[Early Childhood Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/early-childhood-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong early childhood education education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 256 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value early childhood education schools.
Our analysis ranked Tarrant County College District the best value for a degree in early childhood education in the United States. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,863, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $9,750 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $24,507. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indian River State College earned it the #2 place for early childhood education. Located in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,764, while out-of-state students pay about $10,201. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $10,492. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $48,612. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
St Petersburg College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,682, compared with $9,286 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $19,900 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of St Petersburg College earn a median of $49,672 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,900 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of The Mainland earned it the #4 place for early childhood education. College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Texas City. In-state tuition and fees average $2,310, compared with $4,140 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,928 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $40,788. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in early childhood education will find it at Northwest Vista College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of San Antonio, Northwest Vista College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,412, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $8,750. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Northwest Vista College generally make around $22,352. Set against $8,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Middlesex Community College Bedford ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Set in the suburb of Bedford, Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,098, while out-of-state students pay about $12,170. Students borrow a median of $11,602 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Middlesex Community College Bedford earn a median of $27,981 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Grayson College placed #7 among the best values for early childhood education. Located in the rural area of Denison, Grayson College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,000, with out-of-state students paying around $6,300. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $11,627 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Grayson College generally make around $42,487. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
El Centro College placed #8 among the best values for early childhood education. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,730, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $12,500. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $25,385. Set against $12,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chattahoochee Technical College placed #9 among the best values for early childhood education. Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Marietta. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,540, with out-of-state students paying around $6,108. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $9,616 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $44,673. That is a strong return on a $9,616 median debt.
Miami Dade College came in at #10 for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,838, with out-of-state students paying around $9,661. Students borrow a median of $11,967 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Miami Dade College earn a median of $51,545 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Odessa College landed the #11 spot for early childhood education value this year. Located in the city of Odessa, Odessa College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,688 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,926. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $9,087. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Odessa College generally make around $47,856. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Palo Alto College earned the #12 position for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, Palo Alto College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,412, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $9,430. Early Childhood Education graduates of Palo Alto College earn a median of $29,062 early in their careers. Set against $9,430 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Georgia Technical College landed the #13 spot for early childhood education value this year. South Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Americus. In-state tuition and fees average $3,992, compared with $7,202 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $10,423 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of South Georgia Technical College earn a median of $40,497 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,423 median debt.
Central New Mexico Community College came in at #14 for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,060, compared with $8,684 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $9,625. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $29,708. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Texas College came in at #15 for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,920 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,620 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $5,500. Early Childhood Education graduates of South Texas College earn a median of $16,902 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pima Community College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,442, while out-of-state students pay about $7,758. Students borrow a median of $18,417 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Pima Community College earn a median of $27,679 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
James Sprunt Community College placed #17 among the best values for early childhood education. Located in the rural area of Kenansville, James Sprunt Community College is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,592, compared with $8,736 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $11,278. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from James Sprunt Community College generally make around $26,775. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The University Of Texas At Brownsville ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Brownsville, The University Of Texas At Brownsville is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,148, while out-of-state students pay about $4,948. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $7,750 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of The University Of Texas At Brownsville earn a median of $10,576 early in their careers. Set against $7,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Durham Technical Community College landed the #19 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the city of Durham, Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,240, compared with $7,531 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $25,522 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Durham Technical Community College generally make around $33,260. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Washtenaw Community College landed the #20 spot for early childhood education value this year. Located in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,736 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,504. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $14,607 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Washtenaw Community College generally make around $45,332. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Austin Community College District ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,550 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $17,785 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $46,430 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology came in at #22 for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the suburb of Kirkland, Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,997, with out-of-state students paying around $12,062. Students borrow a median of $19,695 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $33,869. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuyahoga Community College District earned the #23 position for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,249, compared with $7,249 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $11,564 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Cuyahoga Community College District earn a median of $30,880 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
El Paso Community College came in at #24 for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,274 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,314 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $5,500. Early Childhood Education graduates of El Paso Community College earn a median of $29,086 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Springfield Technical Community College placed #25 among the best values for early childhood education. Set in the city of Springfield, Springfield Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,904, with out-of-state students paying around $11,112. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $5,881 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $28,769. That is a strong return on a $5,881 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for early childhood education this year:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 256 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 256 ranked schools only.
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).
[Early Childhood Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/early-childhood-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong early childhood education education at a price that pays off.
