2027 Best Value Early Childhood And Family Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools

[Early Childhood And Family Studies](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/early-childhood-and-family-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 11 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for early childhood and family studies students.
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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
The University Of Texas Pan American tops our 2027 list of the best value early childhood and family studies schools in the United States. The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public school located in the city of Edinburg. In-state tuition and fees average $9,799, 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. Set against $20,871 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Students looking for strong value in early childhood and family studies will find it at College Of The Ozarks, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Point Lookout, College Of The Ozarks is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at American Public University System earned it the #3 place for early childhood and family studies. Set in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,400. Early Childhood And Family Studies graduates carry a median of $36,275 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood and family studies degree recipients from American Public University System generally make around $34,347. 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 National Louis University, which ranked #4. National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $13,245. Typical student debt for early childhood and family studies graduates is $28,096. Early Childhood And Family Studies graduates of National Louis University earn a median of $46,954 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,096 median debt. National Louis University admits about 95% of applicants.
University Of Utah came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood and family studies schools. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,620 in tuition and fees, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood and family studies graduates is $15,500. 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. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus earned the #6 position for value in early childhood and family studies this year. 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. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the early childhood and family studies program here. Early-career early childhood and family studies graduates make about $34,030. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Michigan State University earned the #7 position for value in early childhood and family studies this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $29,750 to complete the early childhood and family studies program here. Early-career early childhood and family studies graduates make about $54,166. Set against $29,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value early childhood and family studies schools. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. In-state tuition and fees average $14,837, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. Early Childhood And Family Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood and family studies degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $53,134. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Tarleton State University placed #9 among the best values for early childhood and family studies. Set in the town of Stephenville, Tarleton State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,302, compared with $18,142 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood and family studies graduates is $23,222. Soon after graduation, early childhood and family studies degree recipients from Tarleton State University generally make around $50,532. Set against $23,222 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Alabama earned the #10 position for value in early childhood and family studies this year. The University Of Alabama is a very large public school located in the city of Tuscaloosa. Students from in state pay about $12,180 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,172 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the early childhood and family studies program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood and family studies degree recipients from The University Of Alabama generally make around $30,264. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Eastern University landed the #11 spot for early childhood and family studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Davids, Eastern University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $38,400. Typical student debt for early childhood and family studies graduates is $28,584. Early Childhood And Family Studies graduates of Eastern University earn a median of $50,474 early in their careers. Set against $28,584 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Other Early Childhood And Family Studies Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Early Childhood And Family Studies rankings across degree levels:
View All Early Childhood And Family Studies Rankings >
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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.