2026 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools in Washington
[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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong early childhood education education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 37 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for early childhood education students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools in Washington
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the early childhood education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools
Our analysis ranked Lake Washington Institute Of Technology the best value for a degree in early childhood education in Washington. Set in the suburb of Kirkland, Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,997, compared with $12,062 for out-of-state students. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Renton Technical College earned it the #2 place for early childhood education. Renton Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Renton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,330, compared with $7,768 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $18,582. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Renton Technical College generally make around $80,411. That is a strong return on a $18,582 median debt.
Bates Technical College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Bates Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Tacoma. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,027, while out-of-state students pay about $12,165. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,051 ten years after entry.
Clover Park Technical College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Located in the city of Lakewood, Clover Park Technical College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,634. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $15,154 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $42,209. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in early childhood education will find it at Peninsula College, which ranked #5. Set in the town of Port Angeles, Peninsula College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,718, with out-of-state students paying around $5,270. Students borrow a median of $12,730 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Peninsula College earn a median of $51,243 early in their careers. Set against $12,730 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Skagit Valley College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Skagit Valley College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Mount Vernon. In-state tuition and fees average $5,400, compared with $7,410 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $14,056 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Skagit Valley College generally make around $44,860. Set against $14,056 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Spokane Falls Community College landed the #7 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the city of Spokane, Spokane Falls Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,461, compared with $6,612 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,500 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Spokane Falls Community College earn a median of $25,777 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Centralia College placed #8 among the best values for early childhood education. Centralia College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Centralia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,266, while out-of-state students pay about $5,651. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Centralia College generally make around $77,740.
Olympic College came in at #9 for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Bremerton, Olympic College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,472 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,740 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,497 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Olympic College earn a median of $57,593 early in their careers. Set against $11,497 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Columbia Basin College came in at #10 for value in early childhood education this year. Columbia Basin College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Pasco. In-state tuition and fees average $6,555, with out-of-state students paying around $8,668. Students borrow a median of $17,170 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Columbia Basin College generally make around $63,976. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Walla Walla Community College placed #11 among the best values for early childhood education. Set in the city of Walla Walla, Walla Walla Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,279, with out-of-state students paying around $6,700. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $15,500. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Walla Walla Community College generally make around $46,131. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lower Columbia College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Lower Columbia College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Longview. Students from in state pay about $4,626 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,003. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $14,340 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $53,280. Set against $14,340 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Seattle Community College North Campus came in at #13 for value in early childhood education this year. Seattle Community College North Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Seattle. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,238, while out-of-state students pay about $5,796. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $13,404 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $42,672. That is a strong return on a $13,404 median debt.
South Puget Sound Community College came in at #14 for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Olympia, South Puget Sound Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,257 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,818. Students borrow a median of $14,245 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $39,430. Set against $14,245 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tacoma Community College earned the #15 position for value in early childhood education this year. Tacoma Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Tacoma. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,507, compared with $11,646 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,822 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $41,732. That is a strong return on a $14,822 median debt.
Whatcom Community College came in at #16 for value in early childhood education this year. Whatcom Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Bellingham. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,296, with out-of-state students paying around $11,435. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $16,588. Early Childhood Education graduates of Whatcom Community College earn a median of $51,466 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom placed #17 among the best values for early childhood education. Located in the city of Lakewood, Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,418 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,976. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $23,365 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom earn a median of $55,849 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Clark College landed the #18 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the city of Vancouver, Clark College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,233, while out-of-state students pay about $11,183. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $15,432. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Clark College generally make around $28,118. Set against $15,432 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Yakima Valley Community College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Yakima, Yakima Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,312 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,873. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $14,649 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Yakima Valley Community College generally make around $49,625. That is a strong return on a $14,649 median debt.
Everett Community College came in at #20 for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Everett, Everett Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,032 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,171 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,542 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Everett Community College generally make around $47,441. That is a strong return on a $13,542 median debt.
Wenatchee Valley College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Located in the city of Wenatchee, Wenatchee Valley College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,552, with out-of-state students paying around $5,054. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $11,462. Early Childhood Education graduates of Wenatchee Valley College earn a median of $55,642 early in their careers. Set against $11,462 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Highline Community College placed #22 among the best values for early childhood education. Highline Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Des Moines. In-state tuition and fees average $4,772, while out-of-state students pay about $5,332. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $8,958 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $55,459. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Big Bend Community College came in at #23 for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the town of Moses Lake, Big Bend Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,059, while out-of-state students pay about $5,619. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $12,662 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $47,970. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bellevue College came in at #24 for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Bellevue, Bellevue College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,436, compared with $10,502 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $18,839 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Bellevue College generally make around $67,771. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Heritage University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Located in the rural area of Toppenish, Heritage University is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,928. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $20,049 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $67,426. That is a strong return on a $20,049 median debt.
Rest of the Top 32 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for early childhood education this year:
More Early Childhood Education Rankings
View All Early Childhood Education Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 37 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
