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2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Early Childhood Education

179 Ranked Colleges
6,929 Degrees Awarded
$7,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate” ranking.

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

At the associate degree level specifically, there were 6,929 early childhood education graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,082 and $17,678 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate” ranking analyzed 179 colleges that offered a degree 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.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the early childhood education program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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”.

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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate.

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Early Childhood Education

#1

Urban College of Boston

Boston, Massachusetts
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Urban College of Boston. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate list. Urban College of Boston is located in Boston, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 57 associates’s child development degrees to qualified students.

Urban College of Boston also made our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #1. It costs about $6,843 for associate degree child development students per year to attend Urban College of Boston.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Urban College of Boston

#2

Milwaukee Area Technical College

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Milwaukee Area Technical College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate list. Milwaukee Area Technical College is a public institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 60 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

MATC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Milwaukee Area Technical College is $9,076 for Associate Degree Child development students.

Full MATC Early Childhood Education Report

#3

South Texas College

McAllen, Texas
#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend South Texas College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate list. South Texas College is located in McAllen, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 291 associates’s child development degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our associate degree child development students list, South Texas College has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $1,174 for associate degree child development students per year to attend South Texas College.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at South Texas College

#2 in overall quality

Out of the 179 schools in the Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate that were part of this year’s ranking, Rasmussen University - Florida landed the #4 spot on the list. Rasmussen University - Florida is a medium-sized private for-profit school situated in Ocala, Florida. It awarded 185 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

Rasmussen University - Florida not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $19,144 for Associate Degree Child development students per year to attend Rasmussen University - Florida.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Rasmussen University - Florida

#4 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 #5 for the Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate. Tarrant County College District is located in Fort Worth, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 105 associates’s child development degrees to qualified students.

Tarrant County College also took the #4 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $5,434 for associate degree child development students per year to attend Tarrant County College.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Tarrant County College

#3 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Delaware Technical Community College - Terry did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate list. Delaware Technical Community College - Terry is a public institution located in Dover, Delaware. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 9 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Delaware Tech, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $8,824 for Associate Degree Child development students per year to attend Delaware Tech.

Full Delaware Technical Community College - Terry Early Childhood Education Report

#7

Central New Mexico Community College

Albuquerque, New Mexico
#11 in overall quality

Central New Mexico Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #7. Albuquerque, New Mexico is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s child development degrees to 66 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CNM, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend CNM is $3,429 for Associate Degree Child development students.

Full CNM Early Childhood Education Report

#8

Holmes Community College

Goodman, Mississippi
Top 20% in overall quality

Holmes Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #8. Holmes Community College is a medium-sized school located in Goodman, Mississippi that handed out 8 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, Holmes Community College is in the top on our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend Holmes Community College is $4,321 for Associate Degree Child development students.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Holmes Community College

#9

Northeast Community College

Norfolk, Nebraska
#15 in overall quality

Northeast Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate ranking. Northeast is located in Norfolk, Nebraska and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 associates’s child development degrees to qualified students.

Northeast not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $8,749 for associate degree child development students per year to attend Northeast.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Northeast Community College

#10

Camden County College

Blackwood, New Jersey
Top 15% in overall quality

Camden County College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate ranking. Blackwood, New Jersey is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s child development degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, Camden County College also did well on our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Camden County College is $6,603 for associate degree child development students.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Camden County College

#11

Georgia Military College

Milledgeville, Georgia
#19 in overall quality

Georgia Military College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate ranking. Georgia Military College is located in Milledgeville, Georgia and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 92 associates’s child development degrees to qualified students.

Georgia Military College also made our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #19. The yearly cost to attend Georgia Military College is $9,792 for associate degree child development students.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Georgia Military College

#12

Southern Regional Technical College

Thomasville, Georgia
Top 20% in overall quality

Southern Regional Technical College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate list. Southern Regional Technical College is a public institution located in Thomasville, Georgia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 40 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, Southwest Georgia Technical College is in the top on our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. It costs about $-884 for Associate Degree Child development students per year to attend Southwest Georgia Technical College. A negative average net price may seem strange, but it generally means that financial aid will more than cover the cost to attend the school.

Full Southern Regional Technical College Early Childhood Education Report

#22 in overall quality

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #13. Cincinnati, Ohio is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s child development degrees to 43 students in 2019-2020.

Cincinnati State also made our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #22. The estimated yearly cost for Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is $5,469 for Associate Degree Child development students.

Full Cincinnati State Early Childhood Education Report

#14

Fox Valley Technical College

Appleton, Wisconsin
#24 in overall quality

Fox Valley Technical College landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate ranking. FVTC is a fairly large school located in Appleton, Wisconsin that handed out 37 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

FVTC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Fox Valley Technical College is $11,127 for associate degree child development students.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Fox Valley Technical College

#15

Lone Star College System

The Woodlands, Texas
#9 in overall quality

Lone Star College System came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate ranking. 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 #9 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for North Harris Montgomery is $8,016 for Associate Degree Child development students.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at North Harris Montgomery

#16

Central Georgia Technical College

Warner Robins, Georgia

With a ranking of #16, Central Georgia Technical College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate list. Central Georgia Technical College is a medium-sized school located in Warner Robins, Georgia that handed out 45 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $1,954 for Associate Degree Child development students per year to attend CGTC.

Full CGTC Early Childhood Education Report

#17

Delaware County Community College

Media, Pennsylvania
#8 in overall quality

Delaware County Community College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate list. Delaware County Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Media, Pennsylvania. It awarded 56 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

Delaware County Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Delaware County Community College is $11,597 for associate degree child development students.

Full Delaware County Community College Early Childhood Education Report

#18

Stanly Community College

Albemarle, North Carolina
#25 in overall quality

Stanly Community College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate list. Stanly Community College is a small public school situated in Albemarle, North Carolina. It awarded 31 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

Stanly Technical College also made our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #25. It costs about $7,714 for associate degree child development students per year to attend Stanly Community College.

Full Stanly Community College Early Childhood Education Report

#19

Massachusetts Bay Community College

Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts
#12 in overall quality

Massachusetts Bay Community College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate ranking. This small school is located in Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts, and it awarded 11 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

MassBay Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend MassBay Community College is $9,376 for Associate Degree Child development students.

Full Massachusetts Bay Community College Early Childhood Education Report

#5 in overall quality

Austin Community College District came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate ranking. Austin, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s child development degrees to 83 students in 2019-2020.

Austin Community College District also made our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #5. The yearly cost to attend Austin Community College District is $6,861 for Associate Degree Child development students.

Full Austin Community College District Early Childhood Education Report

#21

Spokane Falls Community College

Spokane, Washington
Top 20% in overall quality

Spokane Falls Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #21. Spokane Falls Community College is located in Spokane, Washington and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 32 associates’s child development degrees to qualified students.

On top of its placing in this ranking, Spokane Falls Community College also did well on our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend Spokane Falls Community College is $6,763 for associate degree child development students.

Full Spokane Falls Community College Early Childhood Education Report

#22

Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, Indiana
Top 20% in overall quality

Ivy Tech Community College landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate ranking. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s child development degrees to 231 students in 2019-2020.

Ivy Tech Community College excels when it comes to child development quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $6,919 for Associate Degree Child development students per year to attend Ivy Tech Community College.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Ivy Tech Community College

#23

Moraine Park Technical College

Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Top 25% in overall quality

Moraine Park Technical College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #23. This small school is located in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and it awarded 12 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Moraine Park Technical College is $9,143 for associate degree child development students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Moraine Park Technical College

#24

Central Piedmont Community College

Charlotte, North Carolina
Top 15% in overall quality

Central Piedmont Community College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate ranking. Central Piedmont Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Charlotte, North Carolina. It awarded 26 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Central Piedmont Community College is also in the top of our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Central Piedmont Community College is $6,002 for associate degree child development students.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Central Piedmont Community College

#25

Chattahoochee Technical College

Marietta, Georgia

With a ranking of #25, Chattahoochee Technical College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate list. Located in Marietta, Georgia, this medium-sized public school handed out 27 degrees to qualified associates’s child development students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $1,137 for associate degree child development students per year to attend Chattahoochee Technical College.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Chattahoochee Technical College

Rest of the Best 27 in Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate

Not only did these schools make the top 27 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#26

Saint Augustine College

Chicago, Illinois
#27

Rasmussen University - Illinois

Rockford, Illinois

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

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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