2026 Best Early Childhood Education Schools in Washington
Early Childhood Education is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 37 schools to find the best for early childhood education students.
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Best Schools for Early Childhood Education in Washington
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall early childhood education education in Washington.
Top Schools in Early Childhood Education
Leading the list is University Of Washington Seattle Campus, our #1 school for early childhood education. This very large public university is located in the city of Seattle. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 94 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $53,957 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,342 to complete this degree.
See the full early childhood education program report for University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Students looking for a strong early childhood education program will find one at Lake Washington Institute Of Technology, which ranked #2. This mid-sized public university is located in the suburb of Kirkland. There were roughly 296 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Lake Washington Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Lake Washington Institute Of Technology generally make around $33,869. Typical student debt for the program is $19,695.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Lake Washington Institute Of Technology
Students looking for a strong early childhood education program will find one at Western Washington University, which ranked #3. This large public university is located in the city of Bellingham. Western Washington University graduates 65% of students within six years. About 10 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Western Washington University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Western Washington University generally make around $58,418. Typical student debt for the program is $22,000.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Western Washington University
Bellevue College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in early childhood education, ranking #4. Located in the city of Bellevue, Bellevue College is a large public university. About 46 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Bellevue College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Bellevue College generally make around $67,771. Typical student debt for the program is $18,839.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Bellevue College
Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom is a large public school located in the city of Lakewood. There were roughly 75 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom 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. Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom graduates carry a median of $23,365 in student loans.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom
Columbia Basin College landed the #6 spot for early childhood education this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Pasco. 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.
Get the full early childhood education details for Columbia Basin College
Renton Technical College earned the #7 position for early childhood education this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Renton. There were roughly 128 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Renton Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $80,411 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,582.
Get the full early childhood education details for Renton Technical College
Yakima Valley Community College placed #8 among the best early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Yakima, Yakima Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. 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. Students borrow a median of $14,649 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Yakima Valley Community College
Seattle Community College North Campus earned the #9 position for early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Seattle, Seattle Community College North Campus is a moderately-sized public university. Seattle Community College North Campus awarded about 540 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Seattle Community College North Campus earn a median of $42,672 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,404 to complete this degree.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Seattle Community College North Campus
Highline Community College earned the #10 position for early childhood education this year. Highline Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Des Moines. Highline Community College awarded about 164 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Highline Community College earn a median of $55,459 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $8,958.
See the full early childhood education program report for Highline Community College
Eastern Washington University earned the #11 position for early childhood education this year. Set in the town of Cheney, Eastern Washington University is a large public institution. Eastern Washington University graduates 44% of students within six years. Eastern Washington University awarded about 23 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Eastern Washington University earn a median of $33,028 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,885 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Eastern Washington University
Spokane Falls Community College landed the #12 spot for early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Spokane, Spokane Falls Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 250 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Spokane Falls Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Spokane Falls Community College generally make around $25,777. Students borrow a median of $12,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Spokane Falls Community College
Green River Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Green River Community College is a large public school located in the city of Auburn. About 41 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Green River Community College in the most recent year.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Green River Community College
Walla Walla Community College earned the #14 position for early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Walla Walla, Walla Walla Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Walla Walla Community College awarded about 120 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $46,131 in their early career. Walla Walla Community College graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans.
Get the full early childhood education details for Walla Walla Community College
Everett Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. This large public university is located in the city of Everett. Everett Community College awarded about 88 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $47,441 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,542 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Everett Community College
Tacoma Community College landed the #16 spot for early childhood education this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Tacoma. Tacoma Community College awarded about 84 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Tacoma Community College earn a median of $41,732 early in their careers. Tacoma Community College graduates carry a median of $14,822 in student loans.
Get the full early childhood education details for Tacoma Community College
Wenatchee Valley College landed the #17 spot for early childhood education this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Wenatchee. There were roughly 122 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Wenatchee Valley College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Wenatchee Valley College earn around $55,642 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,462.
See the full early childhood education program report for Wenatchee Valley College
Olympic College came in at #18 for early childhood education this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Bremerton. About 98 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Olympic College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Olympic College generally make around $57,593. Typical student debt for the program is $11,497.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Olympic College
Skagit Valley College came in at #19 for early childhood education this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Mount Vernon. About 105 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Skagit Valley College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Skagit Valley College generally make around $44,860. Typical student debt for the program is $14,056.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Skagit Valley College
Edmonds Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Edmonds Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Lynnwood. There were roughly 39 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Edmonds Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $35,618 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,025.
See the full early childhood education program report for Edmonds Community College
Bates Technical College came in at #21 for early childhood education this year. Bates Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Tacoma. There were roughly 145 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Bates Technical College in the most recent data year.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Bates Technical College
South Puget Sound Community College earned the #22 position for early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Olympia, South Puget Sound Community College is a moderately-sized public university. South Puget Sound Community College awarded about 56 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from South Puget Sound Community College earn around $39,430 in the first couple years of their career. South Puget Sound Community College graduates carry a median of $14,245 in student loans.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from South Puget Sound Community College
Whatcom Community College landed the #23 spot for early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Bellingham, Whatcom Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 55 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Whatcom Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $51,466 in their early career. Whatcom Community College graduates carry a median of $16,588 in student loans.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Whatcom Community College
Clark College landed the #24 spot for early childhood education this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Vancouver. There were roughly 131 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Clark College in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Clark College earn a median of $28,118 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,432.
See the full early childhood education program report for Clark College
Centralia College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Centralia. There were roughly 58 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Centralia College in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Centralia College earn a median of $77,740 early in their careers.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Centralia College
Rest of the Top 30 Early Childhood Education Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong early childhood education education:
More Early Childhood Education Rankings
View All Early Childhood Education Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 37 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.