2027 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Early Childhood Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/early-childhood-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong early childhood education education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 110 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 the Middle Atlantic Region
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
Cuny Hunter College earned the #1 spot for value among early childhood education schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,382, with out-of-state students paying around $15,332. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $10,500. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Cuny Hunter College generally make around $51,986. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Cuny Brooklyn College one of the best values for early childhood education. Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,452, with out-of-state students paying around $15,402. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $10,862. Early Childhood Education graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of $48,574 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,340, compared with $15,290 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,916 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Cuny City College generally make around $57,296. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,538, compared with $15,488 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $13,100. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $46,208. That is a strong return on a $13,100 median debt. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Cuny Lehman College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,410, with out-of-state students paying around $15,360. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $13,213. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $62,489. That is a strong return on a $13,213 median debt. Cuny Lehman College admits about 57% of applicants.
Raritan Valley Community College earned the #6 position for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the rural area of Branchburg, Raritan Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,664, while out-of-state students pay about $7,584. Students borrow a median of $11,400 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Raritan Valley Community College generally make around $47,248. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny College Of Staten Island came in at #7 for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Staten Island, Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,490, while out-of-state students pay about $15,440. Students borrow a median of $11,854 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Cuny College Of Staten Island generally make around $51,911. Set against $11,854 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Camden County College earned the #8 position for value in early childhood education this year. Camden County College is a large public school located in the suburb of Blackwood. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,320, compared with $4,416 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $8,750. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $21,956. Set against $8,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Delaware County Community College landed the #9 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the suburb of Media, Delaware County Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,930, compared with $15,540 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $13,340 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Delaware County Community College earn a median of $25,854 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Montgomery College earned the #10 position for value in early childhood education this year. Montgomery College is a very large public school located in the city of Rockville. Students from in state pay about $5,394 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,250. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $11,230. Early Childhood Education graduates of Montgomery College earn a median of $24,833 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,230 median debt.
Bucks County Community College came in at #11 for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the rural area of Newtown, Bucks County Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,646, while out-of-state students pay about $13,926. Students borrow a median of $14,125 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $19,993. Set against $14,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Westmoreland County Community College came in at #12 for value in early childhood education this year. Westmoreland County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Youngwood. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,306, with out-of-state students paying around $14,728. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Median earnings reach $37,439 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Prince Georges Community College landed the #13 spot for early childhood education value this year. Prince Georges Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Largo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,034, while out-of-state students pay about $8,762. Students borrow a median of $13,949 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Prince Georges Community College earn a median of $56,960 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chesapeake College earned the #14 position for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the rural area of Wye Mills, Chesapeake College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,274, compared with $8,768 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,380 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $52,395. That is a strong return on a $8,380 median debt.
College Of Southern Maryland came in at #15 for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the rural area of La Plata, College Of Southern Maryland is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,200 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,450. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $9,728 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from College Of Southern Maryland generally make around $51,719. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lehigh Carbon Community College earned the #16 position for value in early childhood education this year. Lehigh Carbon Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Schnecksville. Students from in state pay about $5,280 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,270. Students borrow a median of $14,450 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Lehigh Carbon Community College earn a median of $39,957 early in their careers. Set against $14,450 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Harford Community College came in at #17 for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the rural area of Bel Air, Harford Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,032, while out-of-state students pay about $8,832. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $12,624. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Harford Community College generally make around $50,636. That is a strong return on a $12,624 median debt.
Delaware Technical Community College Terry landed the #18 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the city of Dover, Delaware Technical Community College Terry is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,332, while out-of-state students pay about $5,763. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $8,450 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Delaware Technical Community College Terry generally make around $25,289. Set against $8,450 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Trinity Washington University came in at #19 for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Washington, Trinity Washington University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,610. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $31,194. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $64,890. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Suny Empire State College came in at #20 for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,648 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,558. Students borrow a median of $23,693 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $58,140. Set against $23,693 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kean University came in at #21 for value in early childhood education this year. Kean University is a large public school located in the suburb of Union. In-state tuition and fees average $14,299, compared with $22,446 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Kean University generally make around $60,910. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
The Community College Of Baltimore County earned the #22 position for value in early childhood education this year. The Community College Of Baltimore County is a very large public school located in the suburb of Baltimore. In-state tuition and fees average $4,110, with out-of-state students paying around $10,182. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $18,038. Early Childhood Education graduates of The Community College Of Baltimore County earn a median of $52,440 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Anne Arundel Community College landed the #23 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the suburb of Arnold, Anne Arundel Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,322 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,522. Students borrow a median of $13,947 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Anne Arundel Community College earn a median of $59,894 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,947 median debt.
University Of The District Of Columbia earned the #24 position for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Washington, University Of The District Of Columbia is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,662, while out-of-state students pay about $12,514. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $32,304 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $71,998. Set against $32,304 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wor Wic Community College came in at #25 for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the rural area of Salisbury, Wor Wic Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,840, compared with $8,400 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $13,995. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $51,392. Set against $13,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in early childhood education:
Narrow Early Childhood Education Schools by State
More Early Childhood Education Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 110 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 110 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.
