by our College Data Analytics Team
[Kindergarten/Preschool Education & Teaching](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/kindergarten-preschool-education-and-teaching/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong kindergarten/preschool education & teaching education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in kindergarten/preschool education & teaching, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Luna Community College, our #1 best value for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching in New Mexico. Luna Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Las Vegas. In-state tuition and fees average $1,474, while out-of-state students pay about $3,418. Early-career kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates make about $32,091.
University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in kindergarten/preschool education & teaching, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Gallup, University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,906 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,682. Typical student debt for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates is $10,986. Soon after graduation, kindergarten/preschool education & teaching degree recipients from University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus generally make around $20,646. Set against $10,986 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes New Mexico Junior College one of the best values for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching. New Mexico Junior College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Hobbs. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,440, with out-of-state students paying around $2,280. Typical student debt for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates is $9,986. Soon after graduation, kindergarten/preschool education & teaching degree recipients from New Mexico Junior College generally make around $50,220. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western New Mexico University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in kindergarten/preschool education & teaching, landing the #4 spot this year. Western New Mexico University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Silver City. Students from in state pay about $7,855 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,341 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,425 to complete the kindergarten/preschool education & teaching program here. Early-career kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates make about $48,366. Set against $27,425 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
New Mexico Highlands University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in kindergarten/preschool education & teaching, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Las Vegas, New Mexico Highlands University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,416, while out-of-state students pay about $12,336. Kindergarten/preschool Education & Teaching graduates carry a median of $18,375 in student loans. Early-career kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates make about $41,352. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.