2026 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools in the The Plains States 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 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 99 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 the The Plains States Region
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
Leading the list is Northeast Community College, our #1 best value for early childhood education in the The Plains States Region. Located in the town of Norfolk, Northeast Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,840, with out-of-state students paying around $5,130. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $11,799 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Northeast Community College generally make around $24,710. Set against $11,799 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Indian Hills Community College one of the best values for early childhood education. Located in the town of Ottumwa, Indian Hills Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $6,120. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $15,390 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $49,626. Set against $15,390 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Western Nebraska Community College one of the best values for early childhood education. Located in the town of Scottsbluff, Western Nebraska Community College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,840, with out-of-state students paying around $4,410. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $14,507. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $62,413. That is a strong return on a $14,507 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Western Iowa Tech Community College one of the best values for early childhood education. Located in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,186, compared with $5,330 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $11,886 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Western Iowa Tech Community College generally make around $35,742. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Iowa Central Community College earned it the #5 place for early childhood education. Located in the town of Fort Dodge, Iowa Central Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,496 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,788 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $16,135 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Iowa Central Community College earn a median of $39,624 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,135 median debt.
Eastern Iowa Community College District placed #6 among the best values for early childhood education. Set in the city of Davenport, Eastern Iowa Community College District is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,848, while out-of-state students pay about $6,456. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $15,995. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $41,510. That is a strong return on a $15,995 median debt.
Hawkeye Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Located in the rural area of Waterloo, Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,525, while out-of-state students pay about $6,612. Students borrow a median of $17,001 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $41,902. Set against $17,001 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwestern Community College Creston earned the #8 position for value in early childhood education this year. Southwestern Community College Creston is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Creston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,064, with out-of-state students paying around $8,316. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $15,881 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Southwestern Community College Creston earn a median of $46,106 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,881 median debt.
Ridgewater College earned the #9 position for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the town of Willmar, Ridgewater College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,121. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $15,556 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Ridgewater College earn a median of $42,178 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oglala Lakota College landed the #10 spot for early childhood education value this year. Located in the rural area of Kyle, Oglala Lakota College is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,684. Graduates go on to earn a median of $22,517 ten years after entry.
College Of The Ozarks earned the #11 position for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the town of Point Lookout, College Of The Ozarks is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $22,360. Early Childhood Education graduates of College Of The Ozarks earn a median of $32,676 early in their careers. College Of The Ozarks admits about 12% of applicants.
Sinte Gleska University earned the #12 position for value in early childhood education this year. Sinte Gleska University is a small public school located in the rural area of Mission. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,714. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $20,948.
University Of Missouri St Louis placed #13 among the best values for early childhood education. University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,120, with out-of-state students paying around $37,620. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $23,375. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from University Of Missouri St Louis generally make around $42,019. Set against $23,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Minot State University came in at #14 for value in early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Minot, Minot State University is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,702. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $25,823 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Minot State University earn a median of $48,425 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Washburn University came in at #15 for value in early childhood education this year. Washburn University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Topeka. In-state tuition and fees average $9,945, compared with $20,949 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $22,945 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $46,519. Set against $22,945 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Missouri Kansas City ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood education schools. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,371, compared with $32,271 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $39,942. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College came in at #17 for value in early childhood education this year. Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul. Students from in state pay about $6,326 in tuition and fees. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $17,650 in student loans. Early Childhood Education graduates of Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College earn a median of $38,179 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,650 median debt.
Southeastern Community College West Burlington landed the #18 spot for early childhood education value this year. Southeastern Community College West Burlington is a mid-sized public school located in the town of West Burlington. In-state tuition and fees average $6,420, with out-of-state students paying around $6,570. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $16,126 in student loans. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $45,760. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chadron State College landed the #19 spot for early childhood education value this year. Located in the town of Chadron, Chadron State College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,294 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $21,750. Early-career early childhood education graduates make about $47,254. Set against $21,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Peru State College came in at #20 for value in early childhood education this year. Peru State College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Peru. Students from in state pay about $8,433 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,117 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Peru State College earn a median of $37,072 early in their careers. Set against $26,117 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Missouri Western State University came in at #21 for value in early childhood education this year. Missouri Western State University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Saint Joseph. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,545, while out-of-state students pay about $18,455. Students borrow a median of $21,352 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of Missouri Western State University earn a median of $33,695 early in their careers. Set against $21,352 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Minneapolis Community And Technical College earned the #22 position for value in early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,161. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $24,036 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Minneapolis Community And Technical College generally make around $43,164. That is a strong return on a $24,036 median debt.
Wichita State University landed the #23 spot for early childhood education value this year. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,684, while out-of-state students pay about $19,869. Typical student debt for early childhood education graduates is $30,250. Early Childhood Education graduates of Wichita State University earn a median of $43,764 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
University Of Northern Iowa placed #24 among the best values for early childhood education. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,936, while out-of-state students pay about $21,712. Students borrow a median of $26,059 to complete the early childhood education program here. Early Childhood Education graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $48,667 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,059 median debt. University Of Northern Iowa admits about 93% of applicants.
Saint Cloud State University landed the #25 spot for early childhood education value this year. Saint Cloud State University is a large public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,245. Early Childhood Education graduates carry a median of $25,449 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Saint Cloud State University generally make around $40,580. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in early childhood education:
Narrow Early Childhood Education Schools by State
More Early Childhood Education Rankings
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Notes and References
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 · 99 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 40 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.
