2027 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools in Illinois
[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.
College Factual analyzed 28 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value early childhood education schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools in Illinois
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
Leading the list is Elgin Community College, our #1 best value for early childhood education in Illinois. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,252, with out-of-state students paying around $9,516. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $7,727 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Elgin Community College generally make around $43,975. Set against $7,727 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Illinois At Chicago is a great value for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $16,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $65,587. Set against $16,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of Dupage earned it the #3 place for early childhood education. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, while out-of-state students pay about $12,750. Students borrow a median of $12,492 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $43,025 early in their careers. Set against $12,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Saint Xavier University earned it the #4 place for early childhood education. Located in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $38,945. Students borrow a median of $29,854 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $49,526. That is a strong return on a $29,854 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
A rank of #5 makes Dominican University one of the best values for early childhood education. Set in the suburb of River Forest, Dominican University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,828. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Dominican University earn a median of $45,924 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Governors State University landed the #6 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,004. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $45,235. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Illinois University earned the #7 position for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,060. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $44,214. That is a strong return on a $25,250 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #8 among the best values for early childhood education. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $50,601. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #9 spot for early childhood education value this year. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. In-state tuition and fees average $13,334. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $21,944. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $39,496. That is a strong return on a $21,944 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
National Louis University placed #10 among the best values for early childhood education. Located in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,245. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $42,172. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $47,995. That is a strong return on a $42,172 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Northeastern Illinois University came in at #11 for value in early childhood education this year. Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,383, compared with $22,726 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $15,612. Early Childhood Education graduates of Northeastern Illinois University earn a median of $51,301 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Chicago State University placed #12 among the best values for early childhood education. Located in the city of Chicago, Chicago State University is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,754, with out-of-state students paying around $12,757. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $53,774 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Chicago State University earn a median of $47,477 early in their careers. Set against $53,774 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Chicago State University admits about 43% of applicants.
Lewis University came in at #13 for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $39,200 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $46,503. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Lewis University admits about 71% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #14 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,092 in tuition and fees. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $26,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville generally make around $38,830. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Concordia University Chicago came in at #15 for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $37,488 in tuition and fees. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $51,004. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Concordia University Chicago admits about 93% of applicants.
Illinois State University earned the #16 position for value in early childhood education this year. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Students from in state pay about $14,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $44,898 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Blackburn College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Blackburn College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Carlinville. Students from in state pay about $28,149 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,255 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Blackburn College earn a median of $33,739 early in their careers. Set against $25,255 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Blackburn College admits about 63% of applicants.
Greenville College landed the #18 spot for early childhood education value this year. Greenville College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Greenville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,200. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $22,103 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Greenville College earn a median of $36,911 early in their careers. Set against $22,103 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Greenville College admits about 98% of applicants.
Roosevelt University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $21,315 in tuition and fees. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $56,418. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Quincy University landed the #20 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the town of Quincy, Quincy University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,140. Students borrow a median of $26,691 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Quincy University generally make around $37,657. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 51%.
Olivet Nazarene University landed the #21 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $38,900 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,951 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Olivet Nazarene University generally make around $48,505. That is a strong return on a $26,951 median debt. Olivet Nazarene University admits about 56% of applicants.
Millikin University earned the #22 position for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Decatur, Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $26,792. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $27,340. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Millikin University generally make around $43,331. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
Rockford College placed #23 among the best values for early childhood education. Set in the city of Rockford, Rockford College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $37,780. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Rockford College earn a median of $38,867 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Bradley University landed the #24 spot for early childhood education value this year. Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Peoria. Students from in state pay about $42,160 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Bradley University earn a median of $43,359 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bradley University admits about 77% of applicants.
Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College earned the #25 position for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Rockford, Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College is a small private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,699. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $21,356. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $31,807. Set against $21,356 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 28 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s early childhood education value ranking:
More Early Childhood Education Rankings
View All Early Childhood Education Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 28 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 28 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.
