2026 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools in Indiana
[Early Childhood Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/early-childhood-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong early childhood education education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 17 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value early childhood education schools.
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2026 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools in Indiana
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the early childhood education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools
Ivy Tech Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools in Indiana. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,154, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $13,948 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $26,301. That is a strong return on a $13,948 median debt.
Purdue University Northwest came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Set in the suburb of Hammond, Purdue University Northwest is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,357, compared with $15,504 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $51,424. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Vincennes University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the town of Vincennes, Vincennes University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,126, while out-of-state students pay about $16,858. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $11,500. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $45,976. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indiana University East earned it the #4 place for early childhood education. Set in the town of Richmond, Indiana University East is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,424, compared with $22,811 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $25,866 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Indiana University East earn a median of $38,610 early in their careers. Set against $25,866 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University East admits about 67% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earned it the #5 place for early childhood education. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,762, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $48,443. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Indiana State University placed #6 among the best values for early childhood education. Set in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,258, while out-of-state students pay about $22,322. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $53,952. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana State University admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Southern Indiana landed the #7 spot for early childhood education value this year. University Of Southern Indiana is a large public school located in the suburb of Evansville. Students from in state pay about $10,066 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,907. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $23,500. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from University Of Southern Indiana generally make around $41,510. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Southern Indiana admits about 96% of applicants.
Purdue University Global landed the #8 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,101, compared with $14,412 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $57,500. Early Childhood Education graduates of Purdue University Global earn a median of $32,164 early in their careers. Set against $57,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Purdue University Main Campus landed the #9 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $18,646. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $45,459. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Oakland City University earned the #10 position for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the rural area of Oakland City, Oakland City University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,900. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $25,266 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Oakland City University generally make around $62,655. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Bloomington ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $23,741 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $49,947 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Ball State University landed the #12 spot for early childhood education value this year. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,082, while out-of-state students pay about $29,630. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $24,655. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Ball State University generally make around $48,051. That is a strong return on a $24,655 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global came in at #13 for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the rural area of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,648. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $24,823 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global earn a median of $32,421 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Indianapolis came in at #14 for value in early childhood education this year. University Of Indianapolis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,200. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from University Of Indianapolis generally make around $45,250. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 66%.
More Early Childhood Education Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 17 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.
