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

7 Colleges in the United States
1,485 Early Childhood Education Degrees Awarded
$45,142 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.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 25 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 Colorado

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

Colorado State University Fort Collins tops our 2026 ranking of the best early childhood education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Fort Collins. About 66% of students finish within six years. About 23 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Colorado State University Fort Collins in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of $51,693 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,843. More information about a degree in early childhood education from Colorado State University Fort Collins

2

Community College Of Denver came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Denver, Community College Of Denver is a large public institution. There were roughly 265 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Community College Of Denver in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $18,399 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,375. Read more about the early childhood education program at Community College Of Denver

3

Aims Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Located in the city of Greeley, Aims Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 85 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Aims Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $45,909 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,199. Get the full early childhood education details for Aims Community College

4

Students looking for a strong early childhood education program will find one at Arapahoe Community College, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Littleton, Arapahoe Community College is a large public university. Arapahoe Community College awarded about 99 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Arapahoe Community College earn around $47,579 in the first couple years of their career. 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

5
Colorado Mountain College crest
Colorado Mountain College
Glenwood Springs, CO

Colorado Mountain College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in early childhood education, ranking #5. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Glenwood Springs. About 14% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 88 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Colorado Mountain College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Colorado Mountain College earn around $48,694 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,953. Read more about the early childhood education program at Colorado Mountain College

6

Colorado Northwestern Community College placed #6 among the best early childhood education schools. Set in the rural area of Rangely, Colorado Northwestern Community College is a small public institution. About 27 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Colorado Northwestern Community College in the most recent 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

7

University Of Colorado Denver landed the #7 spot for early childhood education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Denver. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Colorado Denver awarded about 105 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from University Of Colorado Denver generally make around $51,947. Typical student debt for the program is $26,582. Read more about the early childhood education program at University Of Colorado Denver

8

Pueblo Community College earned the #8 position for early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Pueblo, Pueblo Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 97 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Pueblo Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Pueblo Community College earn around $26,812 in the first couple years of their 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

9

Red Rocks Community College came in at #9 for early childhood education this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Lakewood. There were roughly 58 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Red Rocks Community College in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Red Rocks Community College earn a median of $76,340 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,471 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in early childhood education from Red Rocks Community College

10

University Of Northern Colorado earned the #10 position for early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Greeley, University Of Northern Colorado is a large public university. About 51% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 33 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Northern Colorado in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $40,614 in their early career. University Of Northern Colorado graduates carry a median of $25,906 in student loans. Get the full early childhood education details for University Of Northern Colorado

11

Community College Of Aurora earned the #11 position for early childhood education this year. This large public university is located in the city of Aurora. Community College Of Aurora awarded about 79 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $38,587 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,365 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in early childhood education from Community College Of Aurora

12

University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs placed #12 among the best early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Colorado Springs, University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a large public institution. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 27 early childhood education degrees were awarded at University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs generally make around $40,198. Students borrow a median of $25,040 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in early childhood education from University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs

13
Pikes Peak Community College crest
Pikes Peak Community College
Colorado Springs, CO

Pikes Peak Community College came in at #13 for early childhood education this year. Located in the suburb of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Community College is a large public university. About 105 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Pikes Peak Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Pikes Peak Community College earn around $41,037 in the first couple years of their career. Pikes Peak Community College graduates carry a median of $16,066 in student loans. More information about a degree in early childhood education from Pikes Peak Community College

14

Front Range Community College landed the #14 spot for early childhood education this year. Set in the suburb of Westminster, Front Range Community College is a very large public institution. Front Range Community College awarded about 272 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Front Range Community College earn around $29,749 in the first couple years of their career. 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

15

Trinidad State Junior College placed #15 among the best early childhood education schools. Set in the town of Trinidad, Trinidad State Junior College is a mid-sized public institution. About 54 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Trinidad State Junior College in the most recent year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $53,086 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,502 to complete this degree. Read more about the early childhood education program at Trinidad State Junior College

16
Morgan Community College crest
Morgan Community College
Fort Morgan, CO

Morgan Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. This small public university is located in the rural area of Fort Morgan. About 12 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Morgan Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $70,412 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,746 to complete this degree. See the full early childhood education program report for Morgan Community College

17

Northeastern Junior College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Set in the town of Sterling, Northeastern Junior College is a small public institution. About 11 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Northeastern Junior College in the most recent 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. Typical student debt for the program is $13,156. See the full early childhood education program report for Northeastern Junior College

18

Colorado Christian University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Colorado Christian University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lakewood. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. There were roughly 20 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Colorado Christian University 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

19

Metropolitan State College Of Denver placed #19 among the best early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public institution. About 31% of students finish within six years. About 25 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Metropolitan State College Of Denver in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Metropolitan State College Of Denver generally make around $40,681. Metropolitan State College Of Denver graduates carry a median of $27,551 in student loans. Read more about the early childhood education program at Metropolitan State College Of Denver

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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 · 25 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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