2026 Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Far Western Region
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.
College Factual analyzed 110 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best early childhood education schools.
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Best Schools for Early Childhood Education in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall early childhood education education in the Far Western Region.
Top Schools in Early Childhood Education
California State University Northridge tops our 2026 ranking of the best early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. California State University Northridge awarded about 376 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from California State University Northridge earn around $74,192 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Northridge graduates carry a median of $16,202 in student loans.
Read more about the early childhood education program at California State University Northridge
San Jose State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 170 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
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California State University Chico came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. California State University Chico is a large public school located in the city of Chico. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. About 66 early childhood education degrees were awarded at California State University Chico in the most recent year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $45,591 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,591 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from California State University Chico
California State University Sacramento is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in early childhood education, ranking #4. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public institution. California State University Sacramento graduates 56% of students within six years. California State University Sacramento awarded about 349 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $49,907 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,492 to complete this degree.
See the full early childhood education program report for California State University Sacramento
University Of Hawaii At Manoa is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in early childhood education, ranking #5. Set in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public institution. University Of Hawaii At Manoa graduates 64% of students within six years. University Of Hawaii At Manoa awarded about 18 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of University Of Hawaii At Manoa earn a median of $55,555 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,548 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from University Of Hawaii At Manoa
University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 94 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. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $17,342 in student loans.
Read more about the early childhood education program at University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology came in at #7 for early childhood education this year. Set in the suburb of Kirkland, Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized public institution. Lake Washington Institute Of Technology awarded about 296 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Lake Washington Institute Of Technology earn a median of $33,869 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,695 to complete this degree.
See the full early childhood education program report for Lake Washington Institute Of Technology
Western Washington University earned the #8 position for early childhood education this year. This large public university is located in the city of Bellingham. Western Washington University graduates 65% of students within six years. Western Washington University awarded about 10 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Western Washington University generally make around $58,418. Western Washington University graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Western Washington University
California State University Fresno placed #9 among the best early childhood education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Fresno. California State University Fresno graduates 57% of students within six years. About 10 early childhood education degrees were awarded at California State University Fresno in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of $51,463 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from California State University Fresno
California State University Bakersfield placed #10 among the best early childhood education schools. Located in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a large public university. About 50% of students finish within six years. California State University Bakersfield awarded about 160 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year.
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California State University San Bernardino ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Set in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public institution. California State University San Bernardino graduates 55% of students within six years. About 12 early childhood education degrees were awarded at California State University San Bernardino in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from California State University San Bernardino generally make around $25,177. Students borrow a median of $12,566 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from California State University San Bernardino
San Francisco State University landed the #12 spot for early childhood education this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 207 early childhood education degrees were awarded at San Francisco State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $56,041. San Francisco State University graduates carry a median of $12,692 in student loans.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from San Francisco State University
Bellevue College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. This large public university is located in the city of Bellevue. There were roughly 46 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Bellevue College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Bellevue College earn around $67,771 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,839 to complete this degree.
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Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom earned the #14 position for early childhood education this year. Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom is a large public school located in the city of Lakewood. Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom awarded about 75 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom earn around $55,849 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,365 to complete this degree.
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University Of Nevada Las Vegas ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Located in the city of Las Vegas, University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public university. About 50% of students finish within six years. University Of Nevada Las Vegas awarded about 68 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $51,913 in their early career. University Of Nevada Las Vegas graduates carry a median of $24,913 in student loans.
Read more about the early childhood education program at University Of Nevada Las Vegas
San Diego State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. There were roughly 173 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at San Diego State University in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $37,946 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,999 to complete this degree.
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Columbia Basin College earned the #17 position for early childhood education this year. Set in the suburb of Pasco, Columbia Basin College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 209 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Columbia Basin College in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Columbia Basin College earn a median of $63,976 early in their careers. Columbia Basin College graduates carry a median of $17,170 in student loans.
See the full early childhood education program report for Columbia Basin College
Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System placed #18 among the best early childhood education schools. Located in the suburb of Aliso Viejo, Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System is a large public university. Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System awarded about 36 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $52,216 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
See the full early childhood education program report for Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System
Renton Technical College came in at #19 for early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Renton, Renton Technical College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 128 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Renton Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Renton Technical College generally make around $80,411. Renton Technical College graduates carry a median of $18,582 in student loans.
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Yakima Valley Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Located in the city of Yakima, Yakima Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 185 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Yakima Valley Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Yakima Valley Community College earn around $49,625 in the first couple years of their career. Yakima Valley Community College graduates carry a median of $14,649 in student loans.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Yakima Valley Community College
California State University Fullerton came in at #21 for early childhood education this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. California State University Fullerton graduates 70% of students within six years. About 504 early childhood education degrees were awarded at California State University Fullerton in the most recent year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $47,473 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,542 to complete this degree.
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California State University Stanislaus placed #22 among the best early childhood education schools. Located in the suburb of Turlock, California State University Stanislaus is a large public university. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Stanislaus awarded about 67 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from California State University Stanislaus earn around $30,232 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,805.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from California State University Stanislaus
Portland State University placed #23 among the best early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. Portland State University awarded about 39 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Portland State University earn around $43,030 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,475 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Portland State University
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo landed the #24 spot for early childhood education this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. About 86% of students finish within six years. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 50 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $22,293. Students borrow a median of $18,090 to complete this degree.
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Seattle Community College North Campus came in at #25 for early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Seattle, Seattle Community College North Campus is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 540 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Seattle Community College North Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Seattle Community College North Campus generally make around $42,672. Seattle Community College North Campus graduates carry a median of $13,404 in student loans.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Seattle Community College North Campus
Rest of the Top 50 Early Childhood Education Schools
These schools also placed among the best for early childhood education this year:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 110 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.
