2027 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools in the Southwest 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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 92 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value early childhood education schools.
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2027 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in early childhood education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools
College Of The Mainland tops our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools in the Southwest Region. Set in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,310, while out-of-state students pay about $4,140. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $10,928 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $40,788. Set against $10,928 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Tarrant County College District earned it the #2 place for early childhood education. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,863, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Students borrow a median of $9,750 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Tarrant County College District generally make around $24,507. Set against $9,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in early childhood education will find it at El Centro College, which ranked #3. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,730, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $12,500. Early Childhood Education graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $25,385 early in their careers. Set against $12,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northwest Vista College earned it the #4 place for early childhood education. Northwest Vista College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. In-state tuition and fees average $3,412, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,750 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Northwest Vista College earn a median of $22,352 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at South Texas College earned it the #5 place for early childhood education. Located in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,920, while out-of-state students pay about $7,620. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $5,500. Early Childhood Education graduates of South Texas College earn a median of $16,902 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Palo Alto College placed #6 among the best values for early childhood education. Set in the city of San Antonio, Palo Alto College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $9,430. Early Childhood Education graduates of Palo Alto College earn a median of $29,062 early in their careers. Set against $9,430 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The University Of Texas At Brownsville landed the #7 spot for early childhood education value this year. The University Of Texas At Brownsville is a large public school located in the city of Brownsville. In-state tuition and fees average $3,148, with out-of-state students paying around $4,948. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $7,750 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $10,576. That is a strong return on a $7,750 median debt.
Pima Community College placed #8 among the best values for early childhood education. Set in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,442 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,758 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $18,417 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $37,485. Set against $18,417 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Paso Community College landed the #9 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,274, with out-of-state students paying around $5,314. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $29,086. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Grayson College came in at #10 for value in early childhood education this year. Grayson College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Denison. Students from in state pay about $3,000 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,300. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $11,627 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Grayson College generally make around $42,487. That is a strong return on a $11,627 median debt.
Central New Mexico Community College landed the #11 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,060 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $9,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College generally make around $29,708. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Midland College landed the #12 spot for early childhood education value this year. Located in the city of Midland, Midland College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,180, while out-of-state students pay about $6,180. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $43,454. That is a strong return on a $9,000 median debt.
Odessa College came in at #13 for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Odessa, Odessa College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,688, compared with $4,926 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,087 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Odessa College earn a median of $47,856 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,087 median debt.
Clovis Community College earned the #14 position for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the town of Clovis, Clovis Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,592 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $3,344. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $11,082 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $44,390. That is a strong return on a $11,082 median debt.
Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus landed the #15 spot for early childhood education value this year. Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Roswell. Students from in state pay about $2,256 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,616. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $11,110 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $21,129. Set against $11,110 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Trinity Valley Community College placed #16 among the best values for early childhood education. Set in the town of Athens, Trinity Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,640, with out-of-state students paying around $5,970. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $12,323 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $32,623. That is a strong return on a $12,323 median debt.
Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus landed the #17 spot for early childhood education value this year. Located in the town of Portales, Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,074, compared with $9,054 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $41,896. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus admits about 92% of applicants.
Austin Community College District earned the #18 position for value in early childhood education this year. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,550, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $17,785 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $46,430. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Arizona College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Set in the rural area of Coolidge, Central Arizona College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,250, compared with $4,500 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,635 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Central Arizona College earn a median of $48,826 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,635 median debt.
North Central Texas College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Set in the town of Gainesville, North Central Texas College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,600, compared with $5,739 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,352 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from North Central Texas College generally make around $43,536. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tulsa Community College came in at #21 for value in early childhood education this year. Tulsa Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tulsa. Students from in state pay about $3,792 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,720 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $15,789 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Tulsa Community College generally make around $41,718. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
New Mexico State University Dona Ana placed #22 among the best values for early childhood education. Located in the city of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Dona Ana is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,322, while out-of-state students pay about $6,360. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $10,284 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from New Mexico State University Dona Ana generally make around $39,399. Set against $10,284 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kilgore College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Located in the town of Kilgore, Kilgore College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,160, while out-of-state students pay about $5,256. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $16,734 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $44,322. That is a strong return on a $16,734 median debt.
University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus landed the #24 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the town of Gallup, University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,906, with out-of-state students paying around $5,682. Students borrow a median of $10,986 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus generally make around $35,132. That is a strong return on a $10,986 median debt.
Cochise College landed the #25 spot for early childhood education value this year. Cochise College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Sierra Vista. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,280, compared with $6,120 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $12,013 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $40,712. 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 rounded out the top of this year’s early childhood education value ranking:
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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 · 92 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 92 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.
