2027 Best Value Early Childhood And Family Studies Schools

[Early Childhood And Family Studies](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/early-childhood-and-family-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong early childhood and family studies education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 19 schools to find the best return on investment for early childhood and family studies students.
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Finding the Best Value Early Childhood And Family Studies School for You
Where you study early childhood and family studies affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we developed our Best Value Early Childhood And Family Studies Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Learn more about our methodology
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Early Childhood And Family Studies Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
2027 Best Value Early Childhood And Family Studies Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in early childhood and family studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Early Childhood And Family Studies Schools
For return on investment in early childhood and family studies, no school beat Modesto Junior College this year. Located in the city of Modesto, Modesto Junior College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,282, while out-of-state students pay about $9,264. Early Childhood And Family Studies graduates carry a median of $9,136 in student loans. Early-career early childhood and family studies graduates make about $36,525. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Southern Nevada came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood and family studies schools. Located in the city of Las Vegas, College Of Southern Nevada is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,358, compared with $13,024 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood and family studies graduates is $9,980. Early-career early childhood and family studies graduates make about $35,850. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Texas College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in early childhood and family studies, landing the #3 spot this year. South Texas College is a very large public school located in the city of McAllen. In-state tuition and fees average $4,920, with out-of-state students paying around $7,620. Students borrow a median of $6,868 to complete the early childhood and family studies program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood and family studies degree recipients from South Texas College generally make around $19,971. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in early childhood and family studies will find it at Dyersburg State Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the town of Dyersburg, Dyersburg State Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,758, with out-of-state students paying around $18,060. Students borrow a median of $10,611 to complete the early childhood and family studies program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood and family studies degree recipients from Dyersburg State Community College generally make around $41,177. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The University Of Texas Pan American came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood and family studies schools. Set in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,799 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,645. Typical student debt for early childhood and family studies graduates is $20,871. Soon after graduation, early childhood and family studies degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $26,897. That is a strong return on a $20,871 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
College Of The Ozarks earned the #6 position for value in early childhood and family studies this year. Located in the town of Point Lookout, College Of The Ozarks is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $22,360. Soon after graduation, early childhood and family studies degree recipients from College Of The Ozarks generally make around $37,944. College Of The Ozarks admits about 12% of applicants.
Holyoke Community College earned the #7 position for value in early childhood and family studies this year. Located in the rural area of Holyoke, Holyoke Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,988 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,932. Typical student debt for early childhood and family studies graduates is $9,763. Early-career early childhood and family studies graduates make about $43,423. That is a strong return on a $9,763 median debt.
South Central College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood and family studies schools. South Central College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of North Mankato. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,146. Students borrow a median of $13,139 to complete the early childhood and family studies program here. Early Childhood And Family Studies graduates of South Central College earn a median of $46,447 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,139 median debt.
American Public University System came in at #9 for value in early childhood and family studies this year. Set in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $8,400 in tuition and fees. Early Childhood And Family Studies graduates carry a median of $26,340 in student loans. Early-career early childhood and family studies graduates make about $27,587. That is a strong return on a $26,340 median debt.
National Louis University landed the #10 spot for early childhood and family studies value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,245. Typical student debt for early childhood and family studies graduates is $28,096. Early-career early childhood and family studies graduates make about $47,354. Set against $28,096 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. National Louis University admits about 95% of applicants.
Rose State College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood and family studies schools. Located in the suburb of Midwest City, Rose State College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,030, compared with $11,407 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,451 to complete the early childhood and family studies program here. Early Childhood And Family Studies graduates of Rose State College earn a median of $50,860 early in their careers. Set against $13,451 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Utah placed #12 among the best values for early childhood and family studies. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,620, with out-of-state students paying around $30,860. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete the early childhood and family studies program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood and family studies degree recipients from University Of Utah generally make around $35,467. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Utah admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln landed the #13 spot for early childhood and family studies value this year. Located in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,434 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,584. Early Childhood And Family Studies graduates carry a median of $22,386 in student loans. Early Childhood And Family Studies graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $49,451 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood and family studies schools. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,356. Early Childhood And Family Studies graduates carry a median of $26,057 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood and family studies degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University World Campus generally make around $33,375. That is a strong return on a $26,057 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan State University landed the #15 spot for early childhood and family studies value this year. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Early Childhood And Family Studies graduates carry a median of $29,750 in student loans. Early-career early childhood and family studies graduates make about $54,166. That is a strong return on a $29,750 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Columbia placed #16 among the best values for early childhood and family studies. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood And Family Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early Childhood And Family Studies graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $53,134 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. University Of Missouri Columbia admits about 78% of applicants.
Tarleton State University earned the #17 position for value in early childhood and family studies this year. Tarleton State University is a large public school located in the town of Stephenville. Students from in state pay about $8,302 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,142. Early Childhood And Family Studies graduates carry a median of $23,222 in student loans. Early-career early childhood and family studies graduates make about $50,532. That is a strong return on a $23,222 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
The University Of Alabama landed the #18 spot for early childhood and family studies value this year. The University Of Alabama is a very large public school located in the city of Tuscaloosa. In-state tuition and fees average $12,180, with out-of-state students paying around $34,172. Typical student debt for early childhood and family studies graduates is $25,000. Early-career early childhood and family studies graduates make about $30,264. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Alabama admits about 77% of applicants.
Eastern University placed #19 among the best values for early childhood and family studies. Set in the suburb of Saint Davids, Eastern University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $38,400 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $28,584 to complete the early childhood and family studies program here. Early Childhood And Family Studies graduates of Eastern University earn a median of $50,474 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,584 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.