2026 Best Value Early Childhood And Family Studies Schools
[Early Childhood And Family Studies](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/early-childhood-and-family-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 23 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for early childhood and family studies students.
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Finding the Best Value Early Childhood And Family Studies School for You
Where you study early childhood and family studies affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we developed our Best Value Early Childhood And Family Studies Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Learn more about our methodology
One Size Does Not Fit All
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Early Childhood And Family Studies Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
2026 Best Value Early Childhood And Family Studies Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the early childhood and family studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Early Childhood And Family Studies Schools
Leading the list is South Texas College, our #1 best value for early childhood and family studies in the United States. Located in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public university. 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 and family studies graduates is $6,868. Soon after graduation, early childhood and family studies degree recipients from South Texas College generally make around $19,971. That is a strong return on a $6,868 median debt.
Dyersburg State Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood and family studies schools. Located in the town of Dyersburg, Dyersburg State Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,758, with out-of-state students paying around $18,060. Typical student debt for early childhood and family studies graduates is $10,611. Early-career early childhood and family studies graduates make about $41,177. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in early childhood and family studies will find it at The University Of Texas Pan American, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,799, with out-of-state students paying around $19,645. Students borrow a median of $20,871 to complete the early childhood and family studies program here. Early Childhood And Family Studies graduates of The University Of Texas Pan American earn a median of $26,897 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,871 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Holyoke Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood and family studies schools. Located in the rural area of Holyoke, Holyoke Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,988, compared with $10,932 for out-of-state students. Early Childhood And Family Studies graduates carry a median of $9,763 in student loans. Early-career early childhood and family studies graduates make about $43,423. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wayne County Community College District came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood and family studies schools. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne County Community College District is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,112, while out-of-state students pay about $4,067. Students borrow a median of $20,820 to complete the early childhood and family studies program here. Early-career early childhood and family studies graduates make about $48,892. That is a strong return on a $20,820 median debt.
Modesto Junior College landed the #6 spot for early childhood and family studies value this year. Modesto Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Modesto. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,282, while out-of-state students pay about $9,264. Early Childhood And Family Studies graduates carry a median of $9,136 in student loans. Early Childhood And Family Studies graduates of Modesto Junior College earn a median of $18,807 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,136 median debt.
American Public University System came in at #7 for value in early childhood and family studies this year. Located in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,400. Students borrow a median of $26,340 to complete the early childhood and family studies program here. Early-career early childhood and family studies graduates make about $27,587. Set against $26,340 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Central College came in at #8 for value in early childhood and family studies this year. Set in the suburb of North Mankato, South Central College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,146. Students borrow a median of $13,139 to complete the early childhood and family studies program here. Early Childhood And Family Studies 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.
University Of Michigan Dearborn came in at #9 for value in early childhood and family studies this year. Located in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,640, while out-of-state students pay about $32,896. Students borrow a median of $26,516 to complete the early childhood and family studies program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood and family studies degree recipients from University Of Michigan Dearborn generally make around $62,536. That is a strong return on a $26,516 median debt. University Of Michigan Dearborn admits about 56% of applicants.
Rose State College came in at #10 for value in early childhood and family studies this year. Rose State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Midwest City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,030, compared with $11,407 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,451 to complete the early childhood and family studies program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood and family studies degree recipients from Rose State College generally make around $50,860. Set against $13,451 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Utah landed the #11 spot for early childhood and family studies value this year. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,620, with out-of-state students paying around $30,860. Typical student debt for early childhood and family studies graduates is $15,500. Soon after graduation, early childhood and family studies degree recipients from University Of Utah generally make around $35,467. That is a strong return on a $15,500 median debt. University Of Utah admits about 86% of applicants.
National Louis University placed #12 among the best values for early childhood and family studies. National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $13,245 in tuition and fees. Early Childhood And Family Studies graduates carry a median of $28,096 in student loans. Early Childhood And Family Studies graduates of National Louis University earn a median of $47,354 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,096 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln placed #13 among the best values for early childhood and family studies. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public school located in the city of Lincoln. Students from in state pay about $10,434 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,584. Early Childhood And Family Studies graduates carry a median of $22,386 in student loans. Early Childhood And Family Studies graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $49,755 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,386 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Eastern Michigan University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood and family studies schools. Located in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $16,990 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $33,885 to complete the early childhood and family studies program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood and family studies degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University generally make around $33,911. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Eastern Michigan University admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Columbia earned the #15 position for value in early childhood and family studies this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood and family studies graduates is $26,000. Early Childhood And Family Studies graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $53,134 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Tarleton State University earned the #16 position for value in early childhood and family studies this year. Tarleton State University is a large public school located in the town of Stephenville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,302, with out-of-state students paying around $18,142. Typical student debt for early childhood and family studies graduates is $23,222. Early-career early childhood and family studies graduates make about $50,532. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
The University Of Alabama ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood and family studies schools. The University Of Alabama is a very large public school located in the city of Tuscaloosa. In-state tuition and fees average $12,180, while out-of-state students pay about $34,172. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the early childhood and family studies program here. Soon after graduation, early childhood and family studies degree recipients from The University Of Alabama generally make around $30,264. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern University placed #18 among the best values for early childhood and family studies. Set in the suburb of Saint Davids, Eastern University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $38,400. Typical student debt for early childhood and family studies graduates is $28,584. Soon after graduation, early childhood and family studies degree recipients from Eastern University generally make around $50,474. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
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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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
