2027 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools in Arkansas
[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for early childhood education students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools in Arkansas
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
Ozarka College earned the #1 spot for value among early childhood education schools in Arkansas. Set in the rural area of Melbourne, Ozarka College is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,820, compared with $6,820 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $11,778 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Ozarka College generally make around $48,116. Set against $11,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Northwest Arkansas Community College one of the best values for early childhood education. Located in the city of Bentonville, Northwest Arkansas Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,342, with out-of-state students paying around $5,238. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $12,479. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Northwest Arkansas Community College generally make around $40,671. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Arkansas Northeastern College one of the best values for early childhood education. Located in the town of Blytheville, Arkansas Northeastern College is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,570, with out-of-state students paying around $4,250. Students borrow a median of $7,944 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $23,575. 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 Arkansas Community College, which ranked #4. South Arkansas Community College is a small public school located in the town of El Dorado. Students from in state pay about $3,324 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,532 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $15,386. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $59,370. 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 University Of Arkansas Community College Batesville, which ranked #5. Set in the town of Batesville, University Of Arkansas Community College Batesville is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,630, compared with $4,662 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $9,265 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of University Of Arkansas Community College Batesville earn a median of $64,187 early in their careers. Set against $9,265 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Arkansas State University Newport landed the #6 spot for early childhood education value this year. Arkansas State University Newport is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Newport. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,312, with out-of-state students paying around $4,752. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $10,925. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $44,500. That is a strong return on a $10,925 median debt.
University Of Arkansas Fort Smith ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Fort Smith, University Of Arkansas Fort Smith is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,334, with out-of-state students paying around $12,182. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $20,304 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $40,565. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Arkansas State University Beebe ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Set in the town of Beebe, Arkansas State University Beebe is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,336 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,232. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $7,000 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Arkansas State University Beebe earn a median of $18,025 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,000 median debt.
Arkansas State University Main Campus placed #9 among the best values for early childhood education. Located in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,090, with out-of-state students paying around $14,522. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $21,424 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $41,939. Set against $21,424 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff came in at #10 for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the town of Pine Bluff, University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,375, with out-of-state students paying around $17,955. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $26,267. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $35,490. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff admits about 41% of applicants.
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus came in at #11 for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the town of Magnolia, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,960, compared with $15,690 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $16,316. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Southern Arkansas University Main Campus generally make around $41,193. That is a strong return on a $16,316 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arkansas At Monticello ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. University Of Arkansas At Monticello is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Monticello. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,292, while out-of-state students pay about $14,857. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $15,611. Early Childhood Education graduates of University Of Arkansas At Monticello earn a median of $44,048 early in their careers. Set against $15,611 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Arkansas ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Located in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,104, compared with $29,966 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,141 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $49,641. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Henderson State University placed #14 among the best values for early childhood education. Located in the town of Arkadelphia, Henderson State University is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,244, while out-of-state students pay about $10,620. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $40,131. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
