2027 Best Value Kindergarten/Preschool Education & Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Kindergarten/Preschool Education & Teaching](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/kindergarten-preschool-education-and-teaching/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value kindergarten/preschool education & teaching schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Kindergarten/Preschool Education & Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in kindergarten/preschool education & teaching, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Kindergarten/Preschool Education & Teaching Schools
Sinclair Community College earned the #1 spot for value among kindergarten/preschool education & teaching schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,675, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. Typical student debt for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates is $12,129. Soon after graduation, kindergarten/preschool education & teaching degree recipients from Sinclair Community College generally make around $24,950. Set against $12,129 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Stark State College earned it the #2 place for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching. Located in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,790, while out-of-state students pay about $7,886. Students borrow a median of $17,349 to complete the kindergarten/preschool education & teaching program here. Soon after graduation, kindergarten/preschool education & teaching degree recipients from Stark State College generally make around $42,724. That is a strong return on a $17,349 median debt.
Eastern Illinois University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value kindergarten/preschool education & teaching schools. Eastern Illinois University is a large public school located in the town of Charleston. In-state tuition and fees average $13,377, while out-of-state students pay about $15,859. Kindergarten/preschool Education & Teaching graduates carry a median of $22,075 in student loans. Kindergarten/preschool Education & Teaching graduates of Eastern Illinois University earn a median of $41,582 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Eastern Illinois University admits about 65% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kent State University At Tuscarawas earned it the #4 place for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching. Located in the town of New Philadelphia, Kent State University At Tuscarawas is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,211, compared with $17,969 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates is $21,637. Soon after graduation, kindergarten/preschool education & teaching degree recipients from Kent State University At Tuscarawas generally make around $25,808. Set against $21,637 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ball State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value kindergarten/preschool education & teaching schools. Set in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,082, with out-of-state students paying around $29,630. Students borrow a median of $24,655 to complete the kindergarten/preschool education & teaching program here. Kindergarten/preschool Education & Teaching graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $48,051 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Kent State University At Salem came in at #6 for value in kindergarten/preschool education & teaching this year. Located in the rural area of Salem, Kent State University At Salem is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,211, compared with $17,969 for out-of-state students. Kindergarten/preschool Education & Teaching graduates carry a median of $21,637 in student loans. Soon after graduation, kindergarten/preschool education & teaching degree recipients from Kent State University At Salem generally make around $25,808. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Shawnee State University came in at #7 for value in kindergarten/preschool education & teaching this year. Located in the town of Portsmouth, Shawnee State University is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,448, with out-of-state students paying around $16,032. Students borrow a median of $25,233 to complete the kindergarten/preschool education & teaching program here. Soon after graduation, kindergarten/preschool education & teaching degree recipients from Shawnee State University generally make around $42,878. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College landed the #8 spot for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching value this year. Set in the suburb of Blue Ash, University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,106, with out-of-state students paying around $15,904. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete the kindergarten/preschool education & teaching program here. Kindergarten/preschool Education & Teaching graduates of University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College earn a median of $29,867 early in their careers. Set against $15,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Park University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value kindergarten/preschool education & teaching schools. Set in the city of Chicago, North Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,710. Kindergarten/preschool Education & Teaching graduates carry a median of $27,360 in student loans. Soon after graduation, kindergarten/preschool education & teaching degree recipients from North Park University generally make around $46,168. Set against $27,360 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Siena Heights University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value kindergarten/preschool education & teaching schools. Siena Heights University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Adrian. In-state tuition and fees average $30,778. Typical student debt for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates is $25,790. Kindergarten/preschool Education & Teaching graduates of Siena Heights University earn a median of $52,293 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,790 median debt. Siena Heights University admits about 69% of applicants.
Bowling Green State University Firelands earned the #11 position for value in kindergarten/preschool education & teaching this year. Located in the rural area of Huron, Bowling Green State University Firelands is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,131, with out-of-state students paying around $14,119. Students borrow a median of $13,090 to complete the kindergarten/preschool education & teaching program here. Early-career kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates make about $45,610. That is a strong return on a $13,090 median debt.
Olivet Nazarene University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value kindergarten/preschool education & teaching schools. Set in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,900. Typical student debt for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates is $26,951. Early-career kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates make about $44,072. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Olivet Nazarene University admits about 56% of applicants.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #13 for value in kindergarten/preschool education & teaching this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,363 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Typical student debt for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates is $21,313. Kindergarten/preschool Education & Teaching graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $34,737 early in their careers. Set against $21,313 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Loyola University Chicago earned the #14 position for value in kindergarten/preschool education & teaching this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $53,710. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the kindergarten/preschool education & teaching program here. Soon after graduation, kindergarten/preschool education & teaching degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $58,568. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Loyola University Chicago admits about 82% of applicants.
Narrow Kindergarten/Preschool Education & Teaching Schools by State
More Kindergarten/Preschool Education & Teaching Rankings
View All Kindergarten/Preschool Education & Teaching Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
