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 1068 schools to find the best for early childhood education students.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in early childhood education. This very large public university is located in the city of Seattle. About 85% of students finish 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 $72,769 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,342.
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California State University Fullerton is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 504 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fullerton in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $66,012 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,542 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong early childhood education program will find one at California State University Sacramento, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Sacramento. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. About 10 early childhood education degrees were awarded at California State University Sacramento in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $49,907 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,492.
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A rank of #4 makes San Jose State University one of the top schools for early childhood education. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 11 early childhood education degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
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Cuny City College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 26 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Cuny City College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $75,423 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,916 to complete this degree.
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University Of Georgia earned the #6 position for early childhood education this year. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. About 90% of students finish within six years. University Of Georgia awarded about 74 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $53,457. University Of Georgia graduates carry a median of $18,229 in student loans.
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University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #7 among the best early childhood education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 46 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from University Of Illinois At Chicago earn around $70,256 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,750.
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Cuny Brooklyn College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. This large public university is located in the city of Brooklyn. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 76 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Brooklyn College in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of $59,924 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,862 to complete this degree.
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Fordham University earned the #9 position for early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. Fordham University awarded about 12 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Fordham University earn a median of $59,403 early in their careers. Fordham University graduates carry a median of $25,643 in student loans.
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Western Washington University placed #10 among the best early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a large public institution. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Western Washington University in the most recent year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Western Washington University earn around $63,702 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,000.
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James Madison University placed #11 among the best early childhood education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Harrisonburg. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. James Madison University awarded about 13 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $52,997. Typical student debt for the program is $21,218.
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California State University San Bernardino came in at #12 for early childhood education this year. California State University San Bernardino is a very large public school located in the city of San Bernardino. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at California State University San Bernardino in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of California State University San Bernardino earn a median of $25,177 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,566 to complete this degree.
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Cuny Hunter College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. About 66 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Cuny Hunter College generally make around $67,561. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete this degree.
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Worcester State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Worcester. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 23 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Worcester State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Worcester State University earn around $42,313 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,971 to complete this degree.
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Cuny Queens College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Located in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a very large public university. Cuny Queens College graduates 53% of students within six years. About 48 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Cuny Queens College in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Cuny Queens College earn a median of $55,002 early in their careers. Cuny Queens College graduates carry a median of $13,100 in student loans.
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Arizona State University earned the #16 position for early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. Arizona State University awarded about 58 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $52,069 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,375.
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Pace University New York ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Set in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit institution. Pace University New York graduates 60% of students within six years. Pace University New York awarded about 15 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Pace University New York generally make around $75,725. Students borrow a median of $25,670 to complete this degree.
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California State University Chico placed #18 among the best early childhood education schools. California State University Chico is a large public school located in the city of Chico. About 63% of students finish within six years. California State University Chico awarded about 66 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from California State University Chico earn around $45,591 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,591 to complete this degree.
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William Paterson University Of New Jersey earned the #19 position for early childhood education this year. Located in the suburb of Wayne, William Paterson University Of New Jersey is a large public university. About 44% of students finish within six years. About 45 early childhood education degrees were awarded at William Paterson University Of New Jersey in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from William Paterson University Of New Jersey generally make around $64,322. Students borrow a median of $24,671 to complete this degree.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities placed #20 among the best early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities awarded about 11 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn around $51,934 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $21,598 in student loans.
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University Of Central Florida came in at #21 for early childhood education this year. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. Roughly 78% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 early childhood education degrees were awarded at University Of Central Florida in the most recent year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from University Of Central Florida earn around $54,726 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Central Florida graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans.
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Merrimack College placed #22 among the best early childhood education schools. Set in the suburb of North Andover, Merrimack College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Merrimack College graduates 70% of students within six years. Merrimack College awarded about 34 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Merrimack College earn a median of $55,327 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,913 to complete this degree.
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Weber State University placed #23 among the best early childhood education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Ogden. About 47% of students finish within six years. About 10 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Weber State University in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Weber State University earn a median of $60,559 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,670.
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Rowan University came in at #24 for early childhood education this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Glassboro. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. There were roughly 38 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Rowan University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $64,645 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,488.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Rowan University
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned the #25 position for early childhood education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 115 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $44,950 early in their careers. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $13,640 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Early Childhood Education Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong early childhood education education:
The ranking above is published 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 · 1068 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).
