2026 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools in Arizona
[Early Childhood Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/early-childhood-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 29 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value early childhood education schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools in Arizona
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 Pima Community College, our #1 best value for early childhood education in Arizona. Located in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,442 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,758 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,417 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $37,485. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Yavapai College earned it the #2 place for early childhood education. Located in the city of Prescott, Yavapai College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,948, with out-of-state students paying around $9,486. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $14,087. Early Childhood Education graduates of Yavapai College earn a median of $52,087 early in their careers. Set against $14,087 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cochise College earned it the #3 place for early childhood education. Set in the city of Sierra Vista, Cochise College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,280 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,120 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $12,013. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Cochise College generally make around $40,712. That is a strong return on a $12,013 median debt.
Central Arizona College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Central Arizona College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Coolidge. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,250, while out-of-state students pay about $4,500. Students borrow a median of $11,635 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Central Arizona College generally make around $48,826. Set against $11,635 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Rio Salado College one of the best values for early childhood education. Rio Salado College is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,958. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $13,679. Early Childhood Education graduates of Rio Salado College earn a median of $48,564 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,679 median debt.
Arizona Western College landed the #6 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the city of Yuma, Arizona Western College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,060, while out-of-state students pay about $9,870. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $44,895.
Northland Pioneer College placed #7 among the best values for early childhood education. Northland Pioneer College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Holbrook. In-state tuition and fees average $2,232, compared with $10,320 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,680 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Northland Pioneer College generally make around $44,117. That is a strong return on a $8,680 median debt.
Eastern Arizona College earned the #8 position for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the town of Thatcher, Eastern Arizona College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,352, compared with $9,552 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,781 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Eastern Arizona College earn a median of $40,304 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,781 median debt.
Phoenix College landed the #9 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Phoenix College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $15,204. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $51,053. That is a strong return on a $15,204 median debt.
Glendale Community College Glendale Az landed the #10 spot for early childhood education value this year. Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glendale. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $15,996. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Glendale Community College Glendale Az generally make around $51,483. Set against $15,996 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Estrella Mountain Community College landed the #11 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the suburb of Avondale, Estrella Mountain Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Students borrow a median of $21,752 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $78,359. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Mountain Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Phoenix, South Mountain Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,958 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,825 ten years after entry.
Chandler Gilbert Community College earned the #13 position for value in early childhood education this year. Chandler Gilbert Community College is a large public school located in the city of Chandler. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Students borrow a median of $10,447 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Chandler Gilbert Community College earn a median of $46,943 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,447 median debt.
Mesa Community College placed #14 among the best values for early childhood education. Set in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $13,750. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $54,730. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Paradise Valley Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Phoenix, Paradise Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $14,204 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $71,136. Set against $14,204 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Arizona State University placed #16 among the best values for early childhood education. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $20,375. Early Childhood Education graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $49,402 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Phoenix Arizona landed the #17 spot for early childhood education value this year. University Of Phoenix Arizona is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. Students from in state pay about $9,552 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $43,822. Early Childhood Education graduates of University Of Phoenix Arizona earn a median of $46,439 early in their careers. Set against $43,822 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Scottsdale Community College landed the #18 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the rural area of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $13,084 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Scottsdale Community College generally make around $48,039. That is a strong return on a $13,084 median debt.
Northern Arizona University landed the #19 spot for early childhood education value this year. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,619, compared with $20,044 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $18,600 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Northern Arizona University earn a median of $47,551 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,600 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Arizona came in at #20 for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,573, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $18,687. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $41,490. That is a strong return on a $18,687 median debt. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants.
Grand Canyon University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Located in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,508. Students borrow a median of $36,334 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $51,423. That is a strong return on a $36,334 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Arizona Christian University earned the #22 position for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the suburb of Glendale, Arizona Christian University is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,098. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $22,625 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Arizona Christian University earn a median of $40,702 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,625 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
More Early Childhood Education Rankings
View All Early Childhood Education Rankings >
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 · 29 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.
