2027 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools in the Southeast Region
[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 197 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for early childhood education students.
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2027 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in early childhood education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools
St Petersburg College earned the #1 spot for value among early childhood education schools in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,682 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,286 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $19,900. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from St Petersburg College generally make around $49,672. That is a strong return on a $19,900 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Indian River State College one of the best values for early childhood education. Indian River State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fort Pierce. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,764, with out-of-state students paying around $10,201. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $10,492. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Indian River State College generally make around $48,612. 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 South Georgia Technical College, which ranked #3. South Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Americus. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,992, while out-of-state students pay about $7,202. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $10,423 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $40,497. Set against $10,423 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Durham Technical Community College earned it the #4 place for early childhood education. Set in the city of Durham, Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,240, compared with $7,531 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $25,522. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $33,260. Set against $25,522 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Chattahoochee Technical College one of the best values for early childhood education. Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Marietta. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,540, compared with $6,108 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $9,616. Early Childhood Education graduates of Chattahoochee Technical College earn a median of $44,673 early in their careers. Set against $9,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wilkes Community College came in at #6 for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the town of Wilkesboro, Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,572 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,716. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $9,125 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $36,341. Set against $9,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Miami Dade College came in at #7 for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,838 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,661. Students borrow a median of $11,967 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Miami Dade College earn a median of $51,545 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
James Sprunt Community College earned the #8 position for value in early childhood education this year. James Sprunt Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Kenansville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,592, with out-of-state students paying around $8,736. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $11,278. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $26,775. That is a strong return on a $11,278 median debt.
Southern Regional Technical College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Located in the town of Thomasville, Southern Regional Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,007, compared with $5,575 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $9,086 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $44,007. That is a strong return on a $9,086 median debt.
Central Piedmont Community College came in at #10 for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,792, with out-of-state students paying around $8,936. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Central Piedmont Community College generally make around $23,865. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chipola College came in at #11 for value in early childhood education this year. Chipola College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Marianna. In-state tuition and fees average $3,120, with out-of-state students paying around $8,950. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $9,097. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Chipola College generally make around $43,599. Set against $9,097 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College placed #12 among the best values for early childhood education. Located in the rural area of Valdosta, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,480 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,048. Students borrow a median of $10,864 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $40,452. Set against $10,864 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northwest Florida State College came in at #13 for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the suburb of Niceville, Northwest Florida State College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,583, compared with $10,612 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Northwest Florida State College generally make around $44,340. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt.
Cleveland Community College earned the #14 position for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the town of Shelby, Cleveland Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,602 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,746. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $7,131 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Cleveland Community College earn a median of $39,891 early in their careers. Set against $7,131 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Florida landed the #15 spot for early childhood education value this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $18,063 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $48,506. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
Hillsborough Community College placed #16 among the best values for early childhood education. Located in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,491, with out-of-state students paying around $9,088. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $16,142 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Hillsborough Community College generally make around $44,101. Set against $16,142 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lenoir Community College landed the #17 spot for early childhood education value this year. Located in the town of Kinston, Lenoir Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,578, while out-of-state students pay about $8,822. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $9,984. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Lenoir Community College generally make around $27,534. Set against $9,984 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Florida State College came in at #18 for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the suburb of Avon Park, South Florida State College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,165, compared with $11,859 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,204 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $42,415. Set against $8,204 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Atlanta Technical College came in at #19 for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Atlanta Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,382 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,950 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $17,655 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Atlanta Technical College generally make around $35,441. That is a strong return on a $17,655 median debt.
Piedmont Community College landed the #20 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the rural area of Roxboro, Piedmont Community College is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,556, compared with $8,700 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $11,000. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Piedmont Community College generally make around $68,517. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pamlico Community College landed the #21 spot for early childhood education value this year. Located in the rural area of Grantsboro, Pamlico Community College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $3,712 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,928 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $30,005.
Wayne Community College placed #22 among the best values for early childhood education. Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Goldsboro. In-state tuition and fees average $2,566, with out-of-state students paying around $8,710. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $5,500. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $33,116. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Craven Community College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Craven Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of New Bern. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,022, with out-of-state students paying around $6,630. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $8,924 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $30,235. That is a strong return on a $8,924 median debt.
Florida State College At Jacksonville earned the #24 position for value in early childhood education this year. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,657, while out-of-state students pay about $9,631. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Florida State College At Jacksonville earn a median of $45,008 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt.
Pensacola State College came in at #25 for value in early childhood education this year. Pensacola State College is a large public school located in the city of Pensacola. Students from in state pay about $2,361 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,463. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $45,811. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for early childhood education this year:
Narrow Early Childhood Education Schools by State
More Early Childhood Education Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 197 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 197 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.
