2027 Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Southwest Region
Early Childhood Education degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 69 schools to find the best for early childhood education students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Early Childhood Education in the Southwest Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the early childhood education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Early Childhood Education
Leading the list is Collin County Community College District, our #1 school for early childhood education. Set in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public institution. About 35 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Collin County Community College District in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Collin County Community College District generally make around $42,177. Collin County Community College District graduates carry a median of $9,125 in student loans.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Collin County Community College District
Texas Christian University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education, landing the #2 spot this year. Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Worth. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 48 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Texas Christian University in the most recent year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $55,814 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,287 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Texas Christian University
Arizona State University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best early childhood education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tempe. Arizona State University graduates 68% of students within six years. Arizona State University awarded about 54 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Arizona State University earn around $49,402 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,375 to complete this degree.
Get the full early childhood education details for Arizona State University
A rank of #4 makes Grayson College one of the top schools for early childhood education. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Denison. About 11 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Grayson College in the most recent year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $42,487 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,627.
Get the full early childhood education details for Grayson College
Tarrant County College District is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public university. There were roughly 63 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Tarrant County College District in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Tarrant County College District earn around $24,507 in the first couple years of their career. Tarrant County College District graduates carry a median of $9,750 in student loans.
See the full early childhood education program report for Tarrant County College District
Odessa College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best early childhood education schools. This large public university is located in the city of Odessa. Odessa College awarded about 93 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $47,856 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,087 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Odessa College
Austin Community College District landed the #7 spot for early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public university. There were roughly 69 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Austin Community College District in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Austin Community College District generally make around $46,430. Austin Community College District graduates carry a median of $17,785 in student loans.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Austin Community College District
Tyler Junior College placed #8 among the best early childhood education schools. This large public university is located in the city of Tyler. About 59 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Tyler Junior College in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Tyler Junior College earn a median of $43,348 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Tyler Junior College
Northwest Vista College earned the #9 position for early childhood education this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, Northwest Vista College is a very large public institution. Northwest Vista College awarded about 101 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Northwest Vista College earn a median of $22,352 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $8,750.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Northwest Vista College
Glendale Community College Glendale Az earned the #10 position for early childhood education this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Glendale. About 42 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Glendale Community College Glendale Az in the most recent year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $51,483 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,996.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Glendale Community College Glendale Az
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #11 spot for early childhood education this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Norman. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 26 early childhood education degrees were awarded at University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus generally make around $46,244. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus graduates carry a median of $22,626 in student loans.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus
Northern Arizona University came in at #12 for early childhood education this year. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northern Arizona University awarded about 14 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Northern Arizona University earn around $47,551 in the first couple years of their career. Northern Arizona University graduates carry a median of $18,600 in student loans.
Get the full early childhood education details for Northern Arizona University
San Jacinto Community College earned the #13 position for early childhood education this year. San Jacinto Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. San Jacinto Community College awarded about 138 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $19,581 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
See the full early childhood education program report for San Jacinto Community College
Weatherford College placed #14 among the best early childhood education schools. Set in the town of Weatherford, Weatherford College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 19 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Weatherford College in the most recent year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $48,208 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,099 to complete this degree.
See the full early childhood education program report for Weatherford College
Lone Star College System placed #15 among the best early childhood education schools. Located in the city of The Woodlands, Lone Star College System is a very large public university. Lone Star College System awarded about 204 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Lone Star College System earn around $20,236 in the first couple years of their career. Lone Star College System graduates carry a median of $8,479 in student loans.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Lone Star College System
Cochise College came in at #16 for early childhood education this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Sierra Vista. There were roughly 15 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Cochise College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Cochise College generally make around $40,712. Cochise College graduates carry a median of $12,013 in student loans.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Cochise College
North Central Texas College landed the #17 spot for early childhood education this year. Set in the town of Gainesville, North Central Texas College is a large public institution. About 12 early childhood education degrees were awarded at North Central Texas College in the most recent year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from North Central Texas College earn around $43,536 in the first couple years of their career. North Central Texas College graduates carry a median of $16,352 in student loans.
See the full early childhood education program report for North Central Texas College
Palo Alto College landed the #18 spot for early childhood education this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, Palo Alto College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 56 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Palo Alto College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Palo Alto College generally make around $29,062. Typical student debt for the program is $9,430.
See the full early childhood education program report for Palo Alto College
Arizona State University Skysong earned the #19 position for early childhood education this year. Arizona State University Skysong is a very large public school located in the city of Scottsdale. There were roughly 49 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Arizona State University Skysong in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Arizona State University Skysong earn a median of $52,069 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,870 to complete this degree.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Arizona State University Skysong
College Of The Mainland ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 11 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at College Of The Mainland in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from College Of The Mainland earn around $40,788 in the first couple years of their career. College Of The Mainland graduates carry a median of $10,928 in student loans.
Read more about the early childhood education program at College Of The Mainland
Central New Mexico Community College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best early childhood education schools. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public university. About 92 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Central New Mexico Community College in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Central New Mexico Community College earn a median of $29,708 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,625.
Get the full early childhood education details for Central New Mexico Community College
Arizona Western College placed #22 among the best early childhood education schools. This large public university is located in the city of Yuma. Arizona Western College awarded about 28 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Arizona Western College earn around $44,895 in the first couple years of their career.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Arizona Western College
El Centro College earned the #23 position for early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public institution. About 480 early childhood education degrees were awarded at El Centro College in the most recent year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $25,385 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the early childhood education program at El Centro College
Mesa Community College placed #24 among the best early childhood education schools. Mesa Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Mesa. About 61 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Mesa Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Mesa Community College earn around $54,730 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete this degree.
See the full early childhood education program report for Mesa Community College
Alvin Community College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best early childhood education schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Alvin. There were roughly 12 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Alvin Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $55,057 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,600.
Get the full early childhood education details for Alvin Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Early Childhood Education Schools
These schools also placed among the best for early childhood education this year:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 69 schools evaluated.
- 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.
