2026 Best Early Childhood Education Schools in North Carolina

1

University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC

University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill tops our 2026 ranking of the best early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. 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. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $13,640 in student loans. Read more about the early childhood education program at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill

2

University Of North Carolina At Greensboro
Greensboro, NC

University Of North Carolina At Greensboro came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public school located in the city of Greensboro. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro graduates 56% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro awarded about 43 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn a median of $44,447 early in their careers. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Get the full early childhood education details for University Of North Carolina At Greensboro

3

Central Piedmont Community College
Charlotte, NC

Students looking for a strong early childhood education program will find one at Central Piedmont Community College, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Charlotte. About 409 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Central Piedmont Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Central Piedmont Community College earn around $23,865 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,500. Get the full early childhood education details for Central Piedmont Community College

4

Rowan Cabarrus Community College
Salisbury, NC

Rowan Cabarrus Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education, landing the #4 spot this year. Rowan Cabarrus Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Salisbury. There were roughly 124 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Rowan Cabarrus Community College in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Rowan Cabarrus Community College earn a median of $24,323 early in their careers. Rowan Cabarrus Community College graduates carry a median of $7,000 in student loans. Get the full early childhood education details for Rowan Cabarrus Community College

5

Stanly Community College
Albemarle, NC

Stanly Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in early childhood education, ranking #5. Set in the town of Albemarle, Stanly Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Stanly Community College awarded about 64 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Stanly Community College generally make around $32,147. Get the full early childhood education details for Stanly Community College

6

South Piedmont Community College
Polkton, NC

South Piedmont Community College placed #6 among the best early childhood education schools. South Piedmont Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Polkton. About 36 early childhood education degrees were awarded at South Piedmont Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from South Piedmont Community College generally make around $31,111. Students borrow a median of $8,200 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in early childhood education from South Piedmont Community College

7

Forsyth Technical Community College
Winston-Salem, NC

Forsyth Technical Community College earned the #7 position for early childhood education this year. Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Winston-Salem. There were roughly 134 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Forsyth Technical Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Forsyth Technical Community College generally make around $26,572. Forsyth Technical Community College graduates carry a median of $19,719 in student loans. See the full early childhood education program report for Forsyth Technical Community College

8

Durham Technical Community College
Durham, NC

Durham Technical Community College came in at #8 for early childhood education this year. Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Durham. There were roughly 42 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Durham Technical Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $33,260 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,522. More information about a degree in early childhood education from Durham Technical Community College

9

Lenoir Community College
Kinston, NC

Lenoir Community College came in at #9 for early childhood education this year. Lenoir Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Kinston. Lenoir Community College awarded about 16 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $27,534 in their early career. Lenoir Community College graduates carry a median of $9,984 in student loans. More information about a degree in early childhood education from Lenoir Community College

10

Alamance Community College
Graham, NC

Alamance Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Located in the suburb of Graham, Alamance Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Alamance Community College awarded about 80 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Alamance Community College generally make around $26,105. Alamance Community College graduates carry a median of $6,625 in student loans. Read more about the early childhood education program at Alamance Community College

11

James Sprunt Community College
Kenansville, NC

James Sprunt Community College earned the #11 position for early childhood education this year. Located in the rural area of Kenansville, James Sprunt Community College is a small public university. About 52 early childhood education degrees were awarded at James Sprunt Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from James Sprunt Community College generally make around $26,775. Students borrow a median of $11,278 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in early childhood education from James Sprunt Community College

12

Montgomery Community College
Troy, NC

Montgomery Community College earned the #12 position for early childhood education this year. Set in the rural area of Troy, Montgomery Community College is a small public institution. Montgomery Community College awarded about 21 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Montgomery Community College earn a median of $38,983 early in their careers. Get the full early childhood education details for Montgomery Community College

13

Fayetteville Technical Community College
Fayetteville, NC

Fayetteville Technical Community College landed the #13 spot for early childhood education this year. Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. There were roughly 339 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Fayetteville Technical Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Fayetteville Technical Community College generally make around $40,584. Typical student debt for the program is $24,653. More information about a degree in early childhood education from Fayetteville Technical Community College

14

Guilford Technical Community College
Jamestown, NC

Guilford Technical Community College earned the #14 position for early childhood education this year. Set in the suburb of Jamestown, Guilford Technical Community College is a large public institution. Guilford Technical Community College awarded about 94 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $31,215 in their early career. Guilford Technical Community College graduates carry a median of $22,125 in student loans. More information about a degree in early childhood education from Guilford Technical Community College

15

Haywood Community College
Clyde, NC

Haywood Community College placed #15 among the best early childhood education schools. Located in the rural area of Clyde, Haywood Community College is a small public university. Haywood Community College awarded about 21 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Haywood Community College earn a median of $28,013 early in their careers. Read more about the early childhood education program at Haywood Community College

16

Wake Technical Community College
Raleigh, NC

Wake Technical Community College landed the #16 spot for early childhood education this year. Wake Technical Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Raleigh. Wake Technical Community College awarded about 162 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Wake Technical Community College earn around $22,724 in the first couple years of their career. Wake Technical Community College graduates carry a median of $19,592 in student loans. Get the full early childhood education details for Wake Technical Community College

17

Wilkes Community College
Wilkesboro, NC

Wilkes Community College landed the #17 spot for early childhood education this year. Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Wilkesboro. About 41 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Wilkes Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Wilkes Community College earn around $36,341 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,125. Read more about the early childhood education program at Wilkes Community College

18

Gaston College
Dallas, NC

Gaston College earned the #18 position for early childhood education this year. Gaston College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Dallas. There were roughly 49 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Gaston College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Gaston College earn around $39,937 in the first couple years of their career. Gaston College graduates carry a median of $10,915 in student loans. Get the full early childhood education details for Gaston College

19

Coastal Carolina Community College
Jacksonville, NC

Coastal Carolina Community College placed #19 among the best early childhood education schools. Coastal Carolina Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Jacksonville. About 18 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Coastal Carolina Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $37,831 in their early career. Coastal Carolina Community College graduates carry a median of $7,125 in student loans. See the full early childhood education program report for Coastal Carolina Community College

20

Pitt Community College
Winterville, NC

Pitt Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Set in the suburb of Winterville, Pitt Community College is a large public institution. About 105 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Pitt Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $43,022 in their early career. Pitt Community College graduates carry a median of $15,250 in student loans. Get the full early childhood education details for Pitt Community College

21

Randolph Community College
Asheboro, NC

Randolph Community College placed #21 among the best early childhood education schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Asheboro. About 60 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Randolph Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Randolph Community College generally make around $32,198. See the full early childhood education program report for Randolph Community College

22

Sampson Community College
Clinton, NC

Sampson Community College earned the #22 position for early childhood education this year. Set in the town of Clinton, Sampson Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 37 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Sampson Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $45,929 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,596. Read more about the early childhood education program at Sampson Community College

23

Wayne Community College
Goldsboro, NC

Wayne Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Goldsboro. Wayne Community College awarded about 35 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Wayne Community College generally make around $33,116. Wayne Community College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in early childhood education from Wayne Community College

24

Beaufort County Community College
Washington, NC

Beaufort County Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Washington. About 125 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Beaufort County Community College in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Beaufort County Community College earn a median of $38,009 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $7,947. See the full early childhood education program report for Beaufort County Community College

25

Western Piedmont Community College
Morganton, NC

Western Piedmont Community College placed #25 among the best early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Morganton, Western Piedmont Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 33 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Western Piedmont Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Western Piedmont Community College earn around $46,883 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,999. More information about a degree in early childhood education from Western Piedmont Community College