2026 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools in Texas
[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 55 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for early childhood education students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools in Texas
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the early childhood education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools
For return on investment in early childhood education, no school beat College Of The Mainland this year. Set in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,310 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,140. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $10,928 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $40,788. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Texas College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education, landing the #2 spot this year. South Texas College is a very large public school located in the city of McAllen. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,920, compared with $7,620 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $5,500. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from South Texas College generally make around $16,902. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes El Centro College one of the best values for early childhood education. Set in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,730, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. Students borrow a median of $12,500 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from El Centro College generally make around $25,385. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northwest Vista College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education, landing the #4 spot this year. Northwest Vista College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,412, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Students borrow a median of $8,750 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $22,352. Set against $8,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Palo Alto College earned it the #5 place for early childhood education. Set in the city of San Antonio, Palo Alto College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $9,430 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $29,062. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Alvin Community College placed #6 among the best values for early childhood education. Located in the suburb of Alvin, Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $1,906 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,402. Students borrow a median of $8,600 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Alvin Community College earn a median of $55,057 early in their careers. Set against $8,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Paso Community College placed #7 among the best values for early childhood education. Located in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,274, with out-of-state students paying around $5,314. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from El Paso Community College generally make around $29,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tarrant County College District placed #8 among the best values for early childhood education. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,863, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $9,750 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Tarrant County College District earn a median of $24,507 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Trinity Valley Community College came in at #9 for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the town of Athens, Trinity Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,640, compared with $5,970 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $12,323. Early Childhood Education graduates of Trinity Valley Community College earn a median of $32,623 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,323 median debt.
Grayson College landed the #10 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the rural area of Denison, Grayson College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,000 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,300. Students borrow a median of $11,627 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $42,487. Set against $11,627 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Austin Community College District ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,550 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $17,785. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Austin Community College District generally make around $46,430. That is a strong return on a $17,785 median debt.
The University Of Texas At Brownsville earned the #12 position for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Brownsville, The University Of Texas At Brownsville is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,148 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,948. Students borrow a median of $7,750 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Brownsville generally make around $10,576. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Midland College came in at #13 for value in early childhood education this year. Midland College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Midland. In-state tuition and fees average $3,180, with out-of-state students paying around $6,180. Students borrow a median of $9,000 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Midland College generally make around $43,454. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Texas College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Set in the suburb of Killeen, Central Texas College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,750 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,500 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $11,290 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Central Texas College generally make around $53,086. Set against $11,290 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Paris Junior College placed #15 among the best values for early childhood education. Paris Junior College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Paris. In-state tuition and fees average $2,700, while out-of-state students pay about $5,700. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $8,846 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Paris Junior College earn a median of $38,811 early in their careers. Set against $8,846 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Vernon College landed the #16 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the town of Vernon, Vernon College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,720, with out-of-state students paying around $6,120. Students borrow a median of $12,513 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $45,097. Set against $12,513 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Collin County Community College District placed #17 among the best values for early childhood education. Set in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,014, compared with $6,064 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $9,125. Early Childhood Education graduates of Collin County Community College District earn a median of $42,177 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,125 median debt.
San Jacinto Community College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. San Jacinto Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. Students from in state pay about $2,490 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of San Jacinto Community College earn a median of $19,581 early in their careers. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Central Texas College placed #19 among the best values for early childhood education. North Central Texas College is a large public school located in the town of Gainesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,600, compared with $5,739 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,352 to complete the early childhood education program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from North Central Texas College generally make around $43,536. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kilgore College earned the #20 position for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the town of Kilgore, Kilgore College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,160, while out-of-state students pay about $5,256. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $16,734. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $44,322. Set against $16,734 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hill College placed #21 among the best values for early childhood education. Hill College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Hillsboro. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,862. Students borrow a median of $12,302 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $39,212. That is a strong return on a $12,302 median debt.
Weatherford College placed #22 among the best values for early childhood education. Weatherford College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Weatherford. Students from in state pay about $5,250 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,860. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $14,099. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $48,208. Set against $14,099 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Temple College came in at #23 for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Temple, Temple College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,000, compared with $7,524 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $16,617. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $55,262. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northeast Texas Community College came in at #24 for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the rural area of Mount Pleasant, Northeast Texas Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,980, compared with $5,620 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,089 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Northeast Texas Community College earn a median of $37,839 early in their careers. Set against $15,089 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Texarkana College placed #25 among the best values for early childhood education. Set in the city of Texarkana, Texarkana College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,476, while out-of-state students pay about $5,332. Students borrow a median of $11,686 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $33,707. That is a strong return on a $11,686 median debt.
Rest of the Top 39 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in early childhood education:
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 · 55 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
