2027 Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region
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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 82 schools to find the best for early childhood education students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Early Childhood Education in the Great Lakes Region
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
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in early childhood education. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 46 early childhood education degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $50,601 in their early career. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
Read more about the early childhood education program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
A rank of #2 makes Purdue University Main Campus one of the top schools for early childhood education. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 83% of students finish within six years. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 19 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $45,459. Students borrow a median of $18,646 to complete this degree.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Purdue University Main Campus
University Of Illinois At Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in early childhood education, ranking #3. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. About 62% of students finish within six years. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 39 early childhood education degrees 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. Typical student debt for the program is $16,750.
See the full early childhood education program report for University Of Illinois At Chicago
A rank of #4 makes Indiana University Bloomington one of the top schools for early childhood education. This very large public university is located in the city of Bloomington. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 16 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Bloomington 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. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $23,741 in student loans.
Get the full early childhood education details for Indiana University Bloomington
A rank of #5 makes Illinois State University one of the top schools for early childhood education. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. About 147 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $44,898. Typical student debt for the program is $22,500.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Illinois State University
Ohio Northern University landed the #6 spot for early childhood education this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Ada. Ohio Northern University graduates 72% of students within six years. Ohio Northern University awarded about 12 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $56,878 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,661.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Ohio Northern University
Fox Valley Technical College earned the #7 position for early childhood education this year. Set in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public institution. About 55 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Fox Valley Technical College in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Fox Valley Technical College earn a median of $27,548 early in their careers. Fox Valley Technical College graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans.
Get the full early childhood education details for Fox Valley Technical College
Northern Illinois University came in at #8 for early childhood education this year. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. Northern Illinois University graduates 49% of students within six years. Northern Illinois University awarded about 75 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $44,214 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete this degree.
See the full early childhood education program report for Northern Illinois University
Michigan State University landed the #9 spot for early childhood education this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. About 12 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Michigan State University earn around $54,166 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,213.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Michigan State University
Northeastern Illinois University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best early childhood education schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Chicago. About 22% of students finish within six years. About 37 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $51,301 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,612 to complete this degree.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Northeastern Illinois University
University Of Dayton ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best early childhood education schools. Located in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 74 early childhood education degrees were awarded at University Of Dayton in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from University Of Dayton generally make around $38,492. Students borrow a median of $25,483 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from University Of Dayton
Miami University Oxford came in at #12 for early childhood education this year. Miami University Oxford is a very large public school located in the town of Oxford. Miami University Oxford graduates 80% of students within six years. Miami University Oxford awarded about 127 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $39,155 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,750.
See the full early childhood education program report for Miami University Oxford
Ball State University placed #13 among the best early childhood education schools. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. About 19 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Ball State University in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $48,051 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,655.
Get the full early childhood education details for Ball State University
Lewis University came in at #14 for early childhood education this year. Located in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 67% of students finish within six years. Lewis University awarded about 94 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Lewis University generally make around $46,503. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
See the full early childhood education program report for Lewis University
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis came in at #15 for early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis awarded about 11 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $48,443 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Depaul University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best early childhood education schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 38 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $49,111 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full early childhood education program report for Depaul University
College Of Dupage landed the #17 spot for early childhood education this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. About 81 early childhood education degrees were awarded at College Of Dupage in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $43,025 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,492.
Read more about the early childhood education program at College Of Dupage
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College came in at #18 for early childhood education this year. Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rice Lake. Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College awarded about 21 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College earn a median of $35,981 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,384 to complete this degree.
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Concordia University Chicago landed the #19 spot for early childhood education this year. Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest. About 36% of students finish within six years. Concordia University Chicago awarded about 10 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Concordia University Chicago generally make around $51,004. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Concordia University Chicago
Madison Area Technical College placed #20 among the best early childhood education schools. Located in the city of Madison, Madison Area Technical College is a large public university. About 89 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Madison Area Technical College in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Madison Area Technical College earn a median of $44,279 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,812 to complete this degree.
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Elgin Community College placed #21 among the best early childhood education schools. This large public university is located in the city of Elgin. Elgin Community College awarded about 51 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Elgin Community College generally make around $43,975. Elgin Community College graduates carry a median of $7,727 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point landed the #22 spot for early childhood education this year. Located in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public university. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 18 early childhood education degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point in the most recent year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $43,087 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,240 to complete this degree.
See the full early childhood education program report for University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point
Roosevelt University landed the #23 spot for early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roosevelt University graduates 46% of students within six years. About 20 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Roosevelt University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Roosevelt University generally make around $56,418. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Roosevelt University
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College came in at #24 for early childhood education this year. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Green Bay. There were roughly 153 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College generally make around $27,209. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College graduates carry a median of $15,835 in student loans.
Get the full early childhood education details for Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
Central Michigan University earned the #25 position for early childhood education this year. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. Central Michigan University graduates 59% of students within six years. Central Michigan University awarded about 169 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $45,225 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Central Michigan University
Rest of the Top 50 Early Childhood Education Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong early childhood education education:
Narrow Early Childhood Education Schools by State
More Early Childhood Education Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 82 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.
