2026 Best Value Early Childhood Education Associate’s Degree Schools
[Early Childhood Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/early-childhood-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 1068 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value early childhood education schools.
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2026 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in early childhood education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools
For return on investment in early childhood education, no school beat Frederick Community College this year. Located in the city of Frederick, Frederick Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,849, with out-of-state students paying around $10,042. Students borrow a median of $10,778 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Frederick Community College generally make around $43,733. Set against $10,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in early childhood education will find it at St Petersburg College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,682, while out-of-state students pay about $9,286. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $19,900. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $49,672. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Middlesex Community College Bedford earned it the #3 place for early childhood education. Located in the suburb of Bedford, Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,098, while out-of-state students pay about $12,170. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $11,602. Early Childhood Education graduates of Middlesex Community College Bedford earn a median of $27,981 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,602 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Central New Mexico Community College one of the best values for early childhood education. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $8,684. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $9,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College generally make around $29,708. Set against $9,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes College Of The Mainland one of the best values for early childhood education. Set in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,310 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,140. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $10,928 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from College Of The Mainland generally make around $40,788. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northwest Vista College came in at #6 for value in early childhood education this year. Northwest Vista College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $8,750 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Northwest Vista College earn a median of $22,352 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,750 median debt.
Palo Alto College earned the #7 position for value in early childhood education this year. Palo Alto College is a large public school located in the city of San Antonio. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $9,430. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Palo Alto College generally make around $29,062. That is a strong return on a $9,430 median debt.
Northern Essex Community College came in at #8 for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the suburb of Haverhill, Northern Essex Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,732, compared with $12,516 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,129 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Northern Essex Community College earn a median of $28,635 early in their careers. Set against $10,129 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Centro College came in at #9 for value in early childhood education this year. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,730, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. Students borrow a median of $12,500 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $25,385 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,500 median debt.
South Texas College earned the #10 position for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,920, compared with $7,620 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. 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.
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology placed #11 among the best values for early childhood education. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $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. That is a strong return on a $19,695 median debt.
Tarrant County College District earned the #12 position for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,863, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Students borrow a median of $9,750 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Tarrant County College District earn a median of $24,507 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pima Community College placed #13 among the best values for early childhood education. Pima Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,442, while out-of-state students pay about $7,758. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $18,417. Early Childhood Education graduates of Pima Community College earn a median of $27,679 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,417 median debt.
Indian River State College placed #14 among the best values for early childhood education. Located in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,764 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,201. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $48,612. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Georgia Technical College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Located in the town of Americus, South Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,992, with out-of-state students paying around $7,202. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $10,423 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from South Georgia Technical College generally make around $40,497. Set against $10,423 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Alvin Community College landed the #16 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the suburb of Alvin, Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,906 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,402. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $8,600. Early Childhood Education graduates of Alvin Community College earn a median of $55,057 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Camden County College placed #17 among the best values for early childhood education. Camden County College is a large public school located in the suburb of Blackwood. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,320, compared with $4,416 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $8,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Camden County College generally make around $21,956. Set against $8,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Stanly Community College came in at #18 for value in early childhood education this year. Stanly Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Albemarle. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,672, compared with $8,816 for out-of-state students. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $32,147.
Durham Technical Community College placed #19 among the best values for early childhood education. Set in the city of Durham, Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,240, while out-of-state students pay about $7,531. 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. Set against $25,522 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Carroll Community College came in at #20 for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the town of Westminster, Carroll Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,308, while out-of-state students pay about $10,158. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $17,398 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $49,058. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Washtenaw Community College came in at #21 for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,736, with out-of-state students paying around $6,504. Students borrow a median of $14,607 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Washtenaw Community College earn a median of $45,332 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,607 median debt.
Miami Dade College placed #22 among the best values for early childhood education. Miami Dade College is a very large public school located in the city of Miami. In-state tuition and fees average $2,838, while out-of-state students pay about $9,661. Students borrow a median of $11,967 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Miami Dade College generally make around $51,545. Set against $11,967 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuyahoga Community College District ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $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. That is a strong return on a $11,564 median debt.
Rowan Cabarrus Community College earned the #24 position for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the suburb of Salisbury, Rowan Cabarrus Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,064, with out-of-state students paying around $6,672. Students borrow a median of $7,000 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Rowan Cabarrus Community College earn a median of $24,148 early in their careers. Set against $7,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Paso Community College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Located in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,274, with out-of-state students paying around $5,314. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from El Paso Community College generally make around $29,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s early childhood education value ranking:
Other Early Childhood Education Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Early Childhood Education rankings across degree levels:
View All Early Childhood Education Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 1068 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 91 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
