2027 Best Early Childhood Education Schools in Florida
Early Childhood Education degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. 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 23 schools to find the best for early childhood education students.
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Best Schools for Early Childhood Education in Florida
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 South Florida Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in early childhood education. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. About 17 early childhood education degrees were awarded at University Of South Florida Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $52,532 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,995.
Get the full early childhood education details for University Of South Florida Main Campus
University Of Florida is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. University Of Florida graduates 91% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $48,506. Students borrow a median of $18,063 to complete this degree.
See the full early childhood education program report for University Of Florida
Florida Gulf Coast University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best early childhood education schools. Located in the suburb of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. Florida Gulf Coast University awarded about 12 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Florida Gulf Coast University generally make around $50,951. Florida Gulf Coast University graduates carry a median of $19,489 in student loans.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Florida Gulf Coast University
University Of Central Florida is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in early childhood education, ranking #4. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Orlando. About 78% of students finish within six years. University Of Central Florida awarded about 76 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $50,686 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,250.
See the full early childhood education program report for University Of Central Florida
A rank of #5 makes Miami Dade College one of the top schools for early childhood education. Located in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public university. About 69 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. Typical student debt for the program is $11,967.
See the full early childhood education program report for Miami Dade College
Florida International University earned the #6 position for early childhood education this year. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. About 190 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Florida International University in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $48,461 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,490.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Florida International University
Indian River State College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best early childhood education schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fort Pierce. About 18 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Indian River State College in the most recent year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Indian River State College earn around $48,612 in the first couple years of their career. Indian River State College graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Indian River State College
University Of North Florida landed the #8 spot for early childhood education this year. University Of North Florida is a large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 45 early childhood education degrees were awarded at University Of North Florida in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from University Of North Florida generally make around $48,255. University Of North Florida graduates carry a median of $19,097 in student loans.
Get the full early childhood education details for University Of North Florida
St Petersburg College came in at #9 for early childhood education this year. St Petersburg College is a very large public school located in the city of St. Petersburg. St Petersburg College awarded about 11 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from St Petersburg College earn around $49,672 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,900 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from St Petersburg College
Nova Southeastern University earned the #10 position for early childhood education this year. Set in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale, Nova Southeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. About 26 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Nova Southeastern University in the most recent year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Nova Southeastern University earn around $70,595 in the first couple years of their career. Nova Southeastern University graduates carry a median of $25,021 in student loans.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Nova Southeastern University
College Of Central Florida landed the #11 spot for early childhood education this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Ocala. About 28 early childhood education degrees were awarded at College Of Central Florida in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of College Of Central Florida earn a median of $48,537 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,934.
Read more about the early childhood education program at College Of Central Florida
Palm Beach State College earned the #12 position for early childhood education this year. Palm Beach State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lake Worth. About 12 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Palm Beach State College in the most recent year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $28,641 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $6,725.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Palm Beach State College
Daytona State College landed the #13 spot for early childhood education this year. Daytona State College is a large public school located in the city of Daytona Beach. Daytona State College awarded about 11 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Daytona State College generally make around $44,869. Typical student debt for the program is $17,308.
See the full early childhood education program report for Daytona State College
Northwest Florida State College placed #14 among the best early childhood education schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Niceville. There were roughly 24 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Northwest Florida State College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $44,340 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Northwest Florida State College
Saint Johns River State College landed the #15 spot for early childhood education this year. Located in the town of Palatka, Saint Johns River State College is a large public university. Saint Johns River State College awarded about 26 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $46,448 in their early career. Saint Johns River State College graduates carry a median of $12,956 in student loans.
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Broward College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best early childhood education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Fort Lauderdale. Broward College awarded about 21 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $51,328 in their early career. Broward College graduates carry a median of $13,110 in student loans.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Broward College
Florida Gateway College placed #17 among the best early childhood education schools. Located in the town of Lake City, Florida Gateway College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 24 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Florida Gateway College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Florida Gateway College generally make around $41,947. Students borrow a median of $8,669 to complete this degree.
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Tallahassee Community College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best early childhood education schools. Tallahassee Community College is a large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. There were roughly 22 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Tallahassee Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Tallahassee Community College generally make around $25,628. Typical student debt for the program is $16,722.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Tallahassee Community College
State College Of Florida Manatee Sarasota landed the #19 spot for early childhood education this year. State College Of Florida Manatee Sarasota is a large public school located in the suburb of Bradenton. State College Of Florida Manatee Sarasota awarded about 55 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of State College Of Florida Manatee Sarasota earn a median of $50,906 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,360.
See the full early childhood education program report for State College Of Florida Manatee Sarasota
Hillsborough Community College placed #20 among the best early childhood education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tampa. About 12 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Hillsborough Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Hillsborough Community College generally make around $44,101. Students borrow a median of $16,142 to complete this degree.
Get the full early childhood education details for Hillsborough Community College
Florida State College At Jacksonville landed the #21 spot for early childhood education this year. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. About 41 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Florida State College At Jacksonville in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Florida State College At Jacksonville earn a median of $45,008 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
See the full early childhood education program report for Florida State College At Jacksonville
Rasmussen College Florida earned the #22 position for early childhood education this year. Rasmussen College Florida is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Ocala. There were roughly 56 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Rasmussen College Florida in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Rasmussen College Florida generally make around $28,188. Rasmussen College Florida graduates carry a median of $17,722 in student loans.
See the full early childhood education program report for Rasmussen College Florida
Pensacola State College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best early childhood education schools. This large public university is located in the city of Pensacola. Pensacola State College awarded about 16 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $45,811 in their early career. Pensacola State College graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans.
See the full early childhood education program report for Pensacola State College
More Early Childhood Education Rankings
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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 · 23 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.
