University Headquarters (HQ) is an industry-leading, independent educational organization that provides independent college rankings using a proprietary formula to create first class, unbiased rankings. The team at University HQ strives to provide accurate and trustworthy rankings that highlight the best programs for early childhood education in Minnesota.
What is Early Childhood Education?
Minnesota has introduced numerous initiatives during the past 10 years or so in early childhood education (ECE). They have such a commitment to ECE that they have created somewhat of a disconnect, and now they are working to unite all of the committees and programs in a more efficient manner so that all children, regardless of ethnicity or socioeconomic standing, will receive a superior start to the previous educational experience.
Recently, the Minnesota Departments of Education, Health and Human Services and the Children’s Cabinet received a $4.7 million federal grant. This money will be dedicated to determining the best ways to coordinate programs, resources, and policies throughout all departments. The intent is to create a better landscape for early learning for all children and families in Minnesota.
Another initiative is the Early Childhood System Reform Team. This team was built to create alignment, synergies, and overall improvement throughout the Minnesota Departments of Human Services, Education, and Health, including early childhood education. The state is also addressing whether or not ECE teachers and support staff are providing the right techniques and approaches and assessing whether or not teachers need to improve upon additional skill sets and learning tools. The state of Minnesota is working to keep parents involved in the learning process from the beginning and to make funding more available to early education.
Featured Early Childhood Education Programs
Top Ranked Campus & Online Early Childhood Education Programs in Minnesota
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Score: 86.03
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $16,488
- Out-of-State:$36,402
- Net Price: $16,018
- Acceptance Rate: 75%
- Retention Rate: 90%
- Graduation Rate: 84%
- Total Enrollment: 54,955
- Undergrad Students: 39,248
- Graduate Students: 15,707
- Grads Salary: $80,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
St. Catherine University
Score: 74.74
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $49,758
- Out-of-State:$49,758
- Net Price: $19,976
- Acceptance Rate: 93%
- Retention Rate: 83%
- Graduation Rate: 64%
- Total Enrollment: 3,577
- Undergrad Students: 2,404
- Graduate Students: 1,173
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
Concordia University-Saint Paul
Score: 71.57
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $25,000
- Out-of-State:$25,000
- Net Price: $17,776
- Acceptance Rate: 69%
- Retention Rate: 61%
- Graduation Rate: 51%
- Total Enrollment: 5,544
- Undergrad Students: 3,071
- Graduate Students: 2,473
- Grads Salary: $78,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Minnesota State University-Mankato
Score: 70.65
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,490
- Out-of-State:$18,860
- Net Price: $16,809
- Acceptance Rate: 71%
- Retention Rate: 76%
- Graduation Rate: 53%
- Total Enrollment: 14,590
- Undergrad Students: 12,676
- Graduate Students: 1,914
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 21:1
Winona State University
Score: 69.82
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,498
- Out-of-State:$17,230
- Net Price: $18,187
- Acceptance Rate: 74%
- Retention Rate: 76%
- Graduation Rate: 60%
- Total Enrollment: 6,154
- Undergrad Students: 5,403
- Graduate Students: 751
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
St. Cloud State University
Score: 69.62
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,117
- Out-of-State:$10,117
- Net Price: $14,065
- Acceptance Rate: 95%
- Retention Rate: 69%
- Graduation Rate: 44%
- Total Enrollment: 10,420
- Undergrad Students: 8,569
- Graduate Students: 1,851
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Minnesota State University Moorhead
Score: 69.06
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,336
- Out-of-State:$10,336
- Net Price: $17,939
- Acceptance Rate: 57%
- Retention Rate: 72%
- Graduation Rate: 55%
- Total Enrollment: 4,682
- Undergrad Students: 3,729
- Graduate Students: 953
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Martin Luther College
Score: 67.48
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $17,770
- Out-of-State:$17,770
- Net Price: $22,293
- Acceptance Rate: 84%
- Retention Rate: 86%
- Graduation Rate: 74%
- Total Enrollment: 880
- Undergrad Students: 755
- Graduate Students: 125
- Grads Salary: $63,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
Rasmussen University-Minnesota
Score: 67.07
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,899
- Out-of-State:$10,899
- Net Price: $17,858
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 100%
- Graduation Rate: 48%
- Total Enrollment: 3,058
- Undergrad Students: 2,649
- Graduate Students: 409
- Grads Salary: $70,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Southwest Minnesota State University
Score: 64.15
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,304
- Out-of-State:$10,304
- Net Price: $15,004
- Acceptance Rate: 92%
- Retention Rate: 67%
- Graduation Rate: 41%
- Total Enrollment: 6,930
- Undergrad Students: 6,518
- Graduate Students: 412
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
Metropolitan State University
Score: 62.96
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,780
- Out-of-State:$9,780
- Net Price: $19,347
- Acceptance Rate: 82%
- Retention Rate: 64%
- Graduation Rate: 33%
- Total Enrollment: 6,294
- Undergrad Students: 5,488
- Graduate Students: 806
- Grads Salary: $78,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Alexandria Technical & Community College
Score: 59.66
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,213
- Out-of-State:$6,213
- Net Price: $13,655
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 68%
- Graduation Rate: 61%
- Total Enrollment: 2,865
- Undergrad Students: 2,865
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $46,300
- Student-to-faculty: 22:1
Walden University
Score: 57.41
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,498
- Out-of-State:$12,498
- Net Price: $20,510
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 31%
- Graduation Rate: 32%
- Total Enrollment: 42,312
- Undergrad Students: 6,298
- Graduate Students: 36,014
- Grads Salary: $84,000
- Student-to-faculty: 21:1
Minnesota North College
Score: 55.89
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,004
- Out-of-State:$7,302
- Net Price: $9,537
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 49%
- Graduation Rate: 36%
- Total Enrollment: 3,044
- Undergrad Students: 3,044
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $45,400
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Capella University
Score: 55.65
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,436
- Out-of-State:$14,436
- Net Price: $14,935
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 36%
- Graduation Rate: 21%
- Total Enrollment: 39,727
- Undergrad Students: 13,280
- Graduate Students: 26,447
- Grads Salary: $78,000
- Student-to-faculty: 35:1
Hennepin Technical College
Score: 54.54
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,881
- Out-of-State:$5,881
- Net Price: $11,400
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 63%
- Graduation Rate: 33%
- Total Enrollment: 3,974
- Undergrad Students: 3,974
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $46,500
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Ridgewater College
Score: 53.91
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,109
- Out-of-State:$6,109
- Net Price: $10,225
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 62%
- Graduation Rate: 45%
- Total Enrollment: 2,904
- Undergrad Students: 2,904
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $35,800
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
Northland Community and Technical College
Score: 53.5
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,262
- Out-of-State:$6,262
- Net Price: $13,100
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 66%
- Graduation Rate: 40%
- Total Enrollment: 2,495
- Undergrad Students: 2,495
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $42,300
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Central Lakes College-Brainerd
Score: 53
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,209
- Out-of-State:$6,209
- Net Price: $12,326
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 64%
- Graduation Rate: 47%
- Total Enrollment: 4,633
- Undergrad Students: 4,633
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $37,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
South Central College
Score: 49.64
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,146
- Out-of-State:$6,146
- Net Price: $10,514
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 54%
- Graduation Rate: 26%
- Total Enrollment: 2,602
- Undergrad Students: 2,602
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $39,500
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
