly large public school situated in Tyler, Texas. It awarded 42 associates’s child development degrees 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. It costs about $8,737 for southwest region associate degree child development students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Tyler Junior College.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Tyler Junior College

#20 in overall quality

University of New Mexico - Valencia County Campus landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Los Lunas, New Mexico, this small public school awarded 4 diplomas to qualified associates’s child development students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree child development students whose families make $30-$48k list, UNM Valencia has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNM Valencia is $7,805 for southwest region associate degree child development students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 $30-$48k list. NMSU Carlsbad is located in Carlsbad, New Mexico and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 associates’s child development degrees to qualified students.

NMSU Carlsbad also made our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #22. It costs about $7,250 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend New Mexico State University - Carlsbad.

Full New Mexico State University - Carlsbad Early Childhood Education Report

#21

University of New Mexico - Taos Campus

Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico
#21 in overall quality

University of New Mexico - Taos Campus landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico, this small public school handed out 4 diplomas to qualified associates’s child development students in 2019-2020.

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. It costs about $8,844 for southwest region associate degree child development students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UNM Taos.

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

#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #22, Southwestern Assemblies of God University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Waxahachie, Texas, and it awarded 1 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree child development students whose families make $30-$48k list, Southwestern Assemblies of God University has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Southwestern Assemblies of God University is $23,484 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Southwestern Assemblies of God University Early Childhood Education Report

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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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