2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
In 2019-2020, 31,017 people earned their degree in early childhood education, making the major the 34th most popular in the United States.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 4,088 early childhood education graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 928 early childhood education graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,508 and $17,812 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 30 colleges that offer a degree in early childhood education. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality early childhood education programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the early childhood education program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
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One Size Does Not Fit All
The child development school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region associate degree child development students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Early Childhood Education (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 30 schools in the Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College landed the #1 spot on the list. Cincinnati State is a medium-sized school located in Cincinnati, Ohio that handed out 43 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.
Cincinnati State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is $3,756 for great lakes region associate degree child development students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Cincinnati State Technical and Community College Early Childhood Education Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Henry Ford College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Henry Ford College is located in Dearborn, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 associates’s child development degrees to qualified students.
Henry Ford College also made our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $2,460 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Child development students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Henry Ford College.
Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Henry Ford College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Milwaukee Area Technical College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s child development degrees to 60 students in 2019-2020.
MATC also took the #1 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for MATC is $7,340 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Child development students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Early Childhood Education at Milwaukee Area Technical College
Out of the 30 schools in the Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Cuyahoga Community College District landed the #4 spot on the list. Cuyahoga Community College District is located in Cleveland, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 24 associates’s child development degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cuyahoga Community College District, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $3,635 for great lakes region associate degree child development students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Cuyahoga Community College District.
Full Cuyahoga Community College District Early Childhood Education Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ivy Tech Community College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Ivy Tech Community College is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 231 associates’s child development degrees to qualified students.
Ivy Tech Community College also made our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. The estimated yearly cost for Ivy Tech Community College is $5,397 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Child development students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Early Childhood Education at Ivy Tech Community College
Lorain County Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Elyria, Ohio, and it awarded 7 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $2,200 for great lakes region associate degree child development students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Lorain County Community College.
Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 4 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.
Ohio State also made our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State is $8,194 for great lakes region associate degree child development students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Ohio State University - Main Campus
With a ranking of #8, Moraine Park Technical College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Moraine Park Technical College is a small public school situated in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. It awarded 12 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Moraine Park Technical College, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $6,706 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Child development students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Moraine Park Technical College.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Moraine Park Technical College
Blackhawk Technical College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. BTC is located in Janesville, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 associates’s child development degrees to qualified students.
BTC also took the #15 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for BTC is $7,759 for great lakes region associate degree child development students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Blackhawk Technical College
Waukesha County Technical College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. WCTC is a public institution located in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 25 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at WCTC, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend WCTC is $7,830 for great lakes region associate degree child development students whose families make $0-$30k.
Lakeshore Technical College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Cleveland, Wisconsin, this small public school awarded 15 degrees to qualified associates’s child development students in 2019-2020.
LTC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $9,739 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Child development students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend LTC.
With a ranking of #12, Gateway Technical College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Gateway Technical College is a medium-sized school located in Kenosha, Wisconsin that handed out 16 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree child development students whose families make $0-$30k list, Gateway Technical College has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Gateway Technical College is $7,933 for great lakes region associate degree child development students whose families make $0-$30k.
The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Early Childhood Education at Gateway Technical College
University of Cincinnati - Clermont College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UC Clermont College is located in Batavia, Ohio and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 associates’s child development degrees to qualified students.
UC Clermont College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UC Clermont College is $8,017 for great lakes region associate degree child development students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full University of Cincinnati - Clermont College Early Childhood Education Report
Fox Valley Technical College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Fox Valley Technical College is located in Appleton, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 37 associates’s child development degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree child development students whose families make $0-$30k list, FVTC has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Fox Valley Technical College is $8,385 for great lakes region associate degree child development students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Fox Valley Technical College Early Childhood Education Report
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Southwest Tech is located in Fennimore, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 associates’s child development degrees to qualified students.
Southwest Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Southwest Tech is $8,167 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Child development students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low student loan default rate of 4.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
With a ranking of #16, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. NWTC is a fairly large school located in Green Bay, Wisconsin that handed out 39 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.
NWTC also took the #8 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is $8,506 for great lakes region associate degree child development students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a ranking of #17, Chippewa Valley Technical College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. CVTC is a public institution located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 21 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at CVTC, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for CVTC is $8,764 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Child development students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Chippewa Valley Technical College
Northcentral Technical College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. This medium-sized school is located in Wausau, Wisconsin, and it awarded 13 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at North Central Technical College, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $8,871 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Child development students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend North Central Technical College.
Full North Central Technical College Early Childhood Education Report
Mid-State Technical College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, this small public school awarded 6 degrees to qualified associates’s child development students in 2019-2020.
Mid-State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $8,223 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Child development students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Mid-State Technical College.
Read more about Early Childhood Education at Mid-State Technical College
With a ranking of #20, Vincennes University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Vincennes University is a fairly large public school situated in Vincennes, Indiana. It awarded 3 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree child development students whose families make $0-$30k list, Vincennes University has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $8,729 for great lakes region associate degree child development students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Vincennes University.
Owens Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. Perrysburg, Ohio is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s child development degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.
Owens State Community College also took the #23 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Owens Community College is $6,889 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Child development students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Early Childhood Education at Owens Community College
Stark State College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in North Canton, Ohio, this fairly large public school awarded 7 degrees to qualified associates’s child development students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $6,491 for great lakes region associate degree child development students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Stark State College.
Lake Superior State University landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Lake Superior State University is a small public school situated in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan. It awarded 4 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Lake Superior State University is $7,067 for great lakes region associate degree child development students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Lake Superior State University
Ohio State University - Lima Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. Ohio State University - Lima Campus is located in Lima, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 associates’s child development degrees to qualified students.
Ohio State University - Lima Campus did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State University - Lima Campus is $9,961 for great lakes region associate degree child development students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Early Childhood Education at Ohio State University - Lima Campus
Saint Augustine College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. St. Augustine College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 42 associates’s child development degrees in 2019-2020.
St. Augustine College also took the #3 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Saint Augustine College is $11,691 for great lakes region associate degree child development students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Early Childhood Education at Saint Augustine College
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Notes and References
References
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
Footnotes
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
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- Credit for the banner image above goes to Vgrigas.
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