2026 Best Value Child Care Provider/Assistant Schools in Iowa
[Child Care Provider/Assistant](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/child-care-provider-assistant/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 12 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 Iowa
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in child care provider/assistant, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Child Care Provider/Assistant Schools
Leading the list is Western Iowa Tech Community College, our #1 best value for child care provider/assistant in Iowa. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Sioux City. Students from in state pay about $5,186 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,330 for out-of-state students. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates carry a median of $8,837 in student loans. Early-career child care provider/assistant graduates make about $35,742. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kirkwood Community College earned it the #2 place for child care provider/assistant. Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,176, compared with $8,220 for out-of-state students. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates carry a median of $15,779 in student loans. 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.
Students looking for strong value in child care provider/assistant will find it at Eastern Iowa Community College District, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Davenport, Eastern Iowa Community College District is a large public university. 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. Soon after graduation, child care provider/assistant degree recipients from Eastern Iowa Community College District generally make around $41,510. Set against $15,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar is a great value for students pursuing a degree in child care provider/assistant, landing the #4 spot this year. Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Calmar. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,780, with out-of-state students paying around $7,770. 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. Set against $14,348 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Hawkeye Community College earned it the #5 place for child care provider/assistant. Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Waterloo. In-state tuition and fees average $6,525, with out-of-state students paying around $6,612. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates carry a median of $17,001 in student loans. Early-career child care provider/assistant graduates make about $41,902. That is a strong return on a $17,001 median debt.
Des Moines Area Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value child care provider/assistant schools. Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ankeny. In-state tuition and fees average $5,790, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Students borrow a median of $11,500 to complete the child care provider/assistant program here. Early-career child care provider/assistant graduates make about $22,623. Set against $11,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Iowa Western Community College landed the #7 spot for child care provider/assistant value this year. Set in the suburb of Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,930, compared with $7,080 for out-of-state students. 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.
More Child Care Provider/Assistant Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 12 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.
