2027 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools in Connecticut

[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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 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 Connecticut
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
Capital Community College earned the #1 spot for value among early childhood education schools in Connecticut. Set in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,338, while out-of-state students pay about $15,596. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $12,059. Early Childhood Education graduates of Capital Community College earn a median of $29,811 early in their careers. Set against $12,059 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in early childhood education will find it at Charter Oak State College, which ranked #2. Charter Oak State College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of New Britain. In-state tuition and fees average $8,506. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $23,584 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $62,864. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Connecticut State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education, landing the #3 spot this year. Central Connecticut State University is a large public school located in the suburb of New Britain. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,050, while out-of-state students pay about $16,550. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $44,487. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Central Connecticut State University admits about 73% of applicants.
Southern Connecticut State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of New Haven, Southern Connecticut State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,442 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,942. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $24,660 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Southern Connecticut State University generally make around $50,876. That is a strong return on a $24,660 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Eastern Connecticut State University one of the best values for early childhood education. Eastern Connecticut State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Willimantic. In-state tuition and fees average $13,928, compared with $17,426 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $26,978. Early Childhood Education graduates of Eastern Connecticut State University earn a median of $48,624 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,978 median debt. Eastern Connecticut State University admits about 83% of applicants.
Saint Joseph College earned the #6 position for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the city of West Hartford, Saint Joseph College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,278. Students borrow a median of $27,798 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $75,782. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Mitchell College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Located in the city of New London, Mitchell College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,490. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Mitchell College earn a median of $28,355 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. Mitchell College admits about 95% of applicants.
University Of Hartford earned the #8 position for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the city of West Hartford, University Of Hartford is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $49,075 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,648 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from University Of Hartford generally make around $53,003. Set against $25,648 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Fairfield University came in at #9 for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfield, Fairfield University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,400. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $26,687 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $66,305. That is a strong return on a $26,687 median debt. Fairfield University admits about 33% of applicants.
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 · 9 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.