2027 Best Early Childhood Education Associate’s Degree Schools
Early Childhood Education degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 194 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best early childhood education schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Early Childhood Education in the United States
Below are the best early childhood education schools at the associate’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.
Top Schools in Early Childhood Education
Our analysis ranked Collin County Community College District the best school in the country for a degree in early childhood education. Collin County Community College District is a very large public school located in the suburb of McKinney. Collin County Community College District awarded about 35 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $42,177 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,125.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Collin County Community College District
Anne Arundel Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in early childhood education, ranking #2. This large public university is located in the suburb of Arnold. Anne Arundel Community College awarded about 37 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $59,894 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,947 to complete this degree.
See the full early childhood education program report for Anne Arundel Community College
Odessa College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Odessa, Odessa College is a large public institution. About 66 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Odessa College in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Odessa College earn a median of $47,856 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,087 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Odessa College
A rank of #4 makes Grayson College one of the top schools for early childhood education. This moderately-sized public university is 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. Grayson College graduates carry a median of $11,627 in student loans.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Grayson College
Students looking for a strong early childhood education program will find one at Tarrant County College District, which ranked #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Fort Worth. Tarrant County College District awarded about 63 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Tarrant County College District earn a median of $24,507 early in their careers. Tarrant County College District graduates carry a median of $9,750 in student loans.
See the full early childhood education program report for Tarrant County College District
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology landed the #6 spot for early childhood education this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the suburb of Kirkland. There were roughly 24 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Lake Washington Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Lake Washington Institute Of Technology earn around $33,869 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,695 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Lake Washington Institute Of Technology
Fox Valley Technical College earned the #7 position for early childhood education this year. Located in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public university. Fox Valley Technical College awarded about 27 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $27,548 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Fox Valley Technical College
Miami Dade College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best early childhood education schools. Located in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public university. About 26 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Miami Dade College in the most recent year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Miami Dade College earn around $51,545 in the first couple years of their career. 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
Austin Community College District placed #9 among the best early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. Austin Community College District awarded about 69 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $46,430 early in their careers. Austin Community College District graduates carry a median of $17,785 in student loans.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Austin Community College District
Glendale Community College Glendale Az ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best early childhood education schools. Set in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public institution. There were roughly 14 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Glendale Community College Glendale Az in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $51,483 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,996 to complete this degree.
See the full early childhood education program report for Glendale Community College Glendale Az
Tyler Junior College came in at #11 for early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Tyler, Tyler Junior College is a large public university. Tyler Junior College awarded about 59 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Tyler Junior College generally make around $43,348. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Tyler Junior College
Northwest Vista College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best early childhood education schools. Northwest Vista College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. About 101 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Northwest Vista College in the most recent year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $22,352 in their early career. Northwest Vista College graduates carry a median of $8,750 in student loans.
Get the full early childhood education details for Northwest Vista College
Lewis University placed #13 among the best early childhood education schools. Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Romeoville. About 67% of students finish within six years. Lewis University awarded about 58 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Lewis University earn a median of $46,503 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Lewis University
Indian River State College placed #14 among the best early childhood education schools. Located in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public university. Indian River State College awarded about 18 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Indian River State College earn a median of $48,612 early in their careers. Indian River State College graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
Get the full early childhood education details for Indian River State College
Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom placed #15 among the best early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Lakewood, Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom is a large public institution. There were roughly 16 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom generally make around $55,849. Students borrow a median of $23,365 to complete this degree.
See the full early childhood education program report for Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom
Bellevue College landed the #16 spot for early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Bellevue, Bellevue College is a large public institution. There were roughly 10 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Bellevue College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $67,771 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,839.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Bellevue College
Columbia Basin College placed #17 among the best early childhood education schools. Columbia Basin College is a large public school located in the suburb of Pasco. About 30 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Columbia Basin College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Columbia Basin College generally make around $63,976. Students borrow a median of $17,170 to complete this degree.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Columbia Basin College
Camden County College came in at #18 for early childhood education this year. Set in the suburb of Blackwood, Camden County College is a large public institution. Camden County College awarded about 19 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Camden County College generally make around $21,956. Typical student debt for the program is $8,750.
Get the full early childhood education details for Camden County College
San Jacinto Community College placed #19 among the best early childhood education schools. Located in the city of Pasadena, San Jacinto Community College is a very large public university. San Jacinto Community College awarded about 138 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from San Jacinto Community College earn around $19,581 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full early childhood education details for San Jacinto Community College
Weatherford College placed #20 among the best early childhood education schools. Located in the town of Weatherford, Weatherford College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 19 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Weatherford College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Weatherford College generally make around $48,208. Typical student debt for the program is $14,099.
See the full early childhood education program report for Weatherford College
Lone Star College System earned the #21 position for early childhood education this year. Located in the city of The Woodlands, Lone Star College System is a very large public university. About 204 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Lone Star College System in the most recent year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Lone Star College System earn around $20,236 in the first couple years of their career. Lone Star College System graduates carry a median of $8,479 in student loans.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Lone Star College System
Seattle Community College North Campus ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best early childhood education schools. Located in the city of Seattle, Seattle Community College North Campus is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 46 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Seattle Community College North Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $42,672 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,404.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Seattle Community College North Campus
Cochise College landed the #23 spot for early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Sierra Vista, Cochise College is a moderately-sized public institution. Cochise College awarded about 14 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Cochise College earn around $40,712 in the first couple years of their career. Cochise College graduates carry a median of $12,013 in student loans.
Get the full early childhood education details for Cochise College
Springfield Technical Community College placed #24 among the best early childhood education schools. Springfield Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Springfield. Springfield Technical Community College awarded about 12 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $28,769 in their early career. Springfield Technical Community College graduates carry a median of $5,881 in student loans.
Get the full early childhood education details for Springfield Technical Community College
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College landed the #25 spot for early childhood education this year. Located in the town of Rice Lake, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. About 21 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College generally make around $35,981. Students borrow a median of $11,384 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College
Rest of the Top 50 Early Childhood Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s early childhood education ranking:
Honorable Mentions
A few more early childhood education schools worth a look:
- #51 — Community College Of Rhode Island · Warwick, RI
- #52 — Mesa State College · Grand Junction, CO
- #53 — Great Basin College · Elko, NV
- #54 — Community College Of Aurora · Aurora, CO
- #55 — Bunker Hill Community College · Boston, MA
- #56 — Northampton County Area Community College · Bethlehem, PA
- #57 — Spokane Falls Community College · Spokane, WA
- #58 — Rasmussen College Minnesota · St. Cloud, MN
- #59 — Concordia University Seward · Seward, NE
- #60 — Community College Of Denver · Denver, CO
Other Early Childhood Education Degree Levels
Explore the best early childhood education schools at other degree levels:
View All Early Childhood Education Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 194 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
