2026 Best Value Child Care & Support Services Management Schools in the The Plains States Region

[Child Care & Support Services Management](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/child-care-and-support-services-management/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong child care & support services management education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 35 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value child care & support services management schools.
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2026 Best Value Child Care & Support Services Management Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in child care & support services management, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Child Care & Support Services Management Schools
Allen County Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value child care & support services management schools in the The Plains States Region. Allen County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Iola. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,260, with out-of-state students paying around $4,860. Typical student debt for child care & support services management graduates is $10,032. Early-career child care & support services management graduates make about $25,323. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Central Community College one of the best values for child care & support services management. Located in the city of Grand Island, Central Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,360, compared with $4,800 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,277 to complete the child care & support services management program here. Soon after graduation, child care & support services management degree recipients from Central Community College generally make around $43,218. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Salina Area Technical College one of the best values for child care & support services management. Salina Area Technical College is a small public school located in the town of Salina. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,128. Child Care & Support Services Management graduates carry a median of $17,124 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child care & support services management degree recipients from Salina Area Technical College generally make around $38,440. That is a strong return on a $17,124 median debt.
Cowley County Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in child care & support services management, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Arkansas City, Cowley County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,800, with out-of-state students paying around $6,600. Child Care & Support Services Management graduates carry a median of $9,312 in student loans. Child Care & Support Services Management graduates of Cowley County Community College earn a median of $34,099 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,312 median debt.
State Fair Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value child care & support services management schools. Set in the town of Sedalia, State Fair Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,176, compared with $7,416 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,328 to complete the child care & support services management program here. Child Care & Support Services Management graduates of State Fair Community College earn a median of $39,168 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southeast Community College Area came in at #6 for value in child care & support services management this year. Set in the city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College Area is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,444, while out-of-state students pay about $4,032. Typical student debt for child care & support services management graduates is $16,165. Early-career child care & support services management graduates make about $29,534. Set against $16,165 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Central College landed the #7 spot for child care & support services management value this year. South Central College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of North Mankato. In-state tuition and fees average $6,146. Child Care & Support Services Management graduates carry a median of $13,139 in student loans. Early-career child care & support services management graduates make about $46,447. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pine Technical College landed the #8 spot for child care & support services management value this year. Set in the rural area of Pine City, Pine Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,738. Child Care & Support Services Management graduates carry a median of $22,454 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child care & support services management degree recipients from Pine Technical College generally make around $44,905. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff placed #9 among the best values for child care & support services management. Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Poplar Bluff. Students from in state pay about $4,830 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,060. Typical student debt for child care & support services management graduates is $11,350. Soon after graduation, child care & support services management degree recipients from Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff generally make around $37,259. Set against $11,350 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Central Missouri College earned the #10 position for value in child care & support services management this year. Set in the town of Trenton, North Central Missouri College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,370 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,820. Students borrow a median of $16,685 to complete the child care & support services management program here. Child Care & Support Services Management graduates of North Central Missouri College earn a median of $26,867 early in their careers. Set against $16,685 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mineral Area College earned the #11 position for value in child care & support services management this year. Mineral Area College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Park Hills. In-state tuition and fees average $5,660, with out-of-state students paying around $8,570. Child Care & Support Services Management graduates carry a median of $11,175 in student loans. Early-career child care & support services management graduates make about $46,535. That is a strong return on a $11,175 median debt.
Mayville State University placed #12 among the best values for child care & support services management. Located in the rural area of Mayville, Mayville State University is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,979, compared with $11,237 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for child care & support services management graduates is $27,464. Soon after graduation, child care & support services management degree recipients from Mayville State University generally make around $49,971. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southeast Missouri State University came in at #13 for value in child care & support services management this year. Southeast Missouri State University is a large public school located in the city of Cape Girardeau. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,903. Students borrow a median of $23,289 to complete the child care & support services management program here. Soon after graduation, child care & support services management degree recipients from Southeast Missouri State University generally make around $43,255. Set against $23,289 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies placed #14 among the best values for child care & support services management. Located in the rural area of Fayette, Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,500. Child Care & Support Services Management graduates carry a median of $23,246 in student loans. Early-career child care & support services management graduates make about $32,588. That is a strong return on a $23,246 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Southeast Technical Institute placed #15 among the best values for child care & support services management. Set in the city of Sioux Falls, Southeast Technical Institute is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,650 in tuition and fees. Child Care & Support Services Management graduates carry a median of $18,442 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child care & support services management degree recipients from Southeast Technical Institute generally make around $48,654. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 35 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.