2027 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools in Michigan
[Early Childhood Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/early-childhood-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 25 schools to find the best return on investment for early childhood education students.
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2027 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools in Michigan
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in early childhood education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools
Leading the list is Washtenaw Community College, our #1 best value for early childhood education in Michigan. Located in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,736 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,504. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $14,607. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $45,332. That is a strong return on a $14,607 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Henry Ford Community College earned it the #2 place for early childhood education. Henry Ford Community College is a large public school located in the city of Dearborn. Students from in state pay about $3,568 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,816. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $17,365 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $17,481. 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 Bay Mills Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the rural area of Brimley, Bay Mills Community College is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,480. Median earnings reach $30,048 ten years out.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Muskegon Community College earned it the #4 place for early childhood education. Muskegon Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Muskegon. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,250, with out-of-state students paying around $16,010. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $14,928. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $48,267. Set against $14,928 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Gogebic Community College earned it the #5 place for early childhood education. Gogebic Community College is a small public school located in the town of Ironwood. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,800, with out-of-state students paying around $7,530. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $15,250. Early Childhood Education graduates of Gogebic Community College earn a median of $62,642 early in their careers. Set against $15,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwestern Michigan College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Located in the rural area of Dowagiac, Southwestern Michigan College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,417, compared with $8,394 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $16,575. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Southwestern Michigan College generally make around $43,153. Set against $16,575 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Michigan Flint came in at #7 for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Flint, University Of Michigan Flint is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,236, while out-of-state students pay about $27,790. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $32,810 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from University Of Michigan Flint generally make around $45,200. Set against $32,810 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Oakland University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Oakland University is a large public school located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,167, while out-of-state students pay about $24,735. Students borrow a median of $29,019 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Oakland University earn a median of $46,344 early in their careers. Set against $29,019 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Michigan Dearborn ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Located in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,640, compared with $32,896 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,516 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of University Of Michigan Dearborn earn a median of $49,318 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Michigan Dearborn admits about 56% of applicants.
Mid Michigan Community College landed the #10 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the rural area of Harrison, Mid Michigan Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,132, compared with $10,864 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $18,878 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $43,078. That is a strong return on a $18,878 median debt.
Saginaw Valley State University earned the #11 position for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the suburb of University Center, Saginaw Valley State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,930, while out-of-state students pay about $30,450. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Saginaw Valley State University generally make around $48,149. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Saginaw Valley State University admits about 72% of applicants.
Wayne State University came in at #12 for value in early childhood education this year. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $31,000. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $55,469. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Lake Superior State University landed the #13 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the town of Sault Ste Marie, Lake Superior State University is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,890. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $22,429 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $47,910. Set against $22,429 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northern Michigan University placed #14 among the best values for early childhood education. Set in the town of Marquette, Northern Michigan University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,322, compared with $19,944 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $30,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Northern Michigan University generally make around $39,963. Set against $30,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northern Michigan University admits about 84% of applicants.
Western Michigan University came in at #15 for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,987, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $45,346. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.
Eastern Michigan University placed #16 among the best values for early childhood education. Eastern Michigan University is a large public school located in the suburb of Ypsilanti. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,990. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $38,634 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University generally make around $45,174. That is a strong return on a $38,634 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Aquinas College Michigan came in at #17 for value in early childhood education this year. Aquinas College Michigan is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Grand Rapids. Students from in state pay about $40,218 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Aquinas College Michigan generally make around $45,713. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Siena Heights University earned the #18 position for value in early childhood education this year. Siena Heights University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Adrian. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,778. Students borrow a median of $25,790 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $52,293. Set against $25,790 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Central Michigan University came in at #19 for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,480. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $29,000. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $45,225. That is a strong return on a $29,000 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Madonna University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Livonia, Madonna University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,440. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $26,896 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Madonna University generally make around $56,984. Set against $26,896 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Spring Arbor University earned the #21 position for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the rural area of Spring Arbor, Spring Arbor University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,014. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $28,268 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Spring Arbor University earn a median of $53,080 early in their careers. Set against $28,268 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Spring Arbor University admits about 52% of applicants.
Michigan State University landed the #22 spot for early childhood education value this year. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $25,213 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $54,166. Set against $25,213 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Cornerstone University earned the #23 position for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Grand Rapids, Cornerstone University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $23,000. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Cornerstone University generally make around $44,501. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Rochester College came in at #24 for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Rochester College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $29,196 in tuition and fees. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $25,217 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Rochester College generally make around $35,163. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Calvin College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Calvin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Grand Rapids. Students from in state pay about $39,350 in tuition and fees. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $45,751. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Calvin College admits about 71% of applicants.
More Early Childhood Education Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 25 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.
