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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Early Childhood Education Schools in Tennessee

8 Colleges in the United States
93 Early Childhood Education Degrees Awarded
$41,402 Avg Early-Career Salary

Early Childhood Education is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 18 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 Tennessee

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

Leading the list is Tennessee Technological University, our #1 school for early childhood education. This large public university is located in the town of Cookeville. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Tennessee Technological University awarded about 30 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Tennessee Technological University earn around $39,034 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,566. See the full early childhood education program report for Tennessee Technological University

2

Students looking for a strong early childhood education program will find one at Middle Tennessee State University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. Middle Tennessee State University graduates 54% of students within six years. About 22 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Middle Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $42,657. Typical student debt for the program is $22,500. More information about a degree in early childhood education from Middle Tennessee State University

3

East Tennessee State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 24 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at East Tennessee State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from East Tennessee State University earn around $42,981 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the early childhood education program at East Tennessee State University

4

A rank of #4 makes Freed Hardeman University one of the top schools for early childhood education. Located in the town of Henderson, Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Freed Hardeman University graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 17 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Freed Hardeman University in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Freed Hardeman University earn a median of $40,936 early in their careers. Freed Hardeman University graduates carry a median of $23,125 in student loans. See the full early childhood education program report for Freed Hardeman University

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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 · 18 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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