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 261 schools to find the best for early childhood education students.
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No school ranked higher than James Madison University this year for early childhood education. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. About 80% of students finish within six years. James Madison University awarded about 13 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $52,997. Typical student debt for the program is $21,218.
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Students looking for a strong early childhood education program will find one at University Of South Florida Main Campus, which ranked #2. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. About 77% of students finish within six years. About 21 early childhood education degrees were awarded at University Of South Florida Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $52,532 in their early career. University Of South Florida Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,995 in student loans.
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University Of Georgia is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. University Of Georgia graduates 90% of students within six years. There were roughly 183 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Georgia in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $59,279 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,229.
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George Mason University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 45 early childhood education degrees were awarded at George Mason University in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $63,131 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,529.
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University Of Central Florida is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education, landing the #5 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Orlando. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. About 80 early childhood education degrees were awarded at University Of Central Florida in the most recent year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $50,686 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,250.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill landed the #6 spot for early childhood education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 115 early childhood education degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $37,424 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,640.
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University Of Florida placed #7 among the best early childhood education schools. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $48,506. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $18,063 in student loans.
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Edison State College landed the #8 spot for early childhood education this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Fort Myers. About 19 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Edison State College in the most recent year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Edison State College earn around $51,448 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,750 to complete this degree.
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Indian River State College landed the #9 spot 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. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Indian River State College earn around $48,612 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
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Florida International University earned the #10 position for early childhood education this year. Florida International University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Miami. About 74% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 232 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Florida International University in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $48,461 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,490 to complete this degree.
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Miami Dade College placed #11 among the best early childhood education schools. Miami Dade College is a very large public school located in the city of Miami. Miami Dade College awarded about 61 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. Miami Dade College graduates carry a median of $11,967 in student loans.
See the full early childhood education program report for Miami Dade College
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College landed the #12 spot for early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public university. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College graduates 66% of students within six years. About 17 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College generally make around $48,142. Typical student debt for the program is $21,250.
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University Of North Florida ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public institution. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 43 early childhood education degrees were awarded at University Of North Florida in the most recent year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $48,255 in their early career. University Of North Florida graduates carry a median of $19,097 in student loans.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from University Of North Florida
Nova Southeastern University came in at #14 for early childhood education this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale. Nova Southeastern University graduates 63% of students within six years. About 39 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Nova Southeastern University in the most recent year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Nova Southeastern University earn around $70,595 in the first couple years of their career. Nova Southeastern University graduates carry a median of $25,021 in student loans.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Nova Southeastern University
Auburn University placed #15 among the best early childhood education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Auburn. About 82% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 49 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Auburn University in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $47,618 early in their careers. Auburn University graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans.
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Palm Beach State College earned the #16 position for early childhood education this year. Set in the suburb of Lake Worth, Palm Beach State College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 25 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Palm Beach State College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Palm Beach State College generally make around $28,641. Typical student debt for the program is $6,725.
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St Petersburg College landed the #17 spot for early childhood education this year. St Petersburg College is a very large public school located in the city of St. Petersburg. There were roughly 13 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at St Petersburg College in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of St Petersburg College earn a median of $49,672 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,900 to complete this degree.
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University Of Arkansas came in at #18 for early childhood education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Fayetteville. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arkansas in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from University Of Arkansas generally make around $49,641. Typical student debt for the program is $26,141.
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Clemson University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. Clemson University graduates 87% of students within six years. Clemson University awarded about 65 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Clemson University earn a median of $41,080 early in their careers. Clemson University graduates carry a median of $25,783 in student loans.
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University Of North Georgia placed #20 among the best early childhood education schools. Located in the town of Dahlonega, University Of North Georgia is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. About 18 early childhood education degrees were awarded at University Of North Georgia in the most recent year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $49,402 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
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Polk State College came in at #21 for early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Winter Haven, Polk State College is a large public institution. There were roughly 14 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Polk State College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $48,210 in their early career. Polk State College graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans.
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College Of Central Florida landed the #22 spot for early childhood education this year. College Of Central Florida is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Ocala. About 27 early childhood education degrees were awarded at College Of Central Florida in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of College Of Central Florida earn a median of $48,537 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,934 to complete this degree.
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Tennessee Technological University placed #23 among the best early childhood education schools. Tennessee Technological University is a large public school located in the town of Cookeville. About 58% of students finish within six years. Tennessee Technological University awarded about 30 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $39,034 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,566.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Tennessee Technological University
Middle Tennessee State University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Middle Tennessee State University in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $42,657 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of South Carolina Columbia placed #25 among the best early childhood education schools. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates 79% of students within six years. There were roughly 46 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Carolina Columbia in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from University Of South Carolina Columbia earn around $43,172 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Early Childhood Education Schools
These schools also placed among the best for early childhood education this year:
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 · 261 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).
