2026 Best Value Child Care Provider/Assistant Schools in Texas

[Child Care Provider/Assistant](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/child-care-provider-assistant/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 21 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value child care provider/assistant schools.
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2026 Best Value Child Care Provider/Assistant Schools in Texas
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the child care provider/assistant degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Child Care Provider/Assistant Schools
Our analysis ranked South Texas College the best value for a degree in child care provider/assistant in Texas. Located in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,920 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,620. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates carry a median of $6,868 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child care provider/assistant degree recipients from South Texas College generally make around $19,971. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
El Centro College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in child care provider/assistant, landing the #2 spot this year. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas. Students from in state pay about $2,730 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Students borrow a median of $14,557 to complete the child care provider/assistant program here. Early-career child care provider/assistant graduates make about $41,295. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Texas College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value child care provider/assistant schools. Set in the town of Snyder, Western Texas College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,300 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,150. Students borrow a median of $8,691 to complete the child care provider/assistant program here. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates of Western Texas College earn a median of $68,077 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,691 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Del Mar College one of the best values for child care provider/assistant. Located in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,500 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,050. Typical student debt for child care provider/assistant graduates is $7,476. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates of Del Mar College earn a median of $40,661 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in child care provider/assistant will find it at San Antonio College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of San Antonio, San Antonio College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Typical student debt for child care provider/assistant graduates is $11,839. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates of San Antonio College earn a median of $37,855 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Amarillo College came in at #6 for value in child care provider/assistant this year. Located in the city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,136, compared with $4,704 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for child care provider/assistant graduates is $15,720. Soon after graduation, child care provider/assistant degree recipients from Amarillo College generally make around $41,053. Set against $15,720 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Austin Community College District came in at #7 for value in child care provider/assistant this year. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,550, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. Students borrow a median of $14,519 to complete the child care provider/assistant program here. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $44,895 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tarrant County College District ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value child care provider/assistant schools. Tarrant County College District is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Worth. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,863, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates carry a median of $15,148 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child care provider/assistant degree recipients from Tarrant County College District generally make around $45,158. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Texas College landed the #9 spot for child care provider/assistant value this year. Located in the suburb of Killeen, Central Texas College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,750, with out-of-state students paying around $7,500. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates carry a median of $11,290 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child care provider/assistant degree recipients from Central Texas College generally make around $53,086. That is a strong return on a $11,290 median debt.
Hill College placed #10 among the best values for child care provider/assistant. Set in the town of Hillsboro, Hill College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,862. Students borrow a median of $12,302 to complete the child care provider/assistant program here. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates of Hill College earn a median of $39,212 early in their careers. Set against $12,302 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Houston Community College earned the #11 position for value in child care provider/assistant this year. Located in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,040, with out-of-state students paying around $5,460. Students borrow a median of $19,223 to complete the child care provider/assistant program here. Early-career child care provider/assistant graduates make about $40,365. That is a strong return on a $19,223 median debt.
South Plains College placed #12 among the best values for child care provider/assistant. South Plains College is a large public school located in the town of Levelland. In-state tuition and fees average $2,733, with out-of-state students paying around $5,157. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates carry a median of $13,788 in student loans. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates of South Plains College earn a median of $30,949 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lamar Institute Of Technology earned the #13 position for value in child care provider/assistant this year. Set in the city of Beaumont, Lamar Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,844, compared with $12,924 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for child care provider/assistant graduates is $14,278. Early-career child care provider/assistant graduates make about $50,068. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cisco College placed #14 among the best values for child care provider/assistant. Set in the rural area of Cisco, Cisco College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,710, compared with $7,140 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,875 to complete the child care provider/assistant program here. Early-career child care provider/assistant graduates make about $17,820. Set against $10,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Odessa College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value child care provider/assistant schools. Located in the city of Odessa, Odessa College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,688 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,926. Students borrow a median of $9,087 to complete the child care provider/assistant program here. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates of Odessa College earn a median of $47,856 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,087 median debt.
Tyler Junior College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value child care provider/assistant schools. Tyler Junior College is a large public school located in the city of Tyler. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,424, compared with $4,536 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,869 to complete the child care provider/assistant program here. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates of Tyler Junior College earn a median of $43,348 early in their careers. Set against $14,869 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Blinn College earned the #17 position for value in child care provider/assistant this year. Located in the town of Brenham, Blinn College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,890, with out-of-state students paying around $11,370. Typical student debt for child care provider/assistant graduates is $16,465. Early-career child care provider/assistant graduates make about $43,408. That is a strong return on a $16,465 median debt.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.