2027 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools in Florida
[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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 31 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 Florida
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in early childhood education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools
Our analysis ranked Indian River State College the best value for a degree in early childhood education in Florida. Set in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,764 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,201. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Indian River State College earn a median of $48,612 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes St Petersburg College one of the best values for early childhood education. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,682, compared with $9,286 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $19,900 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $49,672. Set against $19,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chipola College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Marianna, Chipola College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,120, compared with $8,950 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $9,097 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Chipola College generally make around $43,599. That is a strong return on a $9,097 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Hillsborough Community College earned it the #4 place for early childhood education. Hillsborough Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,491, while out-of-state students pay about $9,088. Students borrow a median of $16,142 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Hillsborough Community College generally make around $44,101. That is a strong return on a $16,142 median debt.
South Florida State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Avon Park, South Florida State College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,165 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,859. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $8,204. Early Childhood Education graduates of South Florida State College earn a median of $42,415 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northwest Florida State College came in at #6 for value in early childhood education this year. Northwest Florida State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Niceville. Students from in state pay about $2,583 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,612. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $15,000. Early Childhood Education graduates of Northwest Florida State College earn a median of $44,340 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt.
Miami Dade College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Located in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,838, while out-of-state students pay about $9,661. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $11,967 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Miami Dade College earn a median of $51,545 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,967 median debt.
Pensacola State College landed the #8 spot for early childhood education value this year. Located in the city of Pensacola, Pensacola State College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,361, while out-of-state students pay about $9,463. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $9,191. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Pensacola State College generally make around $45,811. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida State College At Jacksonville landed the #9 spot for early childhood education value this year. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. Students from in state pay about $2,657 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Florida ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,063 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $48,506. That is a strong return on a $18,063 median debt. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
Florida Gateway College placed #11 among the best values for early childhood education. Florida Gateway College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Lake City. Students from in state pay about $3,100 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,747. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $8,669 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Florida Gateway College earn a median of $41,947 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saint Johns River State College earned the #12 position for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the town of Palatka, Saint Johns River State College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,591, while out-of-state students pay about $9,334. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $12,956. Early Childhood Education graduates of Saint Johns River State College earn a median of $46,448 early in their careers. Set against $12,956 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Edison State College came in at #13 for value in early childhood education this year. Edison State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Fort Myers. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,401, with out-of-state students paying around $12,979. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $12,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Edison State College generally make around $51,448. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Daytona State College earned the #14 position for value in early childhood education this year. Daytona State College is a large public school located in the city of Daytona Beach. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,106, compared with $11,994 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,308 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $44,869. Set against $17,308 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tallahassee Community College landed the #15 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Tallahassee Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,026 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,062. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $16,722. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $25,628. That is a strong return on a $16,722 median debt.
Florida International University earned the #16 position for value in early childhood education this year. Florida International University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Miami. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,565, while out-of-state students pay about $18,964. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $16,490 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $48,461. That is a strong return on a $16,490 median debt. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.
Palm Beach State College placed #17 among the best values for early childhood education. Palm Beach State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lake Worth. Students from in state pay about $3,050 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,910 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $6,725 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $28,641. That is a strong return on a $6,725 median debt.
Polk State College landed the #18 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the city of Winter Haven, Polk State College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,694 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,818 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Polk State College generally make around $48,210. Set against $14,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of South Florida Main Campus ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. In-state tuition and fees average $6,410, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $20,995. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $52,532. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
Seminole State College Of Florida landed the #20 spot for early childhood education value this year. Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Sanford. Students from in state pay about $3,122 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,447. Students borrow a median of $18,419 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $48,049. That is a strong return on a $18,419 median debt.
University Of North Florida earned the #21 position for value in early childhood education this year. University Of North Florida is a large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. Students from in state pay about $5,964 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,407 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $19,097 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from University Of North Florida generally make around $48,255. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Florida admits about 53% of applicants.
University Of Central Florida ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,368 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $50,686. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 40%.
College Of Central Florida earned the #23 position for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Ocala, College Of Central Florida is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,710, compared with $10,517 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $18,934 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of College Of Central Florida earn a median of $48,537 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,934 median debt.
Florida Gulf Coast University landed the #24 spot for early childhood education value this year. Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public school located in the suburb of Fort Myers. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,118, compared with $25,162 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $19,489 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Florida Gulf Coast University generally make around $50,951. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida Gulf Coast University admits about 63% of applicants.
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University earned the #25 position for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,785, with out-of-state students paying around $17,725. Students borrow a median of $26,824 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University generally make around $38,719. Set against $26,824 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 21% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 31 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in early childhood education:
More Early Childhood Education Rankings
View All Early Childhood Education Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 31 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 31 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.
