2027 Best Value Kindergarten/Preschool Education & Teaching Schools in the Southeast 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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 44 schools to find the best return on investment for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Kindergarten/Preschool Education & Teaching Schools in the Southeast 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
Our analysis ranked Durham Technical Community College the best value for a degree in kindergarten/preschool education & teaching in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of Durham, Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,240, compared with $7,531 for out-of-state students. Kindergarten/preschool Education & Teaching graduates carry a median of $25,522 in student loans. Early-career kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates make about $33,260. Set against $25,522 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Piedmont Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in kindergarten/preschool education & teaching, landing the #2 spot this year. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,792, while out-of-state students pay about $8,936. Typical student debt for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates is $9,500. Early-career kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates make about $23,865. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Cleveland Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in kindergarten/preschool education & teaching, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Shelby, Cleveland Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,602, while out-of-state students pay about $8,746. Kindergarten/preschool Education & Teaching graduates carry a median of $7,131 in student loans. Early-career kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates make about $39,891. Set against $7,131 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wayne Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in kindergarten/preschool education & teaching, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Goldsboro, Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,566, compared with $8,710 for out-of-state students. Kindergarten/preschool Education & Teaching graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Kindergarten/preschool Education & Teaching graduates of Wayne Community College earn a median of $33,116 early in their careers. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lenoir Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value kindergarten/preschool education & teaching schools. Lenoir Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Kinston. Students from in state pay about $2,578 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,822 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,984 to complete the kindergarten/preschool education & teaching program here. Early-career kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates make about $27,534. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Johnston Community College earned the #6 position for value in kindergarten/preschool education & teaching this year. Set in the town of Smithfield, Johnston Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,756 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,900 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates is $9,490. Early-career kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates make about $37,472. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Stanly Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value kindergarten/preschool education & teaching schools. Located in the town of Albemarle, Stanly Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,672, while out-of-state students pay about $8,816. Early-career kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates make about $32,147.
Fayetteville Technical Community College landed the #8 spot for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching value this year. Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,628, compared with $8,772 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,653 to complete the kindergarten/preschool education & teaching program here. Kindergarten/preschool Education & Teaching graduates of Fayetteville Technical Community College earn a median of $40,584 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,653 median debt.
Robeson Community College landed the #9 spot for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching value this year. Robeson Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Lumberton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,604, while out-of-state students pay about $8,748. Kindergarten/preschool Education & Teaching graduates carry a median of $9,949 in student loans. Early-career kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates make about $52,951. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Alamance Community College earned the #10 position for value in kindergarten/preschool education & teaching this year. Set in the suburb of Graham, Alamance Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,592, while out-of-state students pay about $8,736. Typical student debt for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates is $6,625. Kindergarten/preschool Education & Teaching graduates of Alamance Community College earn a median of $26,105 early in their careers. Set against $6,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Carolina Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value kindergarten/preschool education & teaching schools. Located in the town of Sanford, Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,711, compared with $8,855 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates is $10,266. Soon after graduation, kindergarten/preschool education & teaching degree recipients from Central Carolina Community College generally make around $38,198. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Richmond Community College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value kindergarten/preschool education & teaching schools. Located in the town of Hamlet, Richmond Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,956, with out-of-state students paying around $6,564. Typical student debt for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates is $8,407. Soon after graduation, kindergarten/preschool education & teaching degree recipients from Richmond Community College generally make around $46,757. That is a strong return on a $8,407 median debt.
Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value kindergarten/preschool education & teaching schools. Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Flat Rock. Students from in state pay about $2,660 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,804. Kindergarten/preschool Education & Teaching graduates carry a median of $16,252 in student loans. Soon after graduation, kindergarten/preschool education & teaching degree recipients from Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock generally make around $42,443. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Marshall University landed the #14 spot for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching value this year. Located in the city of Huntington, Marshall University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,162, compared with $20,342 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates is $25,886. Kindergarten/preschool Education & Teaching graduates of Marshall University earn a median of $41,584 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Marshall University admits about 96% of applicants.
Western Piedmont Community College placed #15 among the best values for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching. Set in the city of Morganton, Western Piedmont Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,650, with out-of-state students paying around $8,794. Kindergarten/preschool Education & Teaching graduates carry a median of $11,999 in student loans. Kindergarten/preschool Education & Teaching graduates of Western Piedmont Community College earn a median of $46,883 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,999 median debt.
Haywood Community College placed #16 among the best values for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching. Located in the rural area of Clyde, Haywood Community College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,580, while out-of-state students pay about $8,724. Early-career kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates make about $28,013.
Northern Kentucky University earned the #17 position for value in kindergarten/preschool education & teaching this year. Set in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,088, compared with $21,912 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the kindergarten/preschool education & teaching program here. Kindergarten/preschool Education & Teaching graduates of Northern Kentucky University earn a median of $41,224 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Elizabeth City State University came in at #18 for value in kindergarten/preschool education & teaching this year. Elizabeth City State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Elizabeth City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,536, with out-of-state students paying around $10,536. Typical student debt for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates is $26,992. Kindergarten/preschool Education & Teaching graduates of Elizabeth City State University earn a median of $28,300 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,992 median debt. Elizabeth City State University admits about 64% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #19 for value in kindergarten/preschool education & teaching this year. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,994 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Students borrow a median of $13,640 to complete the kindergarten/preschool education & teaching program here. Early-career kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates make about $61,361. That is a strong return on a $13,640 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Pembroke placed #20 among the best values for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching. Located in the town of Pembroke, University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,648, while out-of-state students pay about $7,648. Kindergarten/preschool Education & Teaching graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Early-career kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates make about $45,749. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Davidson County Community College placed #21 among the best values for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching. Davidson County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Thomasville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,980, compared with $6,588 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,534 to complete the kindergarten/preschool education & teaching program here. Early-career kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates make about $23,880. Set against $14,534 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Shepherd University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value kindergarten/preschool education & teaching schools. Shepherd University is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Shepherdstown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,056, with out-of-state students paying around $19,082. Kindergarten/preschool Education & Teaching graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, kindergarten/preschool education & teaching degree recipients from Shepherd University generally make around $40,748. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Bladen Community College landed the #23 spot for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching value this year. Bladen Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Dublin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,314, compared with $7,690 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,905 to complete the kindergarten/preschool education & teaching program here. Kindergarten/preschool Education & Teaching graduates of Bladen Community College earn a median of $45,752 early in their careers. Set against $9,905 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Arkansas State University Main Campus ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value kindergarten/preschool education & teaching schools. Set in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,090, with out-of-state students paying around $14,522. Students borrow a median of $21,424 to complete the kindergarten/preschool education & teaching program here. Soon after graduation, kindergarten/preschool education & teaching degree recipients from Arkansas State University Main Campus generally make around $41,939. Set against $21,424 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Mississippi Valley State University earned the #25 position for value in kindergarten/preschool education & teaching this year. Set in the rural area of Itta Bena, Mississippi Valley State University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,692 in tuition and fees. Median earnings reach $31,919 ten years out. Mississippi Valley State University admits about 92% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 44 Best Value Kindergarten/Preschool Education & Teaching Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s kindergarten/preschool education & teaching value ranking:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 44 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 44 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.
