Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Early Childhood Education in the Southwest Region

22 Ranked Colleges
1,819 Degrees Awarded
$7,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 31,017 people earned their degree in early childhood education, making the major the 34th most popular in the United States.

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.

This year’s “Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region” ranking looked at 22 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the early childhood education program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Early Childhood Education Schools

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”.

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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region

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

Top 22 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Early Childhood Education in the Southwest Region

#1

South Texas College

McAllen, Texas
#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend South Texas College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region. 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 did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend South Texas College is $1,174 for southwest region associate degree child development students.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at South Texas College

#1 in overall quality

Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Tarrant County College District landed the #2 spot on the list. Tarrant County College 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.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree child development students list, Tarrant County College has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $5,434 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students per year to attend Tarrant County College District.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Tarrant County College

#3

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 #3 on our 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. 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.

CNM also made our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for Central New Mexico Community College is $3,429 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Central New Mexico Community College

#4

Lone Star College System

The Woodlands, Texas
#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Lone Star College System. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region. The Woodlands, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s child development degrees to 191 students in 2019-2020.

North Harris Montgomery also made our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend Lone Star College System is $8,016 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at North Harris Montgomery

#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Austin Community College District. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. Austin Community College District is a large public school situated in Austin, Texas. It awarded 83 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

Austin Community College District also made our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for Austin Community College District is $6,861 for southwest region associate degree child development students.

Full Austin Community College District Early Childhood Education Report

#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, San Jacinto Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. San Jacinto Community College is a public institution located in Pasadena, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

San Jacinto College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $8,692 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students per year to attend San Jacinto College.

Full San Jacinto College Early Childhood Education Report

#7

Amarillo College

Amarillo, Texas
#11 in overall quality

Amarillo College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. Amarillo College is a medium-sized public school situated in Amarillo, Texas. It awarded 24 associates’s child development 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. The estimated yearly cost for Amarillo College is $5,578 for southwest region associate degree child development students.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Amarillo College

#8

Glendale Community College

Glendale, Arizona
#6 in overall quality

Glendale Community College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. Glendale Community College is a fairly large school located in Glendale, Arizona that handed out 12 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

Glendale Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $8,597 for southwest region associate degree child development students per year to attend Glendale Community College.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Glendale Community College

#9 in overall quality

Cochise County Community College District ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. Located in Sierra Vista, Arizona, this small public school awarded 7 diplomas to qualified associates’s child development students in 2019-2020.

Cochise College also took the #9 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $6,228 for southwest region associate degree child development students per year to attend Cochise County Community College District.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Cochise County Community College District

#11

Arizona Western College

Yuma, Arizona
#10 in overall quality

Arizona Western College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. AWC is a public institution located in Yuma, Arizona. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 25 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

AWC also took the #10 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for AWC is $10,165 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Arizona Western College

#12

Santa Fe Community College

Santa Fe, New Mexico
#7 in overall quality

Santa Fe Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #12. Santa Fe, New Mexico is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s child development degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

SFCC also made our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for Santa Fe Community College is $7,020 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students.

Full SFCC Early Childhood Education Report

#13

Tyler Junior College

Tyler, Texas
#15 in overall quality

Tyler Junior College landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. Tyler Junior College is a public institution located in Tyler, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 42 associates’s 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 $9,277 for southwest region associate degree child development students per year to attend Tyler Junior College.

Full Tyler Junior College Early Childhood Education Report

#14

Pima Community College

Tucson, Arizona
#13 in overall quality

Pima Community College landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Tucson, Arizona, this fairly large public school awarded 26 degrees to qualified associates’s child development students in 2019-2020.

Pima County Community College District not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $3,583 for southwest region associate degree child development students per year to attend Pima Community College.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Pima Community College

#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 ranking. University of New Mexico - Gallup Campus is a small public school situated in Gallup, New Mexico. It awarded 15 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

UNM Gallup also took the #16 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNM Gallup is $6,622 for southwest region associate degree child development students.

Full University of New Mexico - Gallup Campus Early Childhood Education Report

#18 in overall quality

New Mexico State University - Grants ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. This small school is located in Grants, New Mexico, and it awarded 2 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

NMSU Grants also made our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #18. It costs about $5,388 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students per year to attend New Mexico State University - Grants.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at NMSU Grants

#17 in overall quality

New Mexico State University - Alamogordo landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. NMSU Alamogordo is a small public school situated in Alamogordo, New Mexico. It awarded 6 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree child development students list, NMSU Alamogordo has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for New Mexico State University - Alamogordo is $5,693 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full NMSU Alamogordo Early Childhood Education Report

#18

New Mexico State University - Dona Ana

Las Cruces, New Mexico
#19 in overall quality

New Mexico State University - Dona Ana came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. New Mexico State University - Dona Ana is a medium-sized public school situated in Las Cruces, New Mexico. It awarded 23 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

NMSU Dona Ana also made our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #19. It costs about $5,539 for southwest region associate degree child development students per year to attend NMSU Dona Ana.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at NMSU Dona Ana

#14 in overall quality

Southwestern Assemblies of God University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #19. Southwestern Assemblies of God University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Waxahachie, Texas. It awarded 1 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree child development students 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. It costs about $24,982 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students per year to attend Southwestern Assemblies of God University.

Full Southwestern Assemblies of God University Early Childhood Education Report

#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, University of New Mexico - Valencia County Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. UNM Valencia is a small public school situated in Los Lunas, New Mexico. It awarded 4 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

UNM Valencia not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of New Mexico - Valencia County Campus is $8,151 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students.

Full UNM Valencia 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 did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico, this small public school awarded 4 degrees to qualified associates’s child development students in 2019-2020.

UNM Taos not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $8,786 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students per year to attend UNM Taos.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at University of New Mexico - Taos Campus

#22 in overall quality

New Mexico State University - Carlsbad did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Carlsbad, New Mexico, this small public school awarded 1 diplomas to qualified associates’s child development students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NMSU Carlsbad, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for NMSU Carlsbad is $7,715 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Child development students.

Full NMSU Carlsbad Early Childhood Education Report

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.

Featured Teacher Education Schools

Find Schools Near You