2027 Best Early Childhood Education Schools in Minnesota
Early Childhood Education programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their early childhood education programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools to find the best for early childhood education students.
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Best Schools for Early Childhood Education in Minnesota
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall early childhood education education in Minnesota.
Top Schools in Early Childhood Education
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in early childhood education. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities awarded about 31 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $36,271 early in their careers. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $21,598 in student loans.
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Winona State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. About 19 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Winona State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Winona State University generally make around $42,519. Students borrow a median of $26,470 to complete this degree.
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Rasmussen College Minnesota is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in early childhood education, ranking #3. Located in the city of St. Cloud, Rasmussen College Minnesota is a large private for-profit university. Rasmussen College Minnesota awarded about 1,109 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Rasmussen College Minnesota earn around $28,188 in the first couple years of their career. Rasmussen College Minnesota graduates carry a median of $17,722 in student loans.
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A rank of #4 makes Concordia University Saint Paul one of the top schools for early childhood education. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. Concordia University Saint Paul awarded about 40 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Concordia University Saint Paul earn a median of $42,105 early in their careers. Concordia University Saint Paul graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans.
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A rank of #5 makes Minnesota State University Moorhead one of the top schools for early childhood education. Set in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Minnesota State University Moorhead in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $43,245 in their early career. Minnesota State University Moorhead graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Saint Cloud State University came in at #6 for early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public institution. Roughly 39% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 16 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Saint Cloud State University in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Saint Cloud State University earn a median of $40,580 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,449 to complete this degree.
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Southwest Minnesota State University came in at #7 for early childhood education this year. Set in the town of Marshall, Southwest Minnesota State University is a large public institution. About 44% of students finish within six years. About 25 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Southwest Minnesota State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Southwest Minnesota State University earn around $41,333 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Southwest Minnesota State University
Capella University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best early childhood education schools. Capella University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. About 20% of students finish within six years. 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. Capella University graduates carry a median of $35,998 in student loans.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Capella University
Alexandria Technical And Community College placed #9 among the best early childhood education schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Alexandria. There were roughly 16 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Alexandria Technical And Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Alexandria Technical And Community College generally make around $26,671. Students borrow a median of $14,054 to complete this degree.
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Minnesota State College Southeast Technical earned the #10 position 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. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $50,290 in their early career. Minnesota State College Southeast Technical graduates carry a median of $22,522 in student loans.
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Minneapolis Community And Technical College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best early childhood education schools. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a large public university. About 24 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Minneapolis Community And Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Minneapolis Community And Technical College generally make around $43,164. Minneapolis Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $24,036 in student loans.
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Metropolitan State University placed #12 among the best early childhood education schools. Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul. Metropolitan State University graduates 44% of students within six years. Metropolitan State University awarded about 10 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Metropolitan State University generally make around $42,471. Students borrow a median of $28,279 to complete this degree.
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Ridgewater College came in at #13 for early childhood education this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Willmar. About 18 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Ridgewater College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Ridgewater College generally make around $42,178. Students borrow a median of $15,556 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in early childhood education from Ridgewater College
Walden University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best early childhood education schools. This very large private for-profit university is located in the city of Minneapolis. Walden University awarded about 434 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Walden University earn around $41,927 in the first couple years of their career. Walden University graduates carry a median of $47,261 in student loans.
Read more about the early childhood education program at Walden University
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. 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 · 14 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.