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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region

74 Colleges in the United States
3,775 Early Childhood Education Degrees Awarded
$40,954 Avg Early-Career Salary

Early Childhood Education programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their early childhood education programs.

College Factual analyzed 175 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best early childhood education schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Early Childhood Education in the Great Lakes Region

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the early childhood education degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Early Childhood Education

1
Purdue University Main Campus crest
Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN

Our analysis ranked Purdue University Main Campus the best school in the country for a degree in early childhood education. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 19 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $45,459 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,646 to complete this degree. Get the full early childhood education details for Purdue University Main Campus

2

Students looking for a strong early childhood education program will find one at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 19 early childhood education degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $50,601 early in their careers. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Get the full early childhood education details for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

3

Students looking for a strong early childhood education program will find one at University Of Illinois At Chicago, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates 62% of students within six years. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 46 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $65,587 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,750. Get the full early childhood education details for University Of Illinois At Chicago

4

Illinois State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in early childhood education, ranking #4. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 114 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $44,898. Typical student debt for the program is $22,500. See the full early childhood education program report for Illinois State University

5

Northeastern Illinois University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Chicago. Northeastern Illinois University graduates 22% of students within six years. There were roughly 33 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Northeastern Illinois University earn a median of $51,301 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,612. See the full early childhood education program report for Northeastern Illinois University

6

Northern Illinois University placed #6 among the best early childhood education schools. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northern Illinois University awarded about 40 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $44,214 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,250. See the full early childhood education program report for Northern Illinois University

7

University Of Dayton came in at #7 for early childhood education this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Dayton. University Of Dayton graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 76 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Dayton in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from University Of Dayton generally make around $38,492. University Of Dayton graduates carry a median of $25,483 in student loans. Read more about the early childhood education program at University Of Dayton

8

Miami University Oxford landed the #8 spot for early childhood education this year. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public university. About 80% of students finish within six years. Miami University Oxford awarded about 107 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $39,155 in their early career. Miami University Oxford graduates carry a median of $23,750 in student loans. Get the full early childhood education details for Miami University Oxford

9

Fox Valley Technical College earned the #9 position for early childhood education this year. Located in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public university. About 26 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Fox Valley Technical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Fox Valley Technical College earn around $27,548 in the first couple years of their career. Fox Valley Technical College graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in early childhood education from Fox Valley Technical College

10

Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College came in at #10 for early childhood education this year. Set in the town of Rice Lake, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 30 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College generally make around $35,981. Typical student debt for the program is $11,384. Read more about the early childhood education program at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College

11

Concordia University Chicago landed the #11 spot for early childhood education this year. Located in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 36% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 23 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Concordia University Chicago in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Concordia University Chicago earn a median of $51,004 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree. Get the full early childhood education details for Concordia University Chicago

12

Ball State University landed the #12 spot for early childhood education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Muncie. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. Ball State University awarded about 29 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $48,051 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,655 to complete this degree. See the full early childhood education program report for Ball State University

13

Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis came in at #13 for early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of $48,443 early in their careers. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in early childhood education from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis

14
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Depaul University came in at #14 for early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 36 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $49,111. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in early childhood education from Depaul University

15

Elgin Community College landed the #15 spot for early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 44 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Elgin Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $43,975 in their early career. Elgin Community College graduates carry a median of $7,727 in student loans. See the full early childhood education program report for Elgin Community College

16

Madison Area Technical College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Madison Area Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Madison. Madison Area Technical College awarded about 84 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $44,279 in their early career. Madison Area Technical College graduates carry a median of $16,812 in student loans. Read more about the early childhood education program at Madison Area Technical College

17

Roosevelt University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 25 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Roosevelt University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $56,418 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree. See the full early childhood education program report for Roosevelt University

18

University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point placed #18 among the best early childhood education schools. Located in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public university. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point graduates 56% of students within six years. About 31 early childhood education degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point earn a median of $43,087 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,240 to complete this degree. See the full early childhood education program report for University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point

19

Ohio University Main Campus earned the #19 position for early childhood education this year. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 120 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Ohio University Main Campus earn around $34,983 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,050. Read more about the early childhood education program at Ohio University Main Campus

20

Concordia University Wisconsin earned the #20 position for early childhood education this year. Concordia University Wisconsin is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Mequon. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 13 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Concordia University Wisconsin in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $49,291 in their early career. Concordia University Wisconsin graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full early childhood education details for Concordia University Wisconsin

21

Chippewa Valley Technical College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Located in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public university. Chippewa Valley Technical College awarded about 17 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $23,796 in their early career. Chippewa Valley Technical College graduates carry a median of $11,125 in student loans. Get the full early childhood education details for Chippewa Valley Technical College

22

Southern Illinois University Carbondale placed #22 among the best early childhood education schools. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 18 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $39,496. Typical student debt for the program is $21,944. See the full early childhood education program report for Southern Illinois University Carbondale

23
Central Michigan University crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI

Central Michigan University placed #23 among the best early childhood education schools. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. There were roughly 142 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Central Michigan University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Central Michigan University earn around $45,225 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete this degree. Get the full early childhood education details for Central Michigan University

24

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Located in the city of Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public university. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College awarded about 108 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College generally make around $27,209. Students borrow a median of $15,835 to complete this degree. See the full early childhood education program report for Northeast Wisconsin Technical College

25
Xavier University crest
Xavier University
Cincinnati, OH

Xavier University landed the #25 spot for early childhood education this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cincinnati. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 23 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Xavier University in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Xavier University earn a median of $44,364 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in early childhood education from Xavier University

Rest of the Top 50 Early Childhood Education Schools

These schools also placed among the best for early childhood education this year:

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28
29
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31
32
33
34
35
36
37
Capital University crest
Capital University
Columbus, OH
38
Ivy Tech Community College crest
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, IN
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
Governors State University crest
Governors State University
University Park, IL
47
48
Otterbein University crest
Otterbein University
Westerville, OH
49
50

Honorable Mentions

A few more early childhood education schools worth a look:

Narrow Early Childhood Education Schools by State

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View All Early Childhood Education Rankings >

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 175 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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