2027 Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the The Plains States Region
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 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 32 schools to find the best for early childhood education students.
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Best Schools for Early Childhood Education in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall early childhood education education in the The Plains States Region.
Top Schools in Early Childhood Education
Our analysis ranked University Of Minnesota Twin Cities the best school in the country for a degree in early childhood education. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 31 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $36,271. Typical student debt for the program is $21,598.
Read more about the early childhood education program at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
A rank of #2 makes University Of Missouri Columbia one of the top schools for early childhood education. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbia. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates 75% of students within six years. University Of Missouri Columbia awarded about 25 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $37,302 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,867.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from University Of Missouri Columbia
Iowa State University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best early childhood education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Ames. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 14 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Iowa State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Iowa State University earn around $45,512 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Iowa State University
Students looking for a strong early childhood education program will find one at Winona State University, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. There were roughly 19 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Winona State University in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Winona State University earn a median of $42,519 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,470 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Winona State University
University Of Northern Iowa came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best early childhood education schools. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. University Of Northern Iowa graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 37 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Northern Iowa in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $48,667 early in their careers. University Of Northern Iowa graduates carry a median of $26,059 in student loans.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from University Of Northern Iowa
Northeast Community College placed #6 among the best early childhood education schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Norfolk. Northeast Community College awarded about 33 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Northeast Community College earn a median of $24,710 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,799.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Northeast Community College
Rasmussen College Minnesota ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best early childhood education schools. Set in the city of St. Cloud, Rasmussen College Minnesota is a large private for-profit institution. Rasmussen College Minnesota awarded about 1,109 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $28,188 in their early career. Rasmussen College Minnesota graduates carry a median of $17,722 in student loans.
Get the full early childhood education details for Rasmussen College Minnesota
Wayne State College came in at #8 for early childhood education this year. Located in the town of Wayne, Wayne State College is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. There were roughly 11 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Wayne State College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Wayne State College earn around $41,322 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Wayne State College
South Dakota State University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best early childhood education schools. This large public university is located in the town of Brookings. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. There were roughly 40 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at South Dakota State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $43,530 in their early career. South Dakota State University graduates carry a median of $25,937 in student loans.
Get the full early childhood education details for South Dakota State University
Northwestern College Iowa came in at #10 for early childhood education this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Orange City. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northwestern College Iowa awarded about 61 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Northwestern College Iowa earn a median of $48,608 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,995 to complete this degree.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Northwestern College Iowa
University Of Central Missouri came in at #11 for early childhood education this year. Located in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public university. About 54% of students finish within six years. University Of Central Missouri awarded about 31 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $38,947 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,199.
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Concordia University Saint Paul earned the #12 position for early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Concordia University Saint Paul graduates 45% of students within six years. Concordia University Saint Paul awarded about 40 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Concordia University Saint Paul generally make around $42,105. Concordia University Saint Paul graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans.
See the full early childhood education program report for Concordia University Saint Paul
Southwestern Community College Creston landed the #13 spot for early childhood education this year. Southwestern Community College Creston is a small public school located in the town of Creston. About 12 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Southwestern Community College Creston in the most recent year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Southwestern Community College Creston earn around $46,106 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,881.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Southwestern Community College Creston
Minnesota State University Moorhead came in at #14 for early childhood education this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Moorhead. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Minnesota State University Moorhead in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Minnesota State University Moorhead earn a median of $43,245 early in their careers. Minnesota State University Moorhead graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Minnesota State University Moorhead
Saint Cloud State University came in at #15 for early childhood education this year. This large public university is located in the city of Saint Cloud. Saint Cloud State University graduates 39% of students within six years. Saint Cloud State University awarded about 16 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Saint Cloud State University generally make around $40,580. Typical student debt for the program is $25,449.
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Concordia University Seward came in at #16 for early childhood education this year. Located in the town of Seward, Concordia University Seward is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 65% of students finish within six years. About 89 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Concordia University Seward in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Concordia University Seward earn a median of $47,667 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Concordia University Seward
Southwest Minnesota State University placed #17 among the best early childhood education schools. Set in the town of Marshall, Southwest Minnesota State University is a large public institution. Southwest Minnesota State University graduates 44% of students within six years. About 25 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Southwest Minnesota State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Southwest Minnesota State University generally make around $41,333. Southwest Minnesota State University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Southwest Minnesota State University
Southeast Missouri State University came in at #18 for early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University is a large public university. Southeast Missouri State University graduates 58% of students within six years. There were roughly 30 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Southeast Missouri State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Southeast Missouri State University earn around $37,061 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,995.
Get the full early childhood education details for Southeast Missouri State University
Capella University placed #19 among the best early childhood education schools. This very large private for-profit university is located in the city of Minneapolis. The six-year graduation rate is 20%. There were roughly 28 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Capella University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $65,786 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $35,998.
See the full early childhood education program report for Capella University
Missouri State University Springfield came in at #20 for early childhood education this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 43 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $37,907 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete this degree.
See the full early childhood education program report for Missouri State University Springfield
Northwest Missouri State University landed the #21 spot for early childhood education this year. Northwest Missouri State University is a large public school located in the town of Maryville. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 54 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Northwest Missouri State University in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Northwest Missouri State University earn a median of $37,066 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Northwest Missouri State University
Alexandria Technical And Community College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best early childhood education schools. Set in the town of Alexandria, Alexandria Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 16 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Alexandria Technical And Community College in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Alexandria Technical And Community College earn a median of $26,671 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,054 to complete this degree.
See the full early childhood education program report for Alexandria Technical And Community College
Southeastern Community College West Burlington came in at #23 for early childhood education this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of West Burlington. About 26 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Southeastern Community College West Burlington in the most recent year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Southeastern Community College West Burlington earn around $45,760 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,126.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Southeastern Community College West Burlington
Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies placed #24 among the best early childhood education schools. Located in the rural area of Fayette, Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. There were roughly 36 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies earn a median of $32,393 early in their careers. Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies graduates carry a median of $20,431 in student loans.
Get the full early childhood education details for Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies
Minnesota State College Southeast Technical landed the #25 spot for early childhood education this year. Minnesota State College Southeast Technical is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Winona. Minnesota State College Southeast Technical awarded about 11 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Minnesota State College Southeast Technical generally make around $50,290. Minnesota State College Southeast Technical graduates carry a median of $22,522 in student loans.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Minnesota State College Southeast Technical
Rest of the Top 32 Early Childhood Education Schools
These schools also placed among the best for early childhood education this year:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 32 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.