2027 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools in Missouri
[Early Childhood Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/early-childhood-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 21 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 Missouri
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
University Of Missouri Kansas City earned the #1 spot for value among early childhood education schools in Missouri. Set in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,371, while out-of-state students pay about $32,271. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of University Of Missouri Kansas City earn a median of $39,942 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Missouri Kansas City admits about 72% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of The Ozarks earned it the #2 place for early childhood education. Set in the town of Point Lookout, College Of The Ozarks is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $22,360. Early Childhood Education graduates of College Of The Ozarks earn a median of $32,676 early in their careers. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Central Missouri one of the best values for early childhood education. University Of Central Missouri is a large public school located in the town of Warrensburg. Students from in state pay about $10,050 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,600 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $24,199 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from University Of Central Missouri generally make around $38,947. Set against $24,199 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Missouri Western State University earned it the #4 place for early childhood education. Missouri Western State University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Saint Joseph. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,545, while out-of-state students pay about $18,455. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $21,352. Early Childhood Education graduates of Missouri Western State University earn a median of $33,695 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,352 median debt.
Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Located in the rural area of Fayette, Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $7,500 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $20,431. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $32,393. That is a strong return on a $20,431 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri St Louis earned the #6 position for value in early childhood education this year. University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,120, while out-of-state students pay about $37,620. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $23,375. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $42,019. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Harris Stowe State University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Saint Louis, Harris Stowe State University is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,008 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,640. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $32,394. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Harris Stowe State University generally make around $31,173. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southeast Missouri State University placed #8 among the best values for early childhood education. Set in the city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,903. Students borrow a median of $22,995 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $37,061. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southeast Missouri State University admits about 74% of applicants.
Northwest Missouri State University earned the #9 position for value in early childhood education this year. Northwest Missouri State University is a large public school located in the town of Maryville. In-state tuition and fees average $10,611, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Northwest Missouri State University generally make around $37,066. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Missouri State University Springfield landed the #10 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $26,500. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $37,907. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri Valley College earned the #11 position for value in early childhood education this year. Missouri Valley College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Marshall. Students from in state pay about $23,700 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $27,892. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Missouri Valley College generally make around $44,318. That is a strong return on a $27,892 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #12 for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,837, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $20,867 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $37,302 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Evangel University earned the #13 position for value in early childhood education this year. Evangel University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. Students from in state pay about $28,548 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $27,000. Early Childhood Education graduates of Evangel University earn a median of $36,005 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Evangel University admits about 72% of applicants.
Lindenwood University came in at #14 for value in early childhood education this year. Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Charles. In-state tuition and fees average $21,600. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Lindenwood University generally make around $39,941. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Lindenwood University admits about 57% of applicants.
Park University placed #15 among the best values for early childhood education. Set in the suburb of Parkville, Park University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $12,116 in tuition and fees. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $25,732 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $36,667. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Baptist Bible College landed the #16 spot for early childhood education value this year. Baptist Bible College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. Students from in state pay about $16,950 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,641 ten years after entry.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis came in at #17 for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,166. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Maryville University Of Saint Louis earn a median of $67,909 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Set in the rural area of Fayette, Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,620. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $20,431. Early Childhood Education graduates of Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences earn a median of $32,393 early in their careers. Set against $20,431 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Hannibal Lagrange College earned the #19 position for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the town of Hannibal, Hannibal Lagrange College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,880. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Hannibal Lagrange College generally make around $32,927. Set against $25,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Westminster College Missouri ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Located in the town of Fulton, Westminster College Missouri is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,214. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $25,335 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $37,667. Set against $25,335 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Missouri Baptist University landed the #21 spot for early childhood education value this year. Missouri Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $33,122. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Missouri Baptist University generally make around $38,068. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
More Early Childhood Education Rankings
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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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 21 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.
