What is Early Childhood Education?
Early childhood education (ECE) is the foundation of a child’s learning journey, focusing on the developmental stages from birth to age 8. It’s all about helping young children grow, not just academically, but socially, emotionally, and physically, too. ECE includes everything from teaching basic skills like colors, numbers, and letters, to fostering creativity, problem-solving, and good communication. At this stage, children are curious, eager to learn, and need a nurturing environment that supports their exploration. Whether it’s through play-based learning, structured activities, or one-on-one interaction, early childhood education helps set the stage for lifelong learning and success. The goal is to give children the tools they need to thrive in school and beyond, while also encouraging their natural love of learning.
The Colorado Board of Education approved a resolution that supports a plan to offer full-day kindergarten in the state of Colorado. This policy decision fits with a long line of Board policy reviews to improve participation in early childhood education across the state. The proposal for full-day kindergarten would give parents the choice of a full-day, no-cost education and childcare program. This is just one way the state supports children in early education and, with a degree in teaching, you can too.
Featured Online Programs
Top Ranked Campus & Online Early Childhood Education Programs in Colorado
University of Denver
Score: 83.89
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $59,340
- Out-of-State:$59,340
- Net Price: $42,423
- Acceptance Rate: 78%
- Retention Rate: 88%
- Graduation Rate: 77%
- Total Enrollment: 13,734
- Undergrad Students: 6,151
- Graduate Students: 7,583
- Grads Salary: $77,000
- Student-to-faculty: 8:1
University of Colorado Denver
Score: 79.9
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,017
- Out-of-State:$28,209
- Net Price: $16,079
- Acceptance Rate: 75%
- Retention Rate: 70%
- Graduation Rate: 44%
- Total Enrollment: 23,744
- Undergrad Students: 14,055
- Graduate Students: 9,689
- Grads Salary: $78,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
University of Northern Colorado
Score: 77.8
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,010
- Out-of-State:$26,204
- Net Price: $18,310
- Acceptance Rate: 79%
- Retention Rate: 75%
- Graduation Rate: 52%
- Total Enrollment: 9,380
- Undergrad Students: 6,728
- Graduate Students: 2,652
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Score: 75.52
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,712
- Out-of-State:$20,492
- Net Price: $16,990
- Acceptance Rate: 85%
- Retention Rate: 67%
- Graduation Rate: 43%
- Total Enrollment: 11,431
- Undergrad Students: 9,540
- Graduate Students: 1,891
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
Colorado Christian University
Score: 73.63
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $39,266
- Out-of-State:$39,266
- Net Price: $23,313
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 83%
- Graduation Rate: 61%
- Total Enrollment: 8,964
- Undergrad Students: 7,602
- Graduate Students: 1,362
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Score: 69.49
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,780
- Out-of-State:$29,503
- Net Price: $14,805
- Acceptance Rate: 98%
- Retention Rate: 63%
- Graduation Rate: 29%
- Total Enrollment: 16,995
- Undergrad Students: 15,848
- Graduate Students: 1,147
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Fort Lewis College
Score: 68.55
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,670
- Out-of-State:$20,798
- Net Price: $15,685
- Acceptance Rate: 91%
- Retention Rate: 59%
- Graduation Rate: 39%
- Total Enrollment: 3,400
- Undergrad Students: 3,308
- Graduate Students: 92
- Grads Salary: $66,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
Colorado State University Pueblo
Score: 68.12
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,401
- Out-of-State:$17,242
- Net Price: $13,033
- Acceptance Rate: 99%
- Retention Rate: 62%
- Graduation Rate: 35%
- Total Enrollment: 6,617
- Undergrad Students: 4,772
- Graduate Students: 1,845
- Grads Salary: $68,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
Adams State University
Score: 63.86
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,776
- Out-of-State:$21,848
- Net Price: $13,224
- Acceptance Rate: 99%
- Retention Rate: 57%
- Graduation Rate: 28%
- Total Enrollment: 2,854
- Undergrad Students: 1,588
- Graduate Students: 1,266
- Grads Salary: $64,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Colorado Mountain College
Score: 60.07
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,100
- Out-of-State:$12,540
- Net Price: $6,092
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 43%
- Graduation Rate: 27%
- Total Enrollment: 5,184
- Undergrad Students: 5,184
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $55,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Red Rocks Community College
Score: 55.39
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,707
- Out-of-State:$16,947
- Net Price: $9,807
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 86%
- Graduation Rate: 39%
- Total Enrollment: 6,470
- Undergrad Students: 6,375
- Graduate Students: 95
- Grads Salary: $38,000
- Student-to-faculty: 22:1
Lamar Community College
Score: 54.8
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,422
- Out-of-State:$7,052
- Net Price: $10,605
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 65%
- Graduation Rate: 44%
- Total Enrollment: 668
- Undergrad Students: 668
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $36,200
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Community College of Aurora
Score: 54.65
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,030
- Out-of-State:$15,680
- Net Price: $7,340
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 61%
- Graduation Rate: 25%
- Total Enrollment: 8,343
- Undergrad Students: 8,343
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $42,700
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Trinidad State Junior College
Score: 54.52
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,468
- Out-of-State:$7,100
- Net Price: $12,220
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 63%
- Graduation Rate: 50%
- Total Enrollment: 1,505
- Undergrad Students: 1,505
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $33,600
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Northeastern Junior College
Score: 54.34
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,582
- Out-of-State:$8,045
- Net Price: $14,209
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 68%
- Graduation Rate: 51%
- Total Enrollment: 1,446
- Undergrad Students: 1,446
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $33,100
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Aims Community College
Score: 52.7
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,170
- Out-of-State:$11,306
- Net Price: $7,859
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 58%
- Graduation Rate: 27%
- Total Enrollment: 7,178
- Undergrad Students: 7,178
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $41,500
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Front Range Community College
Score: 52.37
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,740
- Out-of-State:$16,974
- Net Price: $9,186
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 59%
- Graduation Rate: 27%
- Total Enrollment: 19,449
- Undergrad Students: 19,449
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $44,500
- Student-to-faculty: 21:1
Colorado Northwestern Community College
Score: 51.78
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,454
- Out-of-State:$7,084
- Net Price: $13,323
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 37%
- Graduation Rate: 32%
- Total Enrollment: 1,179
- Undergrad Students: 1,179
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $44,200
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
Community College of Denver
Score: 46.35
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,902
- Out-of-State:$17,136
- Net Price: $9,633
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 55%
- Graduation Rate: 18%
- Total Enrollment: 7,292
- Undergrad Students: 7,292
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $39,000
- Student-to-faculty: 20:1
Pikes Peak State College
Score: 44.08
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,302
- Out-of-State:$16,534
- Net Price: $9,629
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 55%
- Graduation Rate: 23%
- Total Enrollment: 11,899
- Undergrad Students: 11,899
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $32,100
- Student-to-faculty: 21:1
