2027 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools in Massachusetts
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 29 schools to find the best return on investment for early childhood education students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools in Massachusetts
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 Middlesex Community College Bedford the best value for a degree in early childhood education in Massachusetts. Set in the suburb of Bedford, Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,098, while out-of-state students pay about $12,170. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $11,602. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $27,981. That is a strong return on a $11,602 median debt.
Springfield Technical Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Springfield Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,904 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,112 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $5,881. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Springfield Technical Community College generally make around $28,769. 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 Northern Essex Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Haverhill, Northern Essex Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,732 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,516. Students borrow a median of $10,129 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Northern Essex Community College generally make around $28,635. Set against $10,129 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bristol Community College earned it the #4 place for early childhood education. Located in the suburb of Fall River, Bristol Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,832, with out-of-state students paying around $10,776. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $7,788 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Bristol Community College earn a median of $21,738 early in their careers. Set against $7,788 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Urban College Of Boston one of the best values for early childhood education. Urban College Of Boston is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. In-state tuition and fees average $7,608. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Urban College Of Boston generally make around $35,867.
Massachusetts Bay Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Set in the suburb of Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts Bay Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,856, with out-of-state students paying around $10,800. Students borrow a median of $11,008 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Massachusetts Bay Community College earn a median of $44,553 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bunker Hill Community College landed the #7 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the city of Boston, Bunker Hill Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,168, with out-of-state students paying around $11,112. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $11,893. Early Childhood Education graduates of Bunker Hill Community College earn a median of $51,782 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Worcester State University earned the #8 position for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Worcester, Worcester State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,786, compared with $17,866 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $22,971. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $42,313. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Quinsigamond Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Quinsigamond Community College is a large public school located in the city of Worcester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,262, compared with $11,206 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $18,235 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $31,901. That is a strong return on a $18,235 median debt.
Fitchburg State University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Located in the suburb of Fitchburg, Fitchburg State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,346, compared with $17,426 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $46,215. Set against $21,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Salem State University placed #11 among the best values for early childhood education. Salem State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Salem. Students from in state pay about $12,338 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,531 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $27,176 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Salem State University generally make around $52,341. That is a strong return on a $27,176 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Framingham State University landed the #12 spot for early childhood education value this year. Framingham State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Framingham. Students from in state pay about $11,920 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,000. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $25,872. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $49,006. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Bay Path College landed the #13 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the suburb of Longmeadow, Bay Path College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,302. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $27,250 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Bay Path College earn a median of $33,330 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Bridgewater State University earned the #14 position for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,734, while out-of-state students pay about $17,874. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Bridgewater State University generally make around $50,137. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bridgewater State University admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Boston earned the #15 position for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,898, with out-of-state students paying around $38,115. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $29,000. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $48,888. That is a strong return on a $29,000 median debt. University Of Massachusetts Boston admits about 84% of applicants.
Boston University placed #16 among the best values for early childhood education. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,102. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $44,630. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Quincy College landed the #17 spot for early childhood education value this year. Located in the suburb of Quincy, Quincy College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,938. Students borrow a median of $15,600 to complete the early childhood education program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $52,506. That is a strong return on a $15,600 median debt.
American International College landed the #18 spot for early childhood education value this year. Located in the city of Springfield, American International College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,230. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $30,390. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from American International College generally make around $59,475. That is a strong return on a $30,390 median debt. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Gordon College placed #19 among the best values for early childhood education. Gordon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Wenham. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,700. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $26,975. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $43,989. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Fisher College came in at #20 for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Boston, Fisher College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,689. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $28,590 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Fisher College generally make around $44,872. That is a strong return on a $28,590 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Lasell College earned the #21 position for value in early childhood education this year. Lasell College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Newton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,040. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $26,808 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Lasell College earn a median of $51,766 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,808 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Curry College landed the #22 spot for early childhood education value this year. Located in the suburb of Milton, Curry College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,570. Students borrow a median of $26,571 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $59,338. Set against $26,571 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Wheaton College Massachusetts came in at #23 for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the suburb of Norton, Wheaton College Massachusetts is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $63,960. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $26,117. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Wheaton College Massachusetts generally make around $32,920. Set against $26,117 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Cambridge College landed the #24 spot for early childhood education value this year. Located in the city of Boston, Cambridge College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,378. Students borrow a median of $29,721 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $56,883. That is a strong return on a $29,721 median debt.
Lesley University earned the #25 position for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Lesley University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,256. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $17,918. Early Childhood Education graduates of Lesley University earn a median of $44,692 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 29 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 · 29 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 29 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.
