2027 Best Value Child Care Provider/Assistant Schools in Iowa
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for child care provider/assistant students.
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2027 Best Value Child Care Provider/Assistant Schools in Iowa
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the child care provider/assistant degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Child Care Provider/Assistant Schools
Western Iowa Tech Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value child care provider/assistant schools in Iowa. Set in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,186, compared with $5,330 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for child care provider/assistant graduates is $8,837. Early-career child care provider/assistant graduates make about $35,742. Set against $8,837 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hawkeye Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in child care provider/assistant, landing the #2 spot this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $6,612. Students borrow a median of $17,001 to complete the child care provider/assistant program here. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates of Hawkeye Community College earn a median of $41,902 early in their careers. Set against $17,001 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwestern Community College Creston came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value child care provider/assistant schools. Set in the town of Creston, Southwestern Community College Creston is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,064, with out-of-state students paying around $8,316. Typical student debt for child care provider/assistant graduates is $15,881. Soon after graduation, child care provider/assistant degree recipients from Southwestern Community College Creston generally make around $46,106. Set against $15,881 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in child care provider/assistant will find it at Des Moines Area Community College, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,790, 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.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar earned it the #5 place for child care provider/assistant. 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, compared with $7,770 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,348 to complete the child care provider/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, child care provider/assistant degree recipients from Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar generally make around $39,833. Set against $14,348 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Eastern Iowa Community College District earned the #6 position for value in child care provider/assistant this year. Located in the city of Davenport, Eastern Iowa Community College District is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,848, while out-of-state students pay about $6,456. Students borrow a median of $15,995 to complete the child care provider/assistant program here. Early-career child care provider/assistant graduates make about $41,510. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Iowa Western Community College landed the #7 spot for child care provider/assistant value this year. Set in the suburb of Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,930, with out-of-state students paying around $7,080. Typical student debt for child care provider/assistant graduates is $15,153. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates of Iowa Western Community College earn a median of $43,444 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
