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2023 Best Value Child development Schools For Those Making $48-$75k

484 Ranked Colleges
32,920 Degrees Awarded
Best Value Child development Schools For Those Making $48-$75k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Child development Schools For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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

For this year’s “Best Value Child development Schools For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 484 colleges that offer a degree in early childhood education. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent early childhood education programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the early childhood education program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Early Childhood Education Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
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More Child development Rankings Other Ranking Categories

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 For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. 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 Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Child development Schools For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Early Childhood Education (Income $48-$75k)

1
Hunter crest
Hunter College
New York, New York

Out of the 484 schools in the Best Value Child development Schools For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Hunter College landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in New York, New York, this large public school awarded 86 diplomas to qualified ’s child development students in 2020-2021.

On top of its placing in this ranking, Hunter also did well on our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools” list. It costs about $6,908 for child development students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Hunter College.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 Hunter Early Childhood Education Report

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Child development Schools For Those Making $48-$75k. This large school is located in Seattle, Washington, and it awarded 116 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our child development students whose families make $48-$75k list, UW Seattle has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus is $8,393 for Child development students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at UW Seattle

3
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Central New Mexico Community College
Albuquerque, New Mexico

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Central New Mexico Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Child development Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, this fairly large public school awarded 58 diplomas to qualified ’s child development students in 2020-2021.

CNM also claimed a top spot on our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools” list. It costs about $5,520 for child development students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend CNM.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Central New Mexico Community College

4
South Texas College crest
South Texas College
McAllen, Texas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend South Texas College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Child development Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. South Texas College is located in McAllen, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 270 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $3,531 for Child development students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend South Texas College.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at South Texas College

5
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

Out of the 484 schools in the Best Value Child development Schools For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #5 spot on the list. Purdue is a large public school situated in West Lafayette, Indiana. It awarded 23 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our child development students whose families make $48-$75k list, Purdue has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue University - Main Campus is $8,450 for Child development students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Purdue Early Childhood Education Report

6
Brooklyn College crest
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, New York

With a ranking of #6, Brooklyn College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Child development Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. Brooklyn College is a fairly large public school situated in Brooklyn, New York. It awarded 146 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

Brooklyn College excels when it comes to child development quality. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Brooklyn College is $7,219 for Child development students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% 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 Brooklyn College Early Childhood Education Report

7
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

University of Florida came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Gainesville, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s child development degrees to 16 students in 2020-2021.

On top of its placing in this ranking, UF also did well on our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for UF is $8,394 for Child development students whose families make $48-$75k.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at UF

8

California State University - Los Angeles landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Child development Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school awarded 384 diplomas to qualified ’s child development students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Cal State LA is $5,700 for child development students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%.

Full California State University - Los Angeles Early Childhood Education Report

9

With a ranking of #9, University of South Florida - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Child development Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of South Florida - Main Campus is a public institution located in Tampa, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 16 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on this list, USF Tampa is in the top on our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. It costs about $9,669 for Child development students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend USF Tampa.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at USF Tampa

10
IU Bloomington crest
Indiana University - Bloomington
Bloomington, Indiana

Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Child development Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Bloomington, Indiana, this large public school awarded 11 degrees to qualified ’s child development students in 2020-2021.

IU Bloomington also made our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend IU Bloomington is $12,369 for child development students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Indiana University - Bloomington

11

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Child development Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #11. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 16 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UIUC also made our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $11,505 for Child development students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Early Childhood Education Report

12

University of Central Florida did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Child development Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #12. Orlando, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s child development degrees to 103 students in 2020-2021.

UCF also made our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools” list, coming in at #14. It costs about $9,426 for Child development students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Central Florida.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at University of Central Florida

13
QC crest
Queens College
Queens, New York

Queens College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. Queens, New York is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s child development degrees to 50 students in 2020-2021.

On top of its placing in this ranking, QC also did well on our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for QC is $7,582 for Child development students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% 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 QC

14

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Child development Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 115 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.

UNC Chapel Hill also took the #23 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNC Chapel Hill is $11,619 for child development students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at UNC Chapel Hill

15

Brigham Young University - Idaho landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Child development Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Brigham Young University - Idaho is located in Rexburg, Idaho and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 37 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Brigham Young University - Idaho is $5,422 for child development students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at BYU - I

16
Lehman crest
Lehman College
Bronx, New York

Lehman College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Lehman College is a fairly large school located in Bronx, New York that handed out 43 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Lehman is $8,084 for child development students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Lehman College Early Childhood Education Report

17

With a ranking of #17, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Child development Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. UMN Twin Cities is a large public school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 33 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

UMN Twin Cities also took the #11 spot in our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $12,911 for child development students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

18
WGU crest
Western Governors University
Salt Lake City, Utah

With a ranking of #18, Western Governors University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Child development Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 4 diplomas to qualified ’s child development students in 2020-2021.

WGU excels when it comes to child development quality. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for WGU is $12,942 for child development students whose families make $48-$75k.

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 Western Governors University

19
CCNY crest
The City College of New York
New York, New York

With a ranking of #19, The City College of New York did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Child development Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in New York, New York, this fairly large public school awarded 69 diplomas to qualified ’s child development students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend CCNY is $7,521 for Child development students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%.

Full The City College of New York Early Childhood Education Report

20

Florida International University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Miami, Florida, this large public school handed out 240 degrees to qualified ’s child development students in 2020-2021.

FIU excels when it comes to child development quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools” list. It costs about $7,292 for child development students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Florida International University.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 FIU Early Childhood Education Report

21

California State University - Fullerton came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Child development Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. California State University - Fullerton is a large school located in Fullerton, California that handed out 511 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Cal State Fullerton is also in the top of our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $9,017 for Child development students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Cal State Fullerton.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Cal State Fullerton Early Childhood Education Report

22

Brigham Young University - Provo did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Child development Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #22. Provo, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s child development degrees to 24 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our child development students whose families make $48-$75k list, BYU has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Early Childhood Education Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Brigham Young University - Provo is $12,676 for child development students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full BYU Early Childhood Education Report

23
El Centro College crest
El Centro College
Dallas, Texas

With a ranking of #23, El Centro College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Child development Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. Dallas, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s child development degrees to 252 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $6,881 for child development students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend El Centro College.

Full El Centro College Early Childhood Education Report

24
UMSL crest
University of Missouri - St Louis
Saint Louis, Missouri

University of Missouri - St Louis landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Child development Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Missouri - St Louis is a public institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $11,291 for Child development students whose families make $48-$75k 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%.

Full University of Missouri - St Louis Early Childhood Education Report

25

Tarrant County College District did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Child development Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #25. Located in Fort Worth, Texas, this large public school awarded 102 degrees to qualified ’s child development students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $6,841 for child development students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Tarrant County College District.

Full Tarrant County College District Early Childhood Education Report

Rest of the Best 50 in Best Value Child development Schools For Those Making $48-$75k

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
UNF crest
University of North Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
27
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University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia
28
Central Piedmont Community College crest
Central Piedmont Community College
Charlotte, North Carolina
29
UD crest
University of Delaware
Newark, Delaware
30
31
32
33
34
CWU crest
Central Washington University
Ellensburg, Washington
34
36
Indian River State College crest
Indian River State College
Fort Pierce, Florida
37
38
Palm Beach State College crest
Palm Beach State College
Lake Worth, Florida
39
40
Ivy Tech Community College crest
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, Indiana
41
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College crest
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
Salisbury, North Carolina
42
CGTC crest
Central Georgia Technical College
Warner Robins, Georgia
43
UNI crest
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa
44
45
Vance-Granville Community College crest
Vance-Granville Community College
Henderson, North Carolina
46
47
Atlanta Area Tech crest
Atlanta Technical College
Atlanta, Georgia
48
Holmes Community College crest
Holmes Community College
Goodman, Mississippi
49
MDC crest
Miami Dade College
Miami, Florida
50

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Best Value Child development Schools For Those Making $48-$75k

While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

Rank College Location
51 Fayetteville Technical Community College Fayetteville, NC
52 Pima Community College Tucson, AZ
53 Palo Alto College San Antonio, TX
54 Stanly Community College Albemarle, NC
55 Quinsigamond Community College Worcester, MA
56 Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ
57 Northeast Community College Norfolk, NE
58 Georgia Northwestern Technical College Rome, GA
59 Ball State University Muncie, IN
60 Spokane Falls Community College Spokane, WA
61 California State University - Fresno Fresno, CA
62 West Georgia Technical College Waco, GA
63 Oakland University Rochester Hills, MI
64 Northwest Missouri State University Maryville, MO
65 St Petersburg College Clearwater, FL
Rank College Location
66 California State University - Dominguez Hills Carson, CA
67 University of Wisconsin - River Falls River Falls, WI
68 Minot State University Minot, ND
69 Albany Technical College Albany, GA
70 University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks, AK
71 Springfield Technical Community College Springfield, MA
72 Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers, FL
73 University of Phoenix - Arizona Tempe, AZ

Notes and References

References

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