2026 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools in the Southeast Region
[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 261 schools to find the best return on investment for early childhood education students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in early childhood education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools
Leading the list is St Petersburg College, our #1 best value for early childhood education in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,682, compared with $9,286 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $19,900. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $49,672. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes South Georgia Technical College one of the best values for early childhood education. South Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Americus. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,992, with out-of-state students paying around $7,202. Students borrow a median of $10,423 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $40,497. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Durham Technical Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Durham, Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,240 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,531 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,522 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Durham Technical Community College earn a median of $33,260 early in their careers. Set against $25,522 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in early childhood education will find it at Central Piedmont Community College, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,792, compared with $8,936 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $23,865 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wilkes Community College earned it the #5 place for early childhood education. Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Wilkesboro. Students from in state pay about $2,572 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,716. Students borrow a median of $9,125 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Wilkes Community College generally make around $36,341. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chipola College earned the #6 position for value in early childhood education this year. Chipola College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Marianna. In-state tuition and fees average $3,120, with out-of-state students paying around $8,950. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $9,097. Early Childhood Education graduates of Chipola College earn a median of $43,599 early in their careers. Set against $9,097 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florida Gateway College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Florida Gateway College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Lake City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,100, while out-of-state students pay about $11,747. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $8,669. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Florida Gateway College generally make around $41,947. That is a strong return on a $8,669 median debt.
South Piedmont Community College placed #8 among the best values for early childhood education. South Piedmont Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Polkton. Students from in state pay about $2,022 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,630. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $8,200. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $31,111. Set against $8,200 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indian River State College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Indian River State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fort Pierce. Students from in state pay about $2,764 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,201. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $10,492. Early Childhood Education graduates of Indian River State College earn a median of $48,612 early in their careers. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College came in at #10 for value in early childhood education this year. Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rome. In-state tuition and fees average $3,300, while out-of-state students pay about $5,868. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $8,492. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $21,740. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Stanly Community College landed the #11 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the town of Albemarle, Stanly Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,672, compared with $8,816 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates of Stanly Community College earn a median of $32,147 early in their careers.
Cleveland Community College placed #12 among the best values for early childhood education. Cleveland Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Shelby. Students from in state pay about $2,602 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,746. Students borrow a median of $7,131 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Cleveland Community College earn a median of $39,891 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,131 median debt.
Central Carolina Community College earned the #13 position for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the town of Sanford, Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,711, with out-of-state students paying around $8,855. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $10,266 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Central Carolina Community College earn a median of $38,198 early in their careers. Set against $10,266 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southern Regional Technical College placed #14 among the best values for early childhood education. Located in the town of Thomasville, Southern Regional Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,007, with out-of-state students paying around $5,575. Students borrow a median of $9,086 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Southern Regional Technical College generally make around $44,007. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida State College At Jacksonville placed #15 among the best values for early childhood education. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,657, with out-of-state students paying around $9,631. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $45,008. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt.
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College placed #16 among the best values for early childhood education. Located in the rural area of Valdosta, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,480, while out-of-state students pay about $6,048. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $10,864 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $40,452. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fayetteville Technical Community College came in at #17 for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,628, compared with $8,772 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $24,653. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $40,584. Set against $24,653 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
James Sprunt Community College landed the #18 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the rural area of Kenansville, James Sprunt Community College is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,592, with out-of-state students paying around $8,736. Students borrow a median of $11,278 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from James Sprunt Community College generally make around $26,775. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Haywood Community College placed #19 among the best values for early childhood education. Haywood Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Clyde. In-state tuition and fees average $2,580, compared with $8,724 for out-of-state students. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Haywood Community College generally make around $28,013.
Atlanta Technical College came in at #20 for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Atlanta Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,382, while out-of-state students pay about $5,950. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $17,655 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Atlanta Technical College generally make around $35,441. That is a strong return on a $17,655 median debt.
Rowan Cabarrus Community College landed the #21 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the suburb of Salisbury, Rowan Cabarrus Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,064, while out-of-state students pay about $6,672. Students borrow a median of $7,000 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Rowan Cabarrus Community College earn a median of $24,323 early in their careers. Set against $7,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sampson Community College earned the #22 position for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the town of Clinton, Sampson Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,877, with out-of-state students paying around $9,789. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $12,596. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Sampson Community College generally make around $45,929. Set against $12,596 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Miami Dade College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Located in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,838, with out-of-state students paying around $9,661. Students borrow a median of $11,967 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Miami Dade College generally make around $51,545. That is a strong return on a $11,967 median debt.
South Florida State College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. South Florida State College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Avon Park. In-state tuition and fees average $3,165, compared with $11,859 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,204 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of South Florida State College earn a median of $42,415 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,204 median debt.
North Georgia Technical College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. North Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Clarkesville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,330, compared with $5,898 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,279 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from North Georgia Technical College generally make around $34,133. Set against $12,279 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s early childhood education value ranking:
Narrow Early Childhood Education Schools by State
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 261 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 100 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.
