2026 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools in New Hampshire
[Early Childhood Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/early-childhood-education/) 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 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for early childhood education students.
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2026 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools in New Hampshire
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in early childhood education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools
Granite State College tops our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools in New Hampshire. Located in the city of Manchester, Granite State College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,724, compared with $9,284 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $27,522. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Granite State College generally make around $55,121. Set against $27,522 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in early childhood education will find it at Nashua Community College, which ranked #2. Nashua Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Nashua. Students from in state pay about $7,140 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,390. Students borrow a median of $10,608 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $24,074. Set against $10,608 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in early childhood education will find it at Keene State College, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Keene, Keene State College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,784, compared with $26,840 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $41,564. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
A rank of #4 makes Plymouth State University one of the best values for early childhood education. Plymouth State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Plymouth. In-state tuition and fees average $14,626, with out-of-state students paying around $25,566. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $27,000. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $45,528. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Plymouth State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Nhti Concords Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Set in the town of Concord, Nhti Concords Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,200, compared with $15,450 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $13,317. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $50,550. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
River Valley Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. River Valley Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Claremont. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,940, while out-of-state students pay about $15,190. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $25,669. Early Childhood Education graduates of River Valley Community College earn a median of $50,859 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus earned the #7 position for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the town of Durham, University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,202, compared with $39,852 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $26,368. Early Childhood Education graduates of University Of New Hampshire Main Campus earn a median of $52,064 early in their careers. Set against $26,368 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus admits about 88% of applicants.
More Early Childhood Education Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
