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

3 Colleges in the United States
130 Early Childhood Education Degrees Awarded
$45,945 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.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 17 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 Iowa

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

Our analysis ranked Iowa State University the best school in the country for a degree in early childhood education. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Iowa State University awarded about 14 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $45,512 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. Read more about the early childhood education program at Iowa State University

2

University Of Northern Iowa is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in early childhood education, ranking #2. Located in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public university. University Of Northern Iowa graduates 68% of students within six years. About 31 early childhood education degrees were awarded at University Of Northern Iowa in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $48,667. Typical student debt for the program is $26,059. Get the full early childhood education details for University Of Northern Iowa

3

Northwestern College Iowa is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in early childhood education, ranking #3. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Orange City. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 45 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Northwestern College Iowa in the most recent year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $48,608 in their early career. Northwestern College Iowa graduates carry a median of $25,995 in student loans. Get the full early childhood education details for Northwestern College Iowa

4

Students looking for a strong early childhood education program will find one at Southeastern Community College West Burlington, which ranked #4. Southeastern Community College West Burlington is a mid-sized public school located in the town of West Burlington. About 30 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Southeastern Community College West Burlington in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Southeastern Community College West Burlington generally make around $45,760. Students borrow a median of $16,126 to complete this degree. Get the full early childhood education details for Southeastern Community College West Burlington

5

Students looking for a strong early childhood education program will find one at Saint Ambrose University, which ranked #5. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Davenport. About 61% of students finish within six years. Saint Ambrose University awarded about 10 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Saint Ambrose University generally make around $41,178. Typical student debt for the program is $28,000. Read more about the early childhood education program at Saint Ambrose 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 · 17 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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