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2023 Best Value Colleges for Early Childhood Education (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region

50 Ranked Colleges
1,437 Degrees Awarded
$11,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

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 in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Early Childhood Education is the 34th most popular major in the country with 32,920 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.

Across the Plains States region, there were 1,437 early childhood education graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 50 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the early childhood education program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Early Childhood Education Schools

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region child development students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Early Childhood Education (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s child development degrees to 33 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Twin Cities, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $8,609 for Plains States Region Child development students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at UMN Twin Cities

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Iowa State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. This large school is located in Ames, Iowa, and it awarded 24 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region child development students whose families make $30-$48k list, Iowa State has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa State University is $11,427 for plains states region child development students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Iowa State University

3
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University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Northern Iowa. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. UNI is a medium-sized public school situated in Cedar Falls, Iowa. It awarded 33 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

UNI did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $13,175 for plains states region child development students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UNI.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at UNI

4
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University of Missouri - St Louis
Saint Louis, Missouri

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - St Louis. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Missouri - St Louis is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.

UMSL also took the #21 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $8,324 for plains states region child development students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Missouri - St Louis.

The low undergrad 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 UMSL

5
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Northeast Community College
Norfolk, Nebraska

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northeast Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Norfolk, Nebraska, and it awarded 23 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Northeast is $7,170 for Plains States Region Child development students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Northeast Community College

6
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Minot State University
Minot, North Dakota

Minot State University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Minot, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s child development degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region child development students whose families make $30-$48k list, MSU has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend MSU is $9,060 for Plains States Region Child development students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Minot State University

7

University of Missouri - Columbia came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Missouri - Columbia is located in Columbia, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.

Mizzou did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Mizzou is $11,386 for Plains States Region Child development students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Mizzou

8

Northwest Missouri State University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Maryville, Missouri, this medium-sized public school awarded 35 degrees to qualified ’s child development students in 2020-2021.

Northwest also made our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #15. It costs about $10,608 for plains states region child development students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Northwest Missouri State University.

Full Northwest Early Childhood Education Report

9
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University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota

University of North Dakota did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. UND is a public institution located in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 16 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UND, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of North Dakota is $13,151 for Plains States Region Child development students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at University of North Dakota

10
Southeast Missouri State University crest
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Southeast Missouri State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. It awarded 48 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

Southeast Missouri State University also took the #23 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Southeast Missouri State University is $11,406 for plains states region child development students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Southeast Missouri State University

11

With a ranking of #11, Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Springfield, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s child development degrees to 48 students in 2020-2021.

Missouri State also took the #4 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Missouri State University - Springfield is $13,144 for Plains States Region Child development students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Missouri State University - Springfield Early Childhood Education Report

12
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College of Saint Mary
Omaha, Nebraska

College of Saint Mary did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. Saint Mary is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Omaha, Nebraska. It awarded 6 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $10,321 for Plains States Region Child development students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Saint Mary.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Saint Mary Early Childhood Education Report

13
St. Cloud State University crest
Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, this fairly large public school awarded 9 diplomas to qualified ’s child development students in 2020-2021.

St. Cloud State University also made our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #16. The yearly cost to attend St. Cloud State University is $10,825 for plains states region child development students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full St. Cloud State University Early Childhood Education Report

14
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Wichita State University
Wichita, Kansas

Wichita State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Wichita, Kansas, and it awarded 10 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region child development students whose families make $30-$48k list, WSU has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for WSU is $12,272 for plains states region child development students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full WSU Early Childhood Education Report

15
Winona State crest
Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota

With a ranking of #15, Winona State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Winona, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school handed out 3 degrees to qualified ’s child development students in 2020-2021.

Winona State also took the #10 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Winona State is $12,963 for Plains States Region Child development students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Winona State

16

With a ranking of #16, Minnesota State University - Moorhead did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Minnesota State University - Moorhead is a medium-sized school located in Moorhead, Minnesota that handed out 29 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at MSU Moorhead, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,194 for plains states region child development students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Minnesota State University - Moorhead.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% 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 MSU Moorhead

17
WSC crest
Wayne State College
Wayne, Nebraska

Wayne State College landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Wayne State College is located in Wayne, Nebraska and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 9 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.

WSC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Wayne State College is $11,672 for plains states region child development students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Wayne State College

18
Mayville State University crest
Mayville State University
Mayville, North Dakota

Mayville State University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Mayville State University is a public institution located in Mayville, North Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Mayville State University is $11,357 for plains states region child development students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Mayville State University

19
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University of Mary
Bismarck, North Dakota

With a ranking of #19, University of Mary did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Mary is located in Bismarck, North Dakota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.

UMary also took the #14 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Mary is $15,600 for Plains States Region Child development students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at University of Mary

20

Southwest Minnesota State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Southwest Minnesota State University is located in Marshall, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 30 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $10,945 for plains states region child development students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Southwest Minnesota State University.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Southwest Minnesota State University

21

University of Missouri - Kansas City did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #21. Kansas City, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s child development degrees to 7 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMKC, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $13,751 for plains states region child development students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UMKC.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at UMKC

22
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

University of Kansas landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. KU is located in Lawrence, Kansas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.

KU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Kansas is $16,288 for plains states region child development students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at University of Kansas

23
Concordia University, Saint Paul crest
Concordia University, Saint Paul
Saint Paul, Minnesota

Concordia University, Saint Paul landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Concordia University, Saint Paul is a medium-sized school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota that handed out 46 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Concordia University, Saint Paul, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $13,031 for Plains States Region Child development students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Concordia University, Saint Paul.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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%.

Full Concordia University, Saint Paul Early Childhood Education Report

24
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University of Central Missouri
Warrensburg, Missouri

University of Central Missouri came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UCM is a fairly large school located in Warrensburg, Missouri that handed out 3 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $12,120 for Plains States Region Child development students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Central Missouri.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at UCM

25

With a ranking of #25, Alexandria Technical & Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Child development Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. ATCC is a small school located in Alexandria, Minnesota that handed out 16 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Alexandria Technical & Community College is $11,538 for Plains States Region Child development students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full ATCC Early Childhood Education Report

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