[Early Childhood Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/early-childhood-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 464 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for early childhood education students.
Cuny Brooklyn College earned the #1 spot for value among early childhood education schools in the United States. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,452 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,402 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $10,862. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $37,223. Set against $10,862 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at St Petersburg College earned it the #2 place for early childhood education. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $9,286. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $19,900 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from St Petersburg College generally make around $48,218. That is a strong return on a $19,900 median debt.
Cuny City College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,340, with out-of-state students paying around $15,290. Students borrow a median of $9,916 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $39,169. Set against $9,916 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny City College admits about 60% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indian River State College earned it the #4 place for early childhood education. Located in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,764, while out-of-state students pay about $10,201. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $10,492. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Indian River State College generally make around $48,612. That is a strong return on a $10,492 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Cuny Queens College one of the best values for early childhood education. Cuny Queens College is a large public school located in the city of Queens. Students from in state pay about $7,538 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,488. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $13,100 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Cuny Queens College earn a median of $37,414 early in their careers. Set against $13,100 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Miami Dade College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,838, while out-of-state students pay about $9,661. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $11,967. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $51,545. Set against $11,967 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University Los Angeles placed #7 among the best values for early childhood education. California State University Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $7,164, with out-of-state students paying around $19,764. Students borrow a median of $12,331 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $31,366. Set against $12,331 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
California State University Bakersfield ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,087 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,687 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $59,009 ten years out. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Northridge ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. In-state tuition and fees average $7,458, while out-of-state students pay about $20,058. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $16,202. Early Childhood Education graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $74,192 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
El Centro College came in at #10 for value in early childhood education this year. 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, 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Florida earned the #11 position for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $18,063 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $58,388. That is a strong return on a $18,063 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Cuny College Of Staten Island placed #12 among the best values for early childhood education. Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public school located in the city of Staten Island. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,490, while out-of-state students pay about $15,440. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $11,854 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $51,911. Set against $11,854 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny College Of Staten Island admits about 92% of applicants.
Northwest Florida State College placed #13 among the best values for early childhood education. Northwest Florida State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Niceville. Students from in state pay about $2,583 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,612. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Northwest Florida State College earn a median of $44,340 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt.
Edison State College came in at #14 for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the suburb of Fort Myers, Edison State College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,401, with out-of-state students paying around $12,979. Students borrow a median of $12,750 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Edison State College generally make around $51,448. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chipola College landed the #15 spot for early childhood education value this year. Located in the town of Marianna, Chipola College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,120, with out-of-state students paying around $8,950. Students borrow a median of $9,097 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $43,599. That is a strong return on a $9,097 median debt.
Odessa College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Odessa College is a large public school located in the city of Odessa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,688, while out-of-state students pay about $4,926. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $9,087 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Odessa College earn a median of $47,856 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,087 median debt.
Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus came in at #17 for value in early childhood education this year. Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Portales. In-state tuition and fees average $7,074, compared with $9,054 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus generally make around $41,896. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
South Florida State College landed the #18 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the suburb of Avon Park, South Florida State College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,165 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,859 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,204 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of South Florida State College earn a median of $42,415 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,204 median debt.
California State University Stanislaus landed the #19 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the suburb of Turlock, California State University Stanislaus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,242, compared with $20,842 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,805 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $30,232. That is a strong return on a $13,805 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Utah Valley University landed the #20 spot for early childhood education value this year. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,507, compared with $18,489 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,625 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $49,497 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,625 median debt.
Florida State College At Jacksonville landed the #21 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,657, compared with $9,631 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Florida State College At Jacksonville generally make around $45,008. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt.
Florida Gateway College placed #22 among the best values for early childhood education. Located in the town of Lake City, Florida Gateway College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,100 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,747. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $8,669 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Florida Gateway College earn a median of $41,947 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,669 median debt.
California State University Fullerton ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, with out-of-state students paying around $20,070. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $14,542 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $28,933. That is a strong return on a $14,542 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Johns River State College landed the #24 spot for early childhood education value this year. Located in the town of Palatka, Saint Johns River State College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,591, with out-of-state students paying around $9,334. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $12,956 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $46,448. That is a strong return on a $12,956 median debt.
Daytona State College came in at #25 for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Daytona Beach, Daytona State College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,106, with out-of-state students paying around $11,994. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $17,308. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $44,869. 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 also delivered strong value for early childhood education this year:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 464 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 464 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/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
