2026 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools in North Carolina
[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 65 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 North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in early childhood education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools
Our analysis ranked Durham Technical Community College the best value for a degree in early childhood education in North Carolina. Set in the city of Durham, Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,240, compared with $7,531 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,522 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Durham Technical Community College generally make around $33,260. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Piedmont Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,792 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,936. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $23,865. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wilkes Community College earned it the #3 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, with out-of-state students paying around $8,716. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $9,125. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $36,341. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cleveland Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Located in the town of Shelby, Cleveland Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,602, while out-of-state students pay about $8,746. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $7,131 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $39,891. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Central Carolina Community College one of the best values for early childhood education. Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Sanford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,711, with out-of-state students paying around $8,855. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $10,266. Early Childhood Education graduates of Central Carolina Community College earn a median of $38,198 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fayetteville Technical Community College landed the #6 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,628, with out-of-state students paying around $8,772. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $24,653. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Fayetteville Technical Community College generally make around $40,584. That is a strong return on a $24,653 median debt.
South Piedmont Community College placed #7 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, while out-of-state students pay about $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.
Haywood Community College placed #8 among the best values for early childhood education. Set in the rural area of Clyde, Haywood Community College is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,580, compared with $8,724 for out-of-state students. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $28,013.
James Sprunt Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. James Sprunt Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Kenansville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $26,775. Set against $11,278 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sampson Community College earned the #10 position for value in early childhood education this year. Sampson Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Clinton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,877, with out-of-state students paying around $9,789. Students borrow a median of $12,596 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $45,929. That is a strong return on a $12,596 median debt.
Stanly Community College earned the #11 position for value in early childhood education this year. Stanly Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Albemarle. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,672, while out-of-state students pay about $8,816. Early Childhood Education graduates of Stanly Community College earn a median of $32,147 early in their careers.
Johnston Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Johnston Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Smithfield. Students from in state pay about $2,756 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,900 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $9,490 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Johnston Community College earn a median of $37,472 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wayne Community College landed the #13 spot for early childhood education value this year. Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Goldsboro. Students from in state pay about $2,566 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,710. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $5,500. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $33,116. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Southeastern Community College Whiteville placed #14 among the best values for early childhood education. Southeastern Community College Whiteville is a small public school located in the rural area of Whiteville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,600, while out-of-state students pay about $8,744. Students borrow a median of $10,188 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Southeastern Community College Whiteville generally make around $65,328. That is a strong return on a $10,188 median debt.
Craven Community College came in at #15 for value in early childhood education this year. Craven Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of New Bern. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,022, with out-of-state students paying around $6,630. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $8,924. Early Childhood Education graduates of Craven Community College earn a median of $30,235 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,924 median debt.
Rowan Cabarrus Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. 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, compared with $6,672 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,000 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $24,323. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Vance Granville Community College placed #17 among the best values for early childhood education. Located in the town of Henderson, Vance Granville Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,944, while out-of-state students pay about $6,552. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $14,833 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Vance Granville Community College generally make around $43,272. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Surry Community College earned the #18 position for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the rural area of Dobson, Surry Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,668 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,812. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $9,537 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $47,188. That is a strong return on a $9,537 median debt.
Lenoir Community College earned the #19 position for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the town of Kinston, Lenoir Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,578, while out-of-state students pay about $8,822. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $9,984. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Lenoir Community College generally make around $27,534. That is a strong return on a $9,984 median debt.
College Of The Albemarle came in at #20 for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the town of Elizabeth City, College Of The Albemarle is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,242 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,652. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $10,240. Early Childhood Education graduates of College Of The Albemarle earn a median of $50,506 early in their careers. Set against $10,240 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwestern Community College Sylva earned the #21 position for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the town of Sylva, Southwestern Community College Sylva is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,112, compared with $13,184 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,708 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Southwestern Community College Sylva generally make around $36,418. That is a strong return on a $13,708 median debt.
Beaufort County Community College landed the #22 spot for early childhood education value this year. Located in the rural area of Washington, Beaufort County Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,540, while out-of-state students pay about $8,684. Students borrow a median of $7,947 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Beaufort County Community College earn a median of $38,009 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Piedmont Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Morganton, Western Piedmont Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,650, while out-of-state students pay about $8,794. Students borrow a median of $11,999 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $46,883. Set against $11,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Robeson Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Located in the town of Lumberton, Robeson Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,604, while out-of-state students pay about $8,748. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $9,949. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Robeson Community College generally make around $52,951. That is a strong return on a $9,949 median debt.
Gaston College came in at #25 for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Gaston College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,186, while out-of-state students pay about $9,330. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $10,915 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $39,937. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for early childhood education this year:
More Early Childhood Education Rankings
View All Early Childhood Education Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 65 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
