2026 Best Value Child Care Provider/Assistant Schools in the The Plains States Region
[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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong child care provider/assistant education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 41 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 the The Plains States Region
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
Saint Louis Community College earned the #1 spot for value among child care provider/assistant schools in the The Plains States Region. Set in the suburb of Bridgeton, Saint Louis Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, while out-of-state students pay about $6,990. Students borrow a median of $11,424 to complete the child care provider/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, child care provider/assistant degree recipients from Saint Louis Community College generally make around $26,593. That is a strong return on a $11,424 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Metropolitan Community College Kansas City one of the best values for child care provider/assistant. Located in the city of Kansas City, Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,630, compared with $9,600 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for child care provider/assistant graduates is $12,281. Soon after graduation, child care provider/assistant degree recipients from Metropolitan Community College Kansas City generally make around $46,660. Set against $12,281 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ozarks Technical Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value child care provider/assistant schools. Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Springfield. Students from in state pay about $4,256 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,040 for out-of-state students. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. Early-career child care provider/assistant graduates make about $27,003. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southeast Community College Area is a great value for students pursuing a degree in child care provider/assistant, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College Area is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,444, while out-of-state students pay about $4,032. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates carry a median of $16,165 in student loans. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates of Southeast Community College Area earn a median of $29,534 early in their careers. Set against $16,165 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in child care provider/assistant will find it at Western Iowa Tech Community College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,186, compared with $5,330 for out-of-state students. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates carry a median of $8,837 in student loans. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates of Western Iowa Tech Community College earn a median of $35,742 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kirkwood Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value child care provider/assistant schools. Kirkwood Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,176, with out-of-state students paying around $8,220. Typical student debt for child care provider/assistant graduates is $15,779. Soon after graduation, child care provider/assistant degree recipients from Kirkwood Community College generally make around $41,681. Set against $15,779 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Eastern Iowa Community College District ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value child care provider/assistant schools. Eastern Iowa Community College District is a large public school located in the city of Davenport. Students from in state pay about $4,848 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,456 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,995 to complete the child care provider/assistant program here. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates of Eastern Iowa Community College District earn a median of $41,510 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value child care provider/assistant schools. Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Calmar. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,780, compared with $7,770 for out-of-state students. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates carry a median of $14,348 in student loans. Early-career child care provider/assistant graduates make about $39,833. That is a strong return on a $14,348 median debt.
Hawkeye Community College came in at #9 for value in child care provider/assistant this year. Located in the rural area of Waterloo, Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,525, while out-of-state students pay about $6,612. Typical student debt for child care provider/assistant graduates is $17,001. Early-career child care provider/assistant graduates make about $41,902. That is a strong return on a $17,001 median debt.
Pine Technical College earned the #10 position for value in child care provider/assistant this year. Set in the rural area of Pine City, Pine Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,738. Students borrow a median of $22,454 to complete the child care provider/assistant program here. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates of Pine Technical College earn a median of $44,905 early in their careers. Set against $22,454 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Central College earned the #11 position for value in child care provider/assistant this year. Located in the suburb of North Mankato, South Central College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,146. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates carry a median of $13,139 in student loans. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates of South Central College earn a median of $46,447 early in their careers. Set against $13,139 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Des Moines Area Community College came in at #12 for value in child care provider/assistant this year. Set in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,790, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,500 to complete the child care provider/assistant program here. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates of Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of $22,623 early in their careers. Set against $11,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Iowa Western Community College came in at #13 for value in child care provider/assistant this year. Located in the suburb of Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,930 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,080. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates carry a median of $15,153 in student loans. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates of Iowa Western Community College earn a median of $43,444 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College earned the #14 position for value in child care provider/assistant this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,326. Students borrow a median of $17,650 to complete the child care provider/assistant program here. Early-career child care provider/assistant graduates make about $32,055. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Washburn Institute Of Technology placed #15 among the best values for child care provider/assistant. Located in the city of Topeka, Washburn Institute Of Technology is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,880. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates carry a median of $11,362 in student loans. Early-career child care provider/assistant graduates make about $39,749. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Minneapolis Community And Technical College landed the #16 spot for child care provider/assistant value this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,161. Students borrow a median of $29,500 to complete the child care provider/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, child care provider/assistant degree recipients from Minneapolis Community And Technical College generally make around $43,164. Set against $29,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mayville State University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value child care provider/assistant schools. Mayville State University is a small public school located in the rural area of Mayville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,979, with out-of-state students paying around $11,237. Typical student debt for child care provider/assistant graduates is $27,464. Soon after graduation, child care provider/assistant degree recipients from Mayville State University generally make around $49,971. That is a strong return on a $27,464 median debt.
North Dakota State University Main Campus placed #18 among the best values for child care provider/assistant. Set in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,910, compared with $15,564 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,569 to complete the child care provider/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, child care provider/assistant degree recipients from North Dakota State University Main Campus generally make around $41,717. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 41 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
