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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Early Childhood Education

407 Ranked Colleges
13,068 Degrees Awarded
$14,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Child development Schools for a Bachelor's

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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 a Bachelor’s” ranking.

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

At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 13,068 early childhood education graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,303 and $24,501 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Child development Schools for a Bachelor’s” ranking, we looked at 407 colleges that offer a degree in early childhood education. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great early childhood education programs and 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Early Childhood Education Schools

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Child development Schools for a Bachelor’s” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Child development Schools for a Bachelor’s

The colleges and universities below are the best for bachelor’s degree child development students.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Early Childhood Education

Top 10% in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Brigham Young University - Provo. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Child development Schools for a Bachelor’s. Brigham Young University - Provo is a private not-for-profit institution located in Provo, Utah. The school has a large population, and it awarded 26 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, BYU also did well on our “Best Early Childhood Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend BYU is $13,322 for bachelor’s degree child development students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Brigham Young University - Provo

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Brigham Young University - Idaho. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Child development Schools for a Bachelor’s. Located in Rexburg, Idaho, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 38 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s child development students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend BYU - I is $7,167 for Bachelor’s Degree Child development students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at BYU - I

#3

Western Governors University

Salt Lake City, Utah

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Western Governors University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Salt Lake City, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s child development degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $9,805 for bachelor’s degree child development students per year to attend Western Governors University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Western Governors University

#4

Martin Luther College

New Ulm, Minnesota
#15 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Martin Luther College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Child development Schools for a Bachelor’s. Martin Luther College is a small school located in New Ulm, Minnesota that handed out 18 bachelors’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our bachelor’s degree child development students list, MLC has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Early Childhood Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for MLC is $19,703 for bachelor’s degree child development students.

The low student loan default rate of 0.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Full Martin Luther College Early Childhood Education Report

#5

Minot State University

Minot, North Dakota
Top 25% in overall quality

Out of the 407 schools in the Best Value Child development Schools for a Bachelor’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Minot State University landed the #5 spot on the list. MSU is a small school located in Minot, North Dakota that handed out 7 bachelors’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Minot State University is $11,898 for Bachelor’s Degree Child development students.

Full MSU Early Childhood Education Report

#6

University of Wisconsin - River Falls

River Falls, Wisconsin
Top 10% in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - River Falls came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. This medium-sized school is located in River Falls, Wisconsin, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - River Falls also claimed a top spot on our “Best Early Childhood Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - River Falls is $13,748 for Bachelor’s Degree Child development students.

The low student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full UW - River Falls Early Childhood Education Report

#7

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota
Top 20% in overall quality

South Dakota State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #7. South Dakota State University is a fairly large public school situated in Brookings, South Dakota. It awarded 61 bachelors’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, South Dakota State also did well on our “Best Early Childhood Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $19,252 for bachelor’s degree child development students per year to attend South Dakota State University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full South Dakota State Early Childhood Education Report

With a ranking of #8, University of Phoenix - Arizona did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for a Bachelor’s list. University of Phoenix - Arizona is a large school located in Tempe, Arizona that handed out 72 bachelors’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Phoenix - Arizona is $12,944 for bachelor’s degree child development students.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at UOPX - Arizona

#9

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
Top 10% in overall quality

University of North Dakota did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #9. This fairly large school is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and it awarded 18 bachelors’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, UND also did well on our “Best Early Childhood Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Early Childhood Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It costs about $15,738 for Bachelor’s Degree Child development students per year to attend UND.

The low student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at UND

#10

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

Whitewater, Wisconsin
Top 10% in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools for a Bachelor’s list. This fairly large school is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, and it awarded 51 bachelors’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Whitewater also claimed a top spot on our “Best Early Childhood Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Whitewater is $15,249 for Bachelor’s Degree Child development students.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at UW - Whitewater

#11

Purdue University Northwest

Hammond, Indiana
Top 20% in overall quality

Purdue University Northwest did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #11. Purdue University Northwest is a public institution located in Hammond, Indiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, Purdue Northwest is in the top on our “Best Early Childhood Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $11,250 for Bachelor’s Degree Child development students per year to attend Purdue University Northwest.

Full Purdue Northwest Early Childhood Education Report

#12

Mayville State University

Mayville, North Dakota

Mayville State University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Mayville State University is a small public school situated in Mayville, North Dakota. It awarded 11 bachelors’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Mayville State University is $12,378 for bachelor’s degree child development students.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Mayville State University

Southwest Minnesota State University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Southwest Minnesota State University is a medium-sized school located in Marshall, Minnesota that handed out 45 bachelors’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,397 for bachelor’s degree child development students per year to attend Southwest Minnesota State University.

Full Southwest Minnesota State University Early Childhood Education Report

#15

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, University of Northern Iowa did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for a Bachelor’s list. University of Northern Iowa is a medium-sized school located in Cedar Falls, Iowa that handed out 36 bachelors’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

UNI also took the #11 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Northern Iowa is $15,620 for bachelor’s degree child development students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UNI Early Childhood Education Report

#16

Pierce College-Fort Steilacoom

Lakewood, Washington

Pierce College-Fort Steilacoom ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Pierce College-Fort Steilacoom is a medium-sized public school situated in Lakewood, Washington. It awarded 34 bachelors’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $8,926 for Bachelor’s Degree Child development students per year to attend Pierce College-Fort Steilacoom.

Full Pierce College-Fort Steilacoom Early Childhood Education Report

#17

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Top 20% in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school handed out 22 degrees to qualified bachelors’s child development students in 2019-2020.

UW - Stevens Point excels when it comes to child development quality. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend UW - Stevens Point is $14,465 for bachelor’s degree child development students.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at UW - Stevens Point

#18

Wayne State College

Wayne, Nebraska

With a ranking of #18, Wayne State College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for a Bachelor’s list. WSC is located in Wayne, Nebraska and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 bachelors’s child development degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $13,765 for bachelor’s degree child development students per year to attend WSC.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at WSC

#19

University of Wisconsin - Stout

Menomonie, Wisconsin
Top 25% in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Stout did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #19. UW - Stout is a medium-sized public school situated in Menomonie, Wisconsin. It awarded 38 bachelors’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UW - Stout is $15,839 for Bachelor’s Degree Child development students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at University of Wisconsin - Stout

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Edwardsville, Illinois, this fairly large public school awarded 18 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s child development students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend SIUE is $14,423 for Bachelor’s Degree Child development students.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

#21

Yakima Valley College

Yakima, Washington

Yakima Valley College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools for a Bachelor’s list. YVC is a small public school situated in Yakima, Washington. It awarded 22 bachelors’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for YVC is $8,079 for Bachelor’s Degree Child development students.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Yakima Valley College

#22

Brandman University

Irvine, California
Top 15% in overall quality

Brandman University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Brandman University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Irvine, California. It awarded 51 bachelors’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, Brandman is in the top on our “Best Early Childhood Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $21,604 for Bachelor’s Degree Child development students per year to attend Brandman.

Full Brandman University Early Childhood Education Report

#23

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Shippensburg, Pennsylvania
Top 20% in overall quality

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Ship is located in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 51 bachelors’s child development degrees to qualified students.

Ship excels when it comes to child development quality. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is $22,054 for Bachelor’s Degree Child development students.

Full Ship Early Childhood Education Report

#24

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#13 in overall quality

Illinois State University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Normal, Illinois, this large public school handed out 63 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s child development students in 2019-2020.

Illinois State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Illinois State is $20,895 for bachelor’s degree child development students.

The low student loan default rate of 4.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Illinois State University

Top 20% in overall quality

Minnesota State University - Moorhead came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Minnesota State University - Moorhead is located in Moorhead, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 23 bachelors’s child development degrees to qualified students.

MSU Moorhead also claimed a top spot on our “Best Early Childhood Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Early Childhood Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend MSU Moorhead is $16,893 for bachelor’s degree child development students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Minnesota State University - Moorhead

Rest of the Best 50 in Best Value Child development Schools for a Bachelor’s

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#26

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota
#28

Hunter College

New York, New York
#29

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#31

Salisbury University

Salisbury, Maryland
#33

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Kutztown, Pennsylvania
#34

University of Central Florida

Orlando, Florida
#35

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania
#36

Tennessee Technological University

Cookeville, Tennessee
#39

Louisiana Tech University

Ruston, Louisiana
#40

Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#41

Bellevue University

Bellevue, Nebraska
#42

Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw, Georgia
#43

Northeastern State University

Tahlequah, Oklahoma
#46

University of Mary

Bismarck, North Dakota
#47

University of North Florida

Jacksonville, Florida
#48

McNeese State University

Lake Charles, Louisiana
#50

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Best Value Child development Schools for a Bachelor’s

While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

Rank College Location
51 Heritage University Toppenish, WA
52 California State University - Fullerton Fullerton, CA
53 University of South Alabama Mobile, AL
54 University of Central Oklahoma Edmond, OK
55 Weber State University Ogden, UT
56 Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL
57 Arkansas State University - Main Campus Jonesboro, AR
58 National Louis University Chicago, IL
59 University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras San Juan, PR
60 National University La Jolla, CA
61 Southeastern Louisiana University Hammond, LA
62 Edinboro University of Pennsylvania Edinboro, PA

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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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