2027 Best Value Kindergarten/Preschool Education & Teaching Schools in the The Plains States 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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 9 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching students.
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2027 Best Value Kindergarten/Preschool Education & Teaching Schools in the The Plains States 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
Southeast Community College Area tops our 2027 list of the best value kindergarten/preschool education & teaching schools in the The Plains States Region. Set in the city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College Area is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,444 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,032. Students borrow a median of $14,935 to complete the kindergarten/preschool education & teaching program here. Kindergarten/preschool Education & Teaching graduates of Southeast Community College Area earn a median of $44,877 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bemidji State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in kindergarten/preschool education & teaching, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Bemidji, Bemidji State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,237. Typical student debt for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates is $27,757. Early-career kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates make about $48,984. That is a strong return on a $27,757 median debt. Bemidji State University admits about 56% of applicants.
Pittsburg State University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value kindergarten/preschool education & teaching schools. Located in the town of Pittsburg, Pittsburg State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,400, while out-of-state students pay about $19,744. Typical student debt for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates is $22,727. Soon after graduation, kindergarten/preschool education & teaching degree recipients from Pittsburg State University generally make around $45,712. That is a strong return on a $22,727 median debt. Pittsburg State University admits about 89% of applicants.
Black Hills State University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value kindergarten/preschool education & teaching schools. Black Hills State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Spearfish. Students from in state pay about $8,916 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,018. Students borrow a median of $26,312 to complete the kindergarten/preschool education & teaching program here. Early-career kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates make about $51,049. Set against $26,312 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Emporia State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value kindergarten/preschool education & teaching schools. Set in the town of Emporia, Emporia State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,106, while out-of-state students pay about $15,419. Students borrow a median of $23,976 to complete the kindergarten/preschool education & teaching program here. Early-career kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates make about $47,799. Set against $23,976 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Emporia State University admits about 98% of applicants.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #6 position for value in kindergarten/preschool education & teaching this year. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Kindergarten/preschool Education & Teaching graduates carry a median of $21,598 in student loans. Kindergarten/preschool Education & Teaching graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $36,271 early in their careers. Set against $21,598 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri State University Springfield landed the #7 spot for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching value this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the kindergarten/preschool education & teaching program here. Kindergarten/preschool Education & Teaching graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $37,907 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Concordia University Saint Paul landed the #8 spot for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching value this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $25,600. Typical student debt for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates is $25,500. Soon after graduation, kindergarten/preschool education & teaching degree recipients from Concordia University Saint Paul generally make around $42,105. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Martin Luther College earned the #9 position for value in kindergarten/preschool education & teaching this year. Martin Luther College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of New Ulm. Students from in state pay about $18,120 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates is $21,500. Early-career kindergarten/preschool education & teaching graduates make about $46,706. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Martin Luther College admits about 87% of applicants.
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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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.