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

18 Colleges in the United States
1,836 Early Childhood Education Degrees Awarded
$46,409 Avg Early-Career Salary

Early Childhood Education is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their early childhood education programs.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 53 schools to find the best for early childhood education students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Early Childhood Education in the Rocky Mountains Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall early childhood education education in the Rocky Mountains Region.

Top Schools in Early Childhood Education

1

Utah State University tops our 2026 ranking of the best early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. Utah State University awarded about 16 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Utah State University generally make around $56,279. Utah State University graduates carry a median of $16,574 in student loans. Read more about the early childhood education program at Utah State University

2

Weber State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education, landing the #2 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Ogden. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. Weber State University awarded about 10 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $56,210 in their early career. Weber State University graduates carry a median of $18,670 in student loans. Read more about the early childhood education program at Weber State University

3

Utah Valley University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in early childhood education, ranking #3. Set in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. About 179 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Utah Valley University in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $49,497 early in their careers. Utah Valley University graduates carry a median of $11,813 in student loans. See the full early childhood education program report for Utah Valley University

4

A rank of #4 makes Colorado State University Fort Collins one of the top schools for early childhood education. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Collins. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. There were roughly 23 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Colorado State University Fort Collins in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Colorado State University Fort Collins earn around $51,693 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,843 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in early childhood education from Colorado State University Fort Collins

5

Community College Of Denver is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in early childhood education, ranking #5. Set in the city of Denver, Community College Of Denver is a large public institution. Community College Of Denver awarded about 265 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Community College Of Denver earn around $18,399 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,375. More information about a degree in early childhood education from Community College Of Denver

6

Brigham Young University Provo landed the #6 spot for early childhood education this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Provo. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 23 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Brigham Young University Provo in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $42,475. Typical student debt for the program is $13,385. More information about a degree in early childhood education from Brigham Young University Provo

7

Aims Community College earned the #7 position for early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Greeley, Aims Community College is a large public university. About 85 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Aims Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Aims Community College generally make around $45,909. Typical student debt for the program is $11,199. See the full early childhood education program report for Aims Community College

8

Arapahoe Community College landed the #8 spot for early childhood education this year. Set in the suburb of Littleton, Arapahoe Community College is a large public institution. About 99 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Arapahoe Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Arapahoe Community College generally make around $47,579. Arapahoe Community College graduates carry a median of $20,448 in student loans. See the full early childhood education program report for Arapahoe Community College

9
Colorado Mountain College crest
Colorado Mountain College
Glenwood Springs, CO

Colorado Mountain College came in at #9 for early childhood education this year. Located in the town of Glenwood Springs, Colorado Mountain College is a moderately-sized public university. Colorado Mountain College graduates 14% of students within six years. About 88 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Colorado Mountain College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Colorado Mountain College generally make around $48,694. Students borrow a median of $12,953 to complete this degree. See the full early childhood education program report for Colorado Mountain College

10

Colorado Northwestern Community College earned the #10 position for early childhood education this year. This small public university is located in the rural area of Rangely. There were roughly 27 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Colorado Northwestern Community College in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Colorado Northwestern Community College earn a median of $56,978 early in their careers. Colorado Northwestern Community College graduates carry a median of $18,127 in student loans. Get the full early childhood education details for Colorado Northwestern Community College

11

University Of Colorado Denver earned the #11 position for early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public institution. About 46% of students finish within six years. About 105 early childhood education degrees were awarded at University Of Colorado Denver in the most recent year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from University Of Colorado Denver earn around $51,947 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,582 to complete this degree. Get the full early childhood education details for University Of Colorado Denver

12

Pueblo Community College earned the #12 position for early childhood education this year. Pueblo Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Pueblo. About 97 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Pueblo Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $26,812 in their early career. Pueblo Community College graduates carry a median of $10,750 in student loans. See the full early childhood education program report for Pueblo Community College

13

Red Rocks Community College earned the #13 position for early childhood education this year. Located in the suburb of Lakewood, Red Rocks Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 58 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Red Rocks Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Red Rocks Community College generally make around $76,340. Typical student debt for the program is $14,471. More information about a degree in early childhood education from Red Rocks Community College

14

Dixie State College Of Utah ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Located in the city of Saint George, Dixie State College Of Utah is a large public university. About 28% of students finish within six years. About 15 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Dixie State College Of Utah in the most recent year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $47,619 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,565 to complete this degree. Get the full early childhood education details for Dixie State College Of Utah

15

University Of Northern Colorado placed #15 among the best early childhood education schools. Located in the city of Greeley, University Of Northern Colorado is a large public university. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 33 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Northern Colorado in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from University Of Northern Colorado earn around $40,614 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Northern Colorado graduates carry a median of $25,906 in student loans. More information about a degree in early childhood education from University Of Northern Colorado

16

Brigham Young University Idaho earned the #16 position for early childhood education this year. Located in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 27 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Brigham Young University Idaho in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Brigham Young University Idaho earn a median of $41,342 early in their careers. Brigham Young University Idaho graduates carry a median of $15,335 in student loans. See the full early childhood education program report for Brigham Young University Idaho

17

Community College Of Aurora earned the #17 position for early childhood education this year. This large public university is located in the city of Aurora. There were roughly 79 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Community College Of Aurora in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Community College Of Aurora earn a median of $38,587 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,365. See the full early childhood education program report for Community College Of Aurora

18

University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs landed the #18 spot for early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Colorado Springs, University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a large public university. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs awarded about 27 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs earn around $40,198 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,040 to complete this degree. See the full early childhood education program report for University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs

19
Pikes Peak Community College crest
Pikes Peak Community College
Colorado Springs, CO

Pikes Peak Community College came in at #19 for early childhood education this year. Set in the suburb of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Community College is a large public institution. About 105 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Pikes Peak Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Pikes Peak Community College generally make around $41,037. Pikes Peak Community College graduates carry a median of $16,066 in student loans. Read more about the early childhood education program at Pikes Peak Community College

20

Front Range Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Front Range Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Westminster. About 272 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Front Range Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Front Range Community College generally make around $29,749. Front Range Community College graduates carry a median of $16,150 in student loans. See the full early childhood education program report for Front Range Community College

21

Trinidad State Junior College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Located in the town of Trinidad, Trinidad State Junior College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 54 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Trinidad State Junior College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $53,086 in their early career. Trinidad State Junior College graduates carry a median of $10,502 in student loans. Get the full early childhood education details for Trinidad State Junior College

22

The University Of Montana Western landed the #22 spot for early childhood education this year. This small public university is located in the town of Dillon. The University Of Montana Western graduates 54% of students within six years. The University Of Montana Western awarded about 66 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $36,742 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,269. Read more about the early childhood education program at The University Of Montana Western

23
Morgan Community College crest
Morgan Community College
Fort Morgan, CO

Morgan Community College earned the #23 position for early childhood education this year. Set in the rural area of Fort Morgan, Morgan Community College is a small public institution. Morgan Community College awarded about 12 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Morgan Community College generally make around $70,412. Students borrow a median of $11,746 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in early childhood education from Morgan Community College

24

Northeastern Junior College placed #24 among the best early childhood education schools. Set in the town of Sterling, Northeastern Junior College is a small public institution. Northeastern Junior College awarded about 11 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Northeastern Junior College earn around $38,543 in the first couple years of their career. Northeastern Junior College graduates carry a median of $13,156 in student loans. See the full early childhood education program report for Northeastern Junior College

25

Colorado Christian University placed #25 among the best early childhood education schools. Located in the suburb of Lakewood, Colorado Christian University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 63% of students finish within six years. Colorado Christian University awarded about 20 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $40,448 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the early childhood education program at Colorado Christian University

Rest of the Top 27 Early Childhood Education Schools

Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong early childhood education education:

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 53 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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