Early Childhood Education programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 1068 schools to find the best for early childhood education students.
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Collin County Community College District tops our 2026 ranking of the best early childhood education schools. Set in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public institution. Collin County Community College District awarded about 56 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Collin County Community College District earn around $42,177 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,125 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Collin County Community College District
Anne Arundel Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Located in the suburb of Arnold, Anne Arundel Community College is a large public university. About 29 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Anne Arundel Community College in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Anne Arundel Community College earn a median of $59,894 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,947.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Anne Arundel Community College
Students looking for a strong early childhood education program will find one at Tarrant County College District, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Fort Worth. Tarrant County College District awarded about 62 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $24,507 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,750 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Tarrant County College District
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Kirkland. There were roughly 18 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Lake Washington Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $33,869 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,695.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Lake Washington Institute Of Technology
Springfield Technical Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in early childhood education, ranking #5. Set in the city of Springfield, Springfield Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 10 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Springfield Technical Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $28,769 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $5,881.
See the full early childhood education program report for Springfield Technical Community College
Northwest Vista College landed the #6 spot for early childhood education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Antonio. There were roughly 86 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Northwest Vista College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Northwest Vista College earn around $22,352 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $8,750 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Northwest Vista College
Austin Community College District placed #7 among the best early childhood education schools. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public university. About 84 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Austin Community College District in the most recent year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Austin Community College District earn around $46,430 in the first couple years of their career. Austin Community College District graduates carry a median of $17,785 in student loans.
Get the full early childhood education details for Austin Community College District
Miami Dade College landed the #8 spot for early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public institution. Miami Dade College awarded about 17 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Miami Dade College earn a median of $51,545 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,967.
Get the full early childhood education details for Miami Dade College
Yavapai College landed the #9 spot for early childhood education this year. Yavapai College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Prescott. Yavapai College awarded about 10 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $52,087 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,087 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Yavapai College
Palm Beach State College came in at #10 for early childhood education this year. Located in the suburb of Lake Worth, Palm Beach State College is a very large public university. There were roughly 25 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Palm Beach State College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $28,641 in their early career. Palm Beach State College graduates carry a median of $6,725 in student loans.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Palm Beach State College
Indian River State College came in at #11 for early childhood education this year. Located in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public university. About 18 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Indian River State College in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Indian River State College earn a median of $48,612 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Indian River State College
Tyler Junior College earned the #12 position for early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Tyler, Tyler Junior College is a large public institution. There were roughly 45 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Tyler Junior College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $43,348 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full early childhood education details for Tyler Junior College
Weatherford College placed #13 among the best early childhood education schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Weatherford. Weatherford College awarded about 12 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Weatherford College generally make around $48,208. Typical student debt for the program is $14,099.
Get the full early childhood education details for Weatherford College
Fox Valley Technical College landed the #14 spot for early childhood education this year. Set in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public institution. Fox Valley Technical College awarded about 20 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Fox Valley Technical College earn a median of $27,548 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Fox Valley Technical College
Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. This large public university is located in the city of Lakewood. About 13 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom in the most recent year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom earn around $55,849 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,365 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College placed #16 among the best early childhood education schools. Located in the town of Rice Lake, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 30 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College earn a median of $35,981 early in their careers. Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College graduates carry a median of $11,384 in student loans.
See the full early childhood education program report for Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College
Columbia Basin College earned the #17 position for early childhood education this year. Located in the suburb of Pasco, Columbia Basin College is a moderately-sized public university. Columbia Basin College awarded about 34 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $63,976 in their early career. Columbia Basin College graduates carry a median of $17,170 in student loans.
See the full early childhood education program report for Columbia Basin College
Palo Alto College came in at #18 for early childhood education this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, Palo Alto College is a large public institution. About 52 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Palo Alto College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Palo Alto College generally make around $29,062. Palo Alto College graduates carry a median of $9,430 in student loans.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Palo Alto College
San Jacinto Community College placed #19 among the best early childhood education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Pasadena. About 178 early childhood education degrees were awarded at San Jacinto Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $19,581 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the early childhood education program at San Jacinto Community College
Central New Mexico Community College earned the #20 position for early childhood education this year. Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. Central New Mexico Community College awarded about 82 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College generally make around $29,708. Central New Mexico Community College graduates carry a median of $9,625 in student loans.
See the full early childhood education program report for Central New Mexico Community College
Lone Star College System came in at #21 for early childhood education this year. Located in the city of The Woodlands, Lone Star College System is a very large public university. Lone Star College System awarded about 230 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $20,236 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $8,479 to complete this degree.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Lone Star College System
St Petersburg College landed the #22 spot for early childhood education this year. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public university. St Petersburg College awarded about 13 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from St Petersburg College earn around $49,672 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,900.
Get the full early childhood education details for St Petersburg College
Yakima Valley Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Yakima Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Yakima. About 19 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Yakima Valley Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Yakima Valley Community College earn around $49,625 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,649.
See the full early childhood education program report for Yakima Valley Community College
Chandler Gilbert Community College placed #24 among the best early childhood education schools. Chandler Gilbert Community College is a large public school located in the city of Chandler. About 12 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Chandler Gilbert Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Chandler Gilbert Community College generally make around $46,943. Students borrow a median of $10,447 to complete this degree.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Chandler Gilbert Community College
Glendale Community College Glendale Az earned the #25 position for early childhood education this year. Located in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public university. Glendale Community College Glendale Az awarded about 17 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Glendale Community College Glendale Az earn a median of $51,483 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,996.
See the full early childhood education program report for Glendale Community College Glendale Az
Rest of the Top 50 Early Childhood Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s early childhood education ranking:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 1068 schools evaluated.
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).
