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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Value Early Childhood And Family Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools

3 Colleges in the United States
$26,395 Avg Student Debt
$54,576 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Early Childhood And Family Studies Bachelor's Degree Badge [Early Childhood And Family Studies](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/early-childhood-and-family-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. 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.

What’s on this page:

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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

1

Our analysis ranked The University Of Texas Pan American the best value for a degree in early childhood and family studies in the United States. The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public school located in the city of Edinburg. Students from in state pay about $9,799 in tuition and fees, 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. Soon after graduation, early childhood and family studies degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $26,897. That is a strong return on a $20,871 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.

2

American Public University System is a great value for students pursuing a degree in early childhood and family studies, landing the #2 spot this year. American Public University System is a very large private for-profit school located in the town of Charles Town. Students from in state pay about $8,400 in tuition and fees. Early Childhood And Family Studies graduates carry a median of $36,275 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood and family studies degree recipients from American Public University System generally make around $34,347. Set against $36,275 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

3

University Of Michigan Dearborn is a great value for students pursuing a degree in early childhood and family studies, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Dearborn. Students from in state pay about $15,640 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,896. Students borrow a median of $26,516 to complete the early childhood and family studies program here. Early-career early childhood and family studies graduates make about $62,536. That is a strong return on a $26,516 median debt. University Of Michigan Dearborn admits about 56% of applicants.

4
University Of Utah crest
University Of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Utah earned it the #4 place for early childhood and family studies. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,620, while out-of-state students pay about $30,860. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete the early childhood and family studies program here. Early Childhood And Family Studies graduates of University Of Utah earn a median of $35,467 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,500 median debt. University Of Utah admits about 86% of applicants.

5

Students looking for strong value in early childhood and family studies will find it at National Louis University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,245. Typical student debt for early childhood and family studies graduates is $28,096. Soon after graduation, early childhood and family studies degree recipients from National Louis University generally make around $46,954. Set against $28,096 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. National Louis University admits about 95% of applicants.

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6

Eastern Michigan University landed the #6 spot for early childhood and family studies value this year. Set in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,990. 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. The acceptance rate is 80%.

7

University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #7 spot for early childhood and family studies value this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,837, while out-of-state students pay about $36,056. Early Childhood And Family Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career early childhood and family studies graduates make about $53,134. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.

8
Tarleton State University crest
Tarleton State University
Stephenville, TX

Tarleton State University earned the #8 position for value in early childhood and family studies this year. Set in the town of Stephenville, Tarleton State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,302 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,142. Early Childhood And Family Studies graduates carry a median of $23,222 in student loans. Soon after graduation, early childhood and family studies degree recipients from Tarleton State University generally make around $50,532. That is a strong return on a $23,222 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.

9

The University Of Alabama ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value early childhood and family studies schools. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,180, compared with $34,172 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for early childhood and family studies graduates is $25,000. Early Childhood And Family Studies graduates of The University Of Alabama earn a median of $30,264 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Alabama admits about 77% of applicants.

10
Eastern University crest
Eastern University
Saint Davids, PA

Eastern University landed the #10 spot for early childhood and family studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Davids, Eastern University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. That is a strong return on a $28,584 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.

Other Early Childhood And Family Studies Degree Levels

Explore the best-value early childhood and family studies schools at other degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Early Childhood And Family Studies
Associate's Degrees in Early Childhood And Family Studies
Master's Degrees in Early Childhood And Family Studies
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View All Early Childhood And Family Studies Rankings >

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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.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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