by our College Data Analytics Team
[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 39 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value early childhood education schools.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the early childhood education degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in early childhood education, no school beat St Petersburg College this year. Set in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public institution. 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. That is a strong return on a $19,900 median debt.
Chipola College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Chipola College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Marianna. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,120, compared with $8,950 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,097 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $43,599. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indian River State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,764, with out-of-state students paying around $10,201. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $10,492. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Indian River State College generally make around $48,612. That is a strong return on a $10,492 median debt.
Florida Gateway College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the town of Lake City, Florida Gateway College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,100, with out-of-state students paying around $11,747. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $8,669 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $41,947. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in early childhood education will find it at Florida State College At Jacksonville, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,657, while out-of-state students pay about $9,631. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $25,000. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $45,008. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt.
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South Florida State College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Located in the suburb of Avon Park, South Florida State College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,165 in tuition and fees, 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-career early childhood education graduates make about $42,415. That is a strong return on a $8,204 median debt.
Hillsborough Community College came in at #7 for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,491 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,088. Students borrow a median of $16,142 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Hillsborough Community College generally make around $44,101. That is a strong return on a $16,142 median debt.
Miami Dade College landed the #8 spot for early childhood education value this year. Located in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,838, compared with $9,661 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $11,967 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $51,545. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northwest Florida State College placed #9 among the best values for early childhood education. Northwest Florida State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Niceville. Students from in state pay about $2,583 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,612. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $44,340. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saint Johns River State College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Located in the town of Palatka, Saint Johns River State College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,591, with out-of-state students paying around $9,334. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $12,956 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Saint Johns River State College earn a median of $46,448 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,956 median debt.
University Of Florida ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $18,063 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $48,506. Set against $18,063 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Edison State College placed #12 among the best values for early childhood education. Set in the suburb of Fort Myers, Edison State College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,401, compared with $12,979 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $12,750 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $51,448. Set against $12,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Daytona State College placed #13 among the best values for early childhood education. Daytona State College is a large public school located in the city of Daytona Beach. In-state tuition and fees average $3,106, compared with $11,994 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $17,308 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Daytona State College generally make around $44,869. Set against $17,308 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tallahassee Community College earned the #14 position for value in early childhood education this year. Tallahassee Community College is a large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,026, while out-of-state students pay about $8,062. Students borrow a median of $16,722 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $25,628. That is a strong return on a $16,722 median debt.
Polk State College earned the #15 position for value in early childhood education this year. Polk State College is a large public school located in the city of Winter Haven. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,694, with out-of-state students paying around $9,818. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $14,000. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Polk State College generally make around $48,210. That is a strong return on a $14,000 median debt.
Florida International University landed the #16 spot for early childhood education value this year. Florida International University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Miami. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,565, while out-of-state students pay about $18,964. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $16,490. Early Childhood Education graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $48,461 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,490 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Palm Beach State College placed #17 among the best values for early childhood education. Palm Beach State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lake Worth. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,050, compared with $10,910 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,725 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Palm Beach State College generally make around $28,641. That is a strong return on a $6,725 median debt.
University Of South Florida Main Campus landed the #18 spot for early childhood education value this year. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,410, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $20,995. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $52,532. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
Florida Gulf Coast University earned the #19 position for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the suburb of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,118, with out-of-state students paying around $25,162. Students borrow a median of $19,489 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $50,951. Set against $19,489 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 63%.
University Of North Florida placed #20 among the best values for early childhood education. University Of North Florida is a large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,964, with out-of-state students paying around $19,407. Students borrow a median of $19,097 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from University Of North Florida generally make around $48,255. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 53%.
University Of Central Florida ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,368, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,250 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $50,686. Set against $24,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 40%.
College Of Central Florida landed the #22 spot for early childhood education value this year. Located in the city of Ocala, College Of Central Florida is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,710, with out-of-state students paying around $10,517. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $18,934. Early Childhood Education graduates of College Of Central Florida earn a median of $48,537 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,934 median debt.
Santa Fe College landed the #23 spot for early childhood education value this year. Santa Fe College is a large public school located in the suburb of Gainesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,563, compared with $9,189 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,558 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Santa Fe College generally make around $32,607. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University earned the #24 position for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,785 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,725 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $26,824. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University generally make around $38,719. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University admits about 21% of applicants.
Rasmussen College Florida landed the #25 spot for early childhood education value this year. Located in the city of Ocala, Rasmussen College Florida is a moderately-sized private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,256. Students borrow a median of $17,722 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Rasmussen College Florida earn a median of $28,188 early in their careers. Set against $17,722 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in early childhood education:
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This list is compiled 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 · 39 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.