by our College Data Analytics Team
[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.
College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value early childhood education schools.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the early childhood education degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in early childhood education, no school beat Ridgewater College this year. Located in the town of Willmar, Ridgewater College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,121. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $15,556. Early Childhood Education graduates of Ridgewater College earn a median of $42,178 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Saint Cloud State University one of the best values for early childhood education. Saint Cloud State University is a large public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,245. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $25,449 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $40,580. That is a strong return on a $25,449 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Alexandria Technical And Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education, landing the #3 spot this year. Alexandria Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Alexandria. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,236. Students borrow a median of $14,054 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $26,671. Set against $14,054 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,161 in tuition and fees. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $24,036 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $43,164. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwest Minnesota State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Southwest Minnesota State University is a large public school located in the town of Marshall. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,361. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $41,333. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southwest Minnesota State University admits about 62% of applicants.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities landed the #6 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $21,598 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $36,271. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Minnesota State College Southeast Technical landed the #7 spot for early childhood education value this year. Minnesota State College Southeast Technical is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Winona. In-state tuition and fees average $6,432. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $22,522. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Minnesota State College Southeast Technical generally make around $50,290. Set against $22,522 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Winona State University earned the #8 position for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,576, compared with $17,308 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $26,470 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Winona State University earn a median of $42,519 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,470 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Metropolitan State University landed the #9 spot for early childhood education value this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,840. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $28,279 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $42,471. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Capella University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a very large private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,400. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $35,998 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $65,786. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rasmussen College Minnesota earned the #11 position for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the city of St. Cloud, Rasmussen College Minnesota is a large private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,199. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $17,722 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $28,188. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Minnesota State University Moorhead placed #12 among the best values for early childhood education. Located in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,428 in tuition and fees. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Minnesota State University Moorhead generally make around $43,245. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 59%.
Concordia University Saint Paul placed #13 among the best values for early childhood education. Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,600. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Concordia University Saint Paul earn a median of $42,105 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Martin Luther College earned the #14 position for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the town of New Ulm, Martin Luther College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $18,120 in tuition and fees. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Martin Luther College earn a median of $46,706 early in their careers. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
St Catherine University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Located in the city of Saint Paul, St Catherine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $38,428 in tuition and fees. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $29,883 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from St Catherine University generally make around $60,427. Set against $29,883 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Hamline University placed #16 among the best values for early childhood education. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $50,004. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $25,530 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Hamline University earn a median of $59,462 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,530 median debt. Hamline University admits about 88% of applicants.
Northwestern College Minnesota landed the #17 spot for early childhood education value this year. Northwestern College Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Paul. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,920. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $25,250. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Northwestern College Minnesota generally make around $39,621. That is a strong return on a $25,250 median debt. Northwestern College Minnesota admits about 94% of applicants.
Walden University earned the #18 position for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Walden University is a very large private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,067. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $47,261 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Walden University earn a median of $41,927 early in their careers. Set against $47,261 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.