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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Early Childhood Education Schools in New York

14 Colleges in the United States
968 Early Childhood Education Degrees Awarded
$51,798 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.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 43 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for early childhood education students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Early Childhood Education in New York

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall early childhood education education in New York.

Top Schools in Early Childhood Education

1
New York University crest
New York University
New York, NY

Leading the list is New York University, our #1 school for early childhood education. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 24 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from New York University earn around $54,901 in the first couple years of their career. New York University graduates carry a median of $19,455 in student loans. More information about a degree in early childhood education from New York University

2

Fordham University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. Fordham University awarded about 12 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $59,403 in their early career. Fordham University graduates carry a median of $25,643 in student loans. See the full early childhood education program report for Fordham University

3
Cuny City College crest
Cuny City College
New York, NY

Cuny City College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in early childhood education, ranking #3. Cuny City College is a large public school located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. Cuny City College awarded about 72 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Cuny City College earn around $57,296 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,916 to complete this degree. See the full early childhood education program report for Cuny City College

4
Cuny Hunter College crest
Cuny Hunter College
New York, NY

Cuny Hunter College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in early childhood education, ranking #4. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public university. Cuny Hunter College graduates 57% of students within six years. About 67 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Cuny Hunter College generally make around $51,986. Cuny Hunter College graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans. See the full early childhood education program report for Cuny Hunter College

5

Cuny Brooklyn College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public university. Cuny Brooklyn College graduates 54% of students within six years. Cuny Brooklyn College awarded about 162 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of $48,574 early in their careers. Cuny Brooklyn College graduates carry a median of $10,862 in student loans. Read more about the early childhood education program at Cuny Brooklyn College

6

Cuny Queens College came in at #6 for early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a very large public university. About 53% of students finish within six years. Cuny Queens College awarded about 48 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Cuny Queens College earn a median of $46,208 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,100 to complete this degree. See the full early childhood education program report for Cuny Queens College

7

Pace University New York ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 30 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Pace University New York in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Pace University New York generally make around $75,725. Students borrow a median of $25,670 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in early childhood education from Pace University New York

8

Suny College At Cortland placed #8 among the best early childhood education schools. Suny College At Cortland is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Cortland. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Suny College At Cortland in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Suny College At Cortland generally make around $43,977. Students borrow a median of $25,902 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in early childhood education from Suny College At Cortland

9

Cuny Lehman College came in at #9 for early childhood education this year. Cuny Lehman College is a large public school located in the city of Bronx. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. Cuny Lehman College awarded about 51 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Cuny Lehman College earn a median of $62,489 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,213. Read more about the early childhood education program at Cuny Lehman College

10
Mercy College crest
Mercy College
Dobbs Ferry, NY

Mercy College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Mercy College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dobbs Ferry. Mercy College graduates 45% of students within six years. About 133 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Mercy College in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Mercy College earn a median of $63,434 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $28,304 to complete this degree. Get the full early childhood education details for Mercy College

11

Bank Street College Of Education placed #11 among the best early childhood education schools. Bank Street College Of Education is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. About 17 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Bank Street College Of Education in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Bank Street College Of Education generally make around $61,775. Get the full early childhood education details for Bank Street College Of Education

12

Monroe College Main Campus came in at #12 for early childhood education this year. Monroe College Main Campus is a large private for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. About 14 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Monroe College Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Monroe College Main Campus generally make around $58,194. Students borrow a median of $21,450 to complete this degree. See the full early childhood education program report for Monroe College Main Campus

13

Suny College At Buffalo came in at #13 for early childhood education this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Buffalo. Suny College At Buffalo graduates 33% of students within six years. There were roughly 17 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Suny College At Buffalo in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $39,659 in their early career. Suny College At Buffalo graduates carry a median of $26,999 in student loans. More information about a degree in early childhood education from Suny College At Buffalo

14

Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill came in at #14 for early childhood education this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Cobleskill. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. About 11 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill generally make around $31,793. Typical student debt for the program is $23,490. See the full early childhood education program report for Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill

15

Bryant And Stratton College Online ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Located in the suburb of Orchard Park, Bryant And Stratton College Online is a large private not-for-profit university. Bryant And Stratton College Online graduates 17% of students within six years. About 295 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Bryant And Stratton College Online in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Bryant And Stratton College Online generally make around $21,549. Bryant And Stratton College Online graduates carry a median of $22,055 in student loans. Read more about the early childhood education program at Bryant And Stratton College Online

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Notes and References

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 · 43 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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