2026 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools

1

Frederick Community College
Frederick, MD

For return on investment in early childhood education, no school beat Frederick Community College this year. Frederick Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Frederick. Students from in state pay about $3,849 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,042. Students borrow a median of $10,778 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Frederick Community College earn a median of $43,733 early in their careers. Set against $10,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

2

Cuny Hunter College
New York, NY

Cuny Hunter College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,382, while out-of-state students pay about $15,332. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $10,500. Early Childhood Education graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $51,986 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.

3

Cuny Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, NY

Cuny Brooklyn College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education, landing the #3 spot this year. Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. Students from in state pay about $7,452 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,402. Students borrow a median of $10,862 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of $48,574 early in their careers. Set against $10,862 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.

4

Cuny City College
New York, NY

Students looking for strong value in early childhood education will find it at Cuny City College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,340, compared with $15,290 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $9,916 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Cuny City College generally make around $57,296. That is a strong return on a $9,916 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.

5

St Petersburg College
St. Petersburg, FL

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at St Petersburg College earned it the #5 place for early childhood education. Set in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,682, with out-of-state students paying around $9,286. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $19,900. Early Childhood Education graduates of St Petersburg College earn a median of $49,672 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

6

Cuny Queens College
Queens, NY

Cuny Queens College came in at #6 for value in early childhood education this year. Cuny Queens College is a very large public school located in the city of Queens. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,538, compared with $15,488 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $13,100. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $46,208. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.

7

Middlesex Community College Bedford
Bedford, MA

Middlesex Community College Bedford placed #7 among the best values for early childhood education. Located in the suburb of Bedford, Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,098, with out-of-state students paying around $12,170. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $11,602. Early Childhood Education graduates of Middlesex Community College Bedford earn a median of $27,981 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,602 median debt.

8

Cuny Lehman College
Bronx, NY

Cuny Lehman College came in at #8 for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,410, compared with $15,360 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $13,213 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $62,489. Set against $13,213 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%.

9

Central New Mexico Community College
Albuquerque, NM

Central New Mexico Community College landed the #9 spot for early childhood education value this year. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,060, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $9,625 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $29,708. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

10

College Of The Mainland
Texas City, TX

College Of The Mainland placed #10 among the best values for early childhood education. Located in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,310, compared with $4,140 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $10,928 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $40,788. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

11

Northwest Vista College
San Antonio, TX

Northwest Vista College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Located in the city of San Antonio, Northwest Vista College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $8,750 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $22,352. Set against $8,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

12

Indian River State College
Fort Pierce, FL

Indian River State College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Located in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,764, with out-of-state students paying around $10,201. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $48,612. That is a strong return on a $10,492 median debt.

13

Palo Alto College
San Antonio, TX

Palo Alto College earned the #13 position for value in early childhood education this year. Palo Alto College is a large public school located in the city of San Antonio. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Students borrow a median of $9,430 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $29,062. Set against $9,430 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

14

California State University Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA

California State University Los Angeles earned the #14 position for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,164 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,764 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,331 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from California State University Los Angeles generally make around $31,366. That is a strong return on a $12,331 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.

15

Northern Essex Community College
Haverhill, MA

Northern Essex Community College earned the #15 position for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the suburb of Haverhill, Northern Essex Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,732 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,516 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,129 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Northern Essex Community College generally make around $28,635. That is a strong return on a $10,129 median debt.

16

South Texas College
McAllen, TX

South Texas College placed #16 among the best values for early childhood education. Set in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,920, compared with $7,620 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $16,902. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.

17

Lake Washington Institute Of Technology
Kirkland, WA

Lake Washington Institute Of Technology earned the #17 position for value in early childhood education this year. Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Kirkland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,997, while out-of-state students pay about $12,062. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $19,695. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $33,869. That is a strong return on a $19,695 median debt.

18

El Centro College
Dallas, TX

El Centro College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,730 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $12,500. Early Childhood Education graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $25,385 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

19

Pima Community College
Tucson, AZ

Pima Community College landed the #19 spot for early childhood education value this year. Located in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,442, with out-of-state students paying around $7,758. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $18,417. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $37,485. Set against $18,417 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

20

California State University Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA

California State University Bakersfield placed #20 among the best values for early childhood education. Set in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,087, with out-of-state students paying around $20,687. Graduates go on to earn a median of $59,009 ten years after entry. The acceptance rate is 94%.

21

California State University Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA

California State University Dominguez Hills placed #21 among the best values for early childhood education. Set in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,454, while out-of-state students pay about $20,054. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $29,840. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Dominguez Hills admits about 93% of applicants.

22

Tarrant County College District
Fort Worth, TX

Tarrant County College District ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Tarrant County College District is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Worth. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,863, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $9,750. Early Childhood Education graduates of Tarrant County College District earn a median of $24,507 early in their careers. Set against $9,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

23

Central Piedmont Community College
Charlotte, NC

Central Piedmont Community College earned the #23 position for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,792, compared with $8,936 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $9,500. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Central Piedmont Community College generally make around $23,865. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

24

California State University San Bernardino
San Bernardino, CA

California State University San Bernardino placed #24 among the best values for early childhood education. California State University San Bernardino is a very large public school located in the city of San Bernardino. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,088, compared with $20,688 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $12,566. Early Childhood Education graduates of California State University San Bernardino earn a median of $25,177 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University San Bernardino admits about 94% of applicants.

25

Renton Technical College
Renton, WA

Renton Technical College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Renton Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Renton. Students from in state pay about $6,330 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,768 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,582 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $80,411. That is a strong return on a $18,582 median debt.