2027 Best Value Child Care Provider/Assistant Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Child Care Provider/Assistant](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/child-care-provider-assistant/) 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 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for child care provider/assistant students.
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2027 Best Value Child Care Provider/Assistant Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in child care provider/assistant, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Child Care Provider/Assistant Schools
Moberly Area Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value child care provider/assistant schools in the The Plains States Region. Set in the town of Moberly, Moberly Area Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,110, while out-of-state students pay about $8,640. Typical student debt for child care provider/assistant graduates is $12,507. Early-career child care provider/assistant graduates make about $44,755. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Ozarks Technical Community College one of the best values for child care provider/assistant. Set in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,256, while out-of-state students pay about $7,040. Typical student debt for child care provider/assistant graduates is $21,000. Early-career child care provider/assistant graduates make about $27,003. Set against $21,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Washburn Institute Of Technology one of the best values for child care provider/assistant. Located in the city of Topeka, Washburn Institute Of Technology is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $8,880 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for child care provider/assistant graduates is $11,362. Soon after graduation, child care provider/assistant degree recipients from Washburn Institute Of Technology generally make around $39,749. Set against $11,362 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Western Iowa Tech Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value child care provider/assistant schools. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Sioux City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,186, with out-of-state students paying around $5,330. Typical student debt for child care provider/assistant graduates is $8,837. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates of Western Iowa Tech Community College earn a median of $35,742 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,837 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southeast Community College Area earned it the #5 place for child care provider/assistant. Located in the city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College Area is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,444 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,032. Typical student debt for child care provider/assistant graduates is $16,165. Early-career child care provider/assistant graduates make about $29,534. That is a strong return on a $16,165 median debt.
South Central College earned the #6 position for value in child care provider/assistant this year. Set in the suburb of North Mankato, South Central College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,146. Typical student debt for child care provider/assistant graduates is $13,139. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates of South Central College earn a median of $46,447 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hawkeye Community College placed #7 among the best values for child care provider/assistant. Set in the rural area of Waterloo, Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,525, while out-of-state students pay about $6,612. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates carry a median of $17,001 in student loans. Early-career child care provider/assistant graduates make about $41,902. That is a strong return on a $17,001 median debt.
Southwestern Community College Creston landed the #8 spot for child care provider/assistant value this year. Southwestern Community College Creston is a small public school located in the town of Creston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,064, compared with $8,316 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,881 to complete the child care provider/assistant program here. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates of Southwestern Community College Creston earn a median of $46,106 early in their careers. Set against $15,881 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Des Moines Area Community College earned the #9 position for value in child care provider/assistant this year. Set in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,790 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates carry a median of $11,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child care provider/assistant degree recipients from Des Moines Area Community College generally make around $22,623. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar landed the #10 spot for child care provider/assistant value this year. Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Calmar. Students from in state pay about $6,780 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,770. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates carry a median of $14,348 in student loans. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates of Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar earn a median of $39,833 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,348 median debt.
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value child care provider/assistant schools. Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,326. Typical student debt for child care provider/assistant graduates is $17,650. Early-career child care provider/assistant graduates make about $32,055. Set against $17,650 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pine Technical College earned the #12 position for value in child care provider/assistant this year. Located in the rural area of Pine City, Pine Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,738 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for child care provider/assistant graduates is $22,454. Soon after graduation, child care provider/assistant degree recipients from Pine Technical College generally make around $44,905. Set against $22,454 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Minneapolis Community And Technical College placed #13 among the best values for child care provider/assistant. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,161. Students borrow a median of $29,500 to complete the child care provider/assistant program here. Early-career child care provider/assistant graduates make about $43,164. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Eastern Iowa Community College District landed the #14 spot for child care provider/assistant value this year. Located in the city of Davenport, Eastern Iowa Community College District is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,848 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,456 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for child care provider/assistant graduates is $15,995. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates of Eastern Iowa Community College District earn a median of $41,510 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,995 median debt.
Iowa Western Community College came in at #15 for value in child care provider/assistant this year. Set in the suburb of Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,930 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,080. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates carry a median of $15,153 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child care provider/assistant degree recipients from Iowa Western Community College generally make around $43,444. Set against $15,153 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Dakota State University Main Campus landed the #16 spot for child care provider/assistant value this year. North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Fargo. Students from in state pay about $10,910 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,564 for out-of-state students. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates carry a median of $26,569 in student loans. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates of North Dakota State University Main Campus earn a median of $54,076 early in their careers. Set against $26,569 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. North Dakota State University Main Campus admits about 95% of applicants.
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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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
