Early Childhood Education programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 542 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best early childhood education schools.
Where you study early childhood education matters for your future. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Early Childhood Education rankings. For our Best Overall Early Childhood Education School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Early Childhood Education Rankings by Degree Level
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Early Childhood Education Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Best Schools for Early Childhood Education in the United States
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.
Leading the list is New York University, our #1 school for early childhood education. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 early childhood education degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from New York University generally make around $54,901. New York University graduates carry a median of $19,455 in student loans.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from New York University
James Madison University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. James Madison University awarded about 11 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from James Madison University earn around $52,997 in the first couple years of their career. James Madison University graduates carry a median of $21,218 in student loans.
Get the full early childhood education details for James Madison University
California State University Northridge is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in early childhood education, ranking #3. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. About 323 early childhood education degrees were awarded at California State University Northridge in the most recent year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $74,192 in their early career. California State University Northridge graduates carry a median of $16,202 in student loans.
Get the full early childhood education details for California State University Northridge
Students looking for a strong early childhood education program will find one at University Of Delaware, which ranked #4. University Of Delaware is a very large public school located in the suburb of Newark. About 82% of students finish within six years. University Of Delaware awarded about 38 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from University Of Delaware generally make around $48,587. University Of Delaware graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from University Of Delaware
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best early childhood education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 46 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $50,601. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
See the full early childhood education program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Collin County Community College District came in at #6 for early childhood education this year. Collin County Community College District is a very large public school located in the suburb of McKinney. About 35 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Collin County Community College District in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Collin County Community College District earn a median of $42,177 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,125 to complete this degree.
See the full early childhood education program report for Collin County Community College District
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #7 for early childhood education this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 19 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $45,459 in their early career. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $18,646 in student loans.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Purdue University Main Campus
Anne Arundel Community College came in at #8 for early childhood education this year. Anne Arundel Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Arnold. There were roughly 37 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Anne Arundel Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $59,894 in their early career. Anne Arundel Community College graduates carry a median of $13,947 in student loans.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Anne Arundel Community College
Texas Christian University came in at #9 for early childhood education this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Fort Worth. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 48 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Texas Christian University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Texas Christian University generally make around $55,814. Texas Christian University graduates carry a median of $22,287 in student loans.
Get the full early childhood education details for Texas Christian University
University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #10 among the best early childhood education schools. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. There were roughly 39 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $65,587. Students borrow a median of $16,750 to complete this degree.
Get the full early childhood education details for University Of Illinois At Chicago
San Jose State University came in at #11 for early childhood education this year. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 170 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from San Jose State University
California State University Chico placed #12 among the best early childhood education schools. Located in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public university. California State University Chico graduates 63% of students within six years. There were roughly 56 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at California State University Chico in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of California State University Chico earn a median of $45,591 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,591 to complete this degree.
See the full early childhood education program report for California State University Chico
University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #13 among the best early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 79 early childhood education degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $53,957 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,342 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from University Of Washington Seattle Campus
California State University Sacramento landed the #14 spot for early childhood education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Sacramento. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 316 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at California State University Sacramento in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $49,907 early in their careers. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $17,492 in student loans.
Read more about the early childhood education program at California State University Sacramento
University Of Rhode Island ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best early childhood education schools. Set in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a very large public institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 27 early childhood education degrees were awarded at University Of Rhode Island in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of University Of Rhode Island earn a median of $44,363 early in their careers. University Of Rhode Island graduates carry a median of $24,026 in student loans.
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Indiana University Bloomington earned the #16 position for early childhood education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Bloomington. Indiana University Bloomington graduates 80% of students within six years. Indiana University Bloomington awarded about 16 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Indiana University Bloomington earn around $49,947 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,741 to complete this degree.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Indiana University Bloomington
Illinois State University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best early childhood education schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Normal. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. About 147 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Illinois State University earn around $44,898 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,500.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Illinois State University
Arizona State University came in at #18 for early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. Arizona State University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 54 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Arizona State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $49,402 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,375.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Arizona State University
University Of Georgia placed #19 among the best early childhood education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Athens. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 217 early childhood education degrees were awarded at University Of Georgia in the most recent year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $59,279 in their early career. University Of Georgia graduates carry a median of $18,229 in student loans.
See the full early childhood education program report for University Of Georgia
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania placed #20 among the best early childhood education schools. Set in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 197 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from West Chester University Of Pennsylvania
Towson University landed the #21 spot for early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 64 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Towson University in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Towson University earn a median of $56,953 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,750.
See the full early childhood education program report for Towson University
Grayson College placed #22 among the best early childhood education schools. Grayson College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Denison. About 11 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Grayson College in the most recent year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $42,487 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,627.
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University Of South Florida Main Campus ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. There were roughly 17 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Florida Main Campus in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $52,532 early in their careers. University Of South Florida Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,995 in student loans.
Get the full early childhood education details for University Of South Florida Main Campus
University Of Florida placed #24 among the best early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. University Of Florida awarded about 11 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $48,506 early in their careers. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $18,063 in student loans.
See the full early childhood education program report for University Of Florida
George Mason University earned the #25 position for early childhood education this year. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 47 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from George Mason University earn around $63,131 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,529.
Read more about the early childhood education program at George Mason University
Rest of the Top 50 Early Childhood Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s early childhood education ranking:
Early Childhood Education Related Rankings by Major
Explore other rankings in majors related to Early Childhood Education. See all related rankings.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 542 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).
