Best Early Childhood Education Online Degree Programs in North Carolina

What is Early Childhood Education?

North Carolina is a wonderful and diverse state that stretches between the ocean to the mountains. The state has diverted Lottery funds to ensure that all low-income families have access to pre-k education. The city plans to allocate $82 million dollars to pre-k in the upcoming school year and then increase that to $91 million for the next.

In the past, families in North Carolina had to sit on a waitlist in hopes of a spot for their youngsters. With this new initiative, the state expects to eliminate that waitlist by 2020. Given that strong preschool programs bolster long-term academic performance, and that the richest nations enroll up to 80% of their kids in preschool, this new funding will help NC catch up with the rest of the world.

On the national front, the federal government passed legislation that approved 5.2 billion dollars in block grants for childcare and development. This will be a boon to North Carolina's existing movement to boost Early Childhood Education.

north_carolina_map_university | University HQ

Featured Online Programs

Search Programs

Best North Carolina Online Schools

Top Ranked Campus & Online Early Childhood Education Programs in North Carolina

1

East Carolina University

Score: 80.44

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,361
- Out-of-State:$23,638
Net Price: $14,410
Acceptance Rate: 92%
Retention Rate: 80%

Graduation Rate: 65%
Total Enrollment: 27,151
Undergrad Students: 21,688
Graduate Students: 5,463
Grads Salary: $71,000
Student-to-faculty: 18:1

View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings

2

Winston-Salem State University

Score: 78.39

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,735
- Out-of-State:$17,391
Net Price: $14,097
Acceptance Rate: 73%
Retention Rate: 77%

Graduation Rate: 50%
Total Enrollment: 5,004
Undergrad Students: 4,513
Graduate Students: 491
Grads Salary: $74,000
Student-to-faculty: 15:1

3

Western Carolina University

Score: 77.16

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,532
- Out-of-State:$8,532
Net Price: $13,022
Acceptance Rate: 85%
Retention Rate: 71%

Graduation Rate: 61%
Total Enrollment: 11,635
Undergrad Students: 9,956
Graduate Students: 1,679
Grads Salary: $66,000
Student-to-faculty: 16:1

View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings

4

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Score: 76.24

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,593
- Out-of-State:$23,339
Net Price: $10,979
Acceptance Rate: 92%
Retention Rate: 73%

Graduation Rate: 58%
Total Enrollment: 17,978
Undergrad Students: 14,198
Graduate Students: 3,780
Grads Salary: $65,000
Student-to-faculty: 17:1

View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings

5

Fayetteville State University

Score: 74.15

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,969
- Out-of-State:$7,969
Net Price: $6,355
Acceptance Rate: 81%
Retention Rate: 70%

Graduation Rate: 44%
Total Enrollment: 6,787
Undergrad Students: 5,748
Graduate Students: 1,039
Grads Salary: $65,000
Student-to-faculty: 18:1

View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings

6

Brevard College

Score: 70.97

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $31,250
- Out-of-State:$31,250
Net Price: $24,220
Acceptance Rate: 40%
Retention Rate: 69%

Graduation Rate: 36%
Total Enrollment: 759
Undergrad Students: 735
Graduate Students: 24
Grads Salary: $77,000
Student-to-faculty: 10:1

7

University of Mount Olive

Score: 69.74

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $25,950
- Out-of-State:$25,950
Net Price: $17,878
Acceptance Rate: 75%
Retention Rate: 63%

Graduation Rate: 49%
Total Enrollment: 2,239
Undergrad Students: 2,019
Graduate Students: 220
Grads Salary: $67,000
Student-to-faculty: 16:1

8

North Carolina Central University

Score: 69.31

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,542
- Out-of-State:$19,578
Net Price: $13,708
Acceptance Rate: 84%
Retention Rate: 76%

Graduation Rate: 44%
Total Enrollment: 7,553
Undergrad Students: 5,634
Graduate Students: 1,919
Grads Salary: $62,000
Student-to-faculty: 14:1

View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings

9

Beaufort County Community College

Score: 64.06

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,540
- Out-of-State:$8,684
Net Price: $7,279
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 67%

Graduation Rate: 45%
Total Enrollment: 1,741
Undergrad Students: 1,741
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $45,900
Student-to-faculty: 10:1

10

Wilkes Community College

Score: 64.05

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,572
- Out-of-State:$8,716
Net Price: $3,471
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 66%

Graduation Rate: 55%
Total Enrollment: 2,321
Undergrad Students: 2,321
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $32,500
Student-to-faculty: 7:1

11

Barton College

Score: 61.51

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $35,600
- Out-of-State:$35,600
Net Price: $23,443
Acceptance Rate: 95%
Retention Rate: 74%

Graduation Rate: 48%
Total Enrollment: 1,265
Undergrad Students: 1,187
Graduate Students: 78
Grads Salary: $58,000
Student-to-faculty: 13:1

12

McDowell Technical Community College

Score: 60.86

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $1,958
- Out-of-State:$6,566
Net Price: $2,715
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 59%

Graduation Rate: 45%
Total Enrollment: 1,100
Undergrad Students: 1,100
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $34,500
Student-to-faculty: 7:1

13

Wayne Community College

Score: 60.3

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,524
- Out-of-State:$8,668
Net Price: $4,694
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 80%

Graduation Rate: 49%
Total Enrollment: 2,732
Undergrad Students: 2,732
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $30,300
Student-to-faculty: 12:1

View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings

14

Gaston College

Score: 58.85

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,186
- Out-of-State:$9,330
Net Price: $4,103
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 75%

Graduation Rate: 43%
Total Enrollment: 5,558
Undergrad Students: 5,558
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $32,900
Student-to-faculty: 13:1

15

Blue Ridge Community College-Flat Rock

Score: 57.44

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,660
- Out-of-State:$8,804
Net Price: $7,677
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 69%

Graduation Rate: 50%
Total Enrollment: 2,794
Undergrad Students: 2,794
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $31,400
Student-to-faculty: 14:1

16

Randolph Community College

Score: 55.85

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,416
- Out-of-State:$8,176
Net Price: $8,104
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 76%

Graduation Rate: 40%
Total Enrollment: 2,469
Undergrad Students: 2,469
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $32,200
Student-to-faculty: 9:1

17

Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute

Score: 55.73

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,537
- Out-of-State:$8,681
Net Price: $6,286
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 71%

Graduation Rate: 40%
Total Enrollment: 3,703
Undergrad Students: 3,703
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $33,300
Student-to-faculty: 14:1

18

Southeastern Community College-Whiteville

Score: 55.68

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,600
- Out-of-State:$8,744
Net Price: $2,028
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 67%

Graduation Rate: 38%
Total Enrollment: 1,228
Undergrad Students: 1,228
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $27,900
Student-to-faculty: 9:1

19

Wake Technical Community College

Score: 55.51

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,336
- Out-of-State:$7,582
Net Price: $3,914
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 68%

Graduation Rate: 31%
Total Enrollment: 21,551
Undergrad Students: 21,551
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $39,200
Student-to-faculty: 18:1

20

Stanly Community College

Score: 54.81

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,672
- Out-of-State:$8,816
Net Price: $6,063
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 66%

Graduation Rate: 38%
Total Enrollment: 2,319
Undergrad Students: 2,319
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $32,000
Student-to-faculty: 10:1

21

Edgecombe Community College

Score: 54.66

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,640
- Out-of-State:$8,784
Net Price: $5,996
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 74%

Graduation Rate: 28%
Total Enrollment: 1,313
Undergrad Students: 1,313
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $37,100
Student-to-faculty: 10:1

22

James Sprunt Community College

Score: 54.59

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,592
- Out-of-State:$8,736
Net Price: $3,907
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 75%

Graduation Rate: 35%
Total Enrollment: 1,359
Undergrad Students: 1,359
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $29,900
Student-to-faculty: 12:1

23

Richmond Community College

Score: 54.53

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,552
- Out-of-State:$8,696
Net Price: $4,986
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 67%

Graduation Rate: 34%
Total Enrollment: 2,290
Undergrad Students: 2,290
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $33,800
Student-to-faculty: 12:1

24

Brunswick Community College

Score: 54.53

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,532
- Out-of-State:$8,676
Net Price: $7,656
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 67%

Graduation Rate: 40%
Total Enrollment: 1,678
Undergrad Students: 1,678
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $32,700
Student-to-faculty: 12:1

25

Nash Community College

Score: 54.52

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,883
- Out-of-State:$8,883
Net Price: $7,102
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 68%

Graduation Rate: 40%
Total Enrollment: 2,645
Undergrad Students: 2,645
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $35,600
Student-to-faculty: 20:1

Steps to Become an Early Childhood Education Teacher in North Carolina

The first step toward becoming an Early Childhood Education Teacher in North Carolina is to decide that teaching, and child development in general, is your passion. Education is not like other professions. The classroom is a very challenging place that insists that you wear multiple hats: teacher, disciplinarian, social worker, parent, entertainer, and mentor. Often those hats are interchanged in rapid succession. However, you will receive successes that carry more weight than that of any large sale or business success.

After that, you will need to meet certain qualifications to satisfy the North Carolina School Board. The largest part of you teacher preparation will be your education. This is where you can begin to narrow your focus according to your academic and age-group focus. For Early Childhood Education, you'll have to demonstrate competency in the main academic areas but then you can specialize in Special Education, the arts, or even physical education.

Teaching is one of the fundamental parts of human society. Since we first emerged, we have taught one another, especially our children, to manage the society or environment we live in. All over the globe, human cultures have devised means by which to help youngsters become adults. Now we have specialists to help the young learn to navigate our society. You will thus be one of the most important people in a child's life. Indeed, you will be one of the most important people in the community.

Teaching should be first considered a calling, then a profession. That's because this is more than a career path, or a way to confer information. Rather, teaching is how we hand down knowledge and wisdom to younger generations and thus perpetuate our culture for future generations to enjoy.

Step 1. Earn Your Degree

Your academic training is the largest, and most important, part of your path to becoming a teacher. As you study, you will become knowledgeable of teaching methods, pedagogical theories, and current thinking on human development. Your early childhood education program should also include a student teaching experience, which many programs set up to be the capstone to your training.

Some key courses you'll take include, but are not limited to:

Early Childhood Education
Human Development
Exceptional Child
Classroom Management

If you need to work during your time in college, try to work in education to some degree. You could work in a preschool as a teacher’s assistant, for instance, or take a job with the public schools as a Paraprofessional. In North Carolina, you will need to have at least two years of college credit to your name, or an associate degree, for that position. Regardless, if you focus on attaining classroom experience, you will have an easier time landing the job you want upon graduation.

National Rankings - Best AS in Early Childhood Education National Rankings - Best BS in Early Childhood Education National Rankings - Best MS in Early Childhood Education

Step 2. Pass Your Exam

Unlike many states, North Carolina does not require you to pass a specific test if you intend to spend your career as a preschool educator. However, if you decide to move up into Kindergarten, or almost any other position, you will need to pass the Core Academic Skills for Educators test, which is comprised of three separate tests:

Core Academic Skills for Educators: Reading
Core Academic Skills for Educators: Writing
Core Academic Skills for Educators: Mathematics

North Carolina allows you to take the tests separately in three sessions, or all at once. Some other states require that you take the comprehensive, three-part exam the first time. Then, if you fell short on a section, you can return to re-take that part. You can make this decision, but it would be more efficient to take and pass all three on the first attempt.

Step 3. Acquire and Upgrade Your License

Keep in mind that your education must be from an accredited educator preparation program that the state of North Carolina's Department of Public Instruction acknowledges as valid. Once you have graduated, you should submit your transcripts, background check information including fingerprints, and any required letters of recommendation.

If you have any infractions on your adult record, you will want to account for those in writing. You should detail the nature of the charges and the subsequent sentence. If you have court documentation to verify that you have paid all fees and satisfied any other stipulations in your sentencing, you should include that as well. Provided that the infraction was not related to children, your application should pass through.

Once this happens, you will receive the Standard Professional 1 License, which is good for 3 years. You must gain professional experience each year. After these years, you can apply for and receive your Standard Professional License 2.

In order to maintain this licensure, you must complete 7.5 “renewal credits” in literacy, early childhood education, and general studies every 5 years. Your employer can help you determine what courses or workshops are appropriate.

Popular Career Choices:

Preschool Teacher
Kindergarten Teacher
Elementary School Teacher
Special Education Teacher

Find Your Online Early Childhood Education Program

Additional Specialization Certifications

As your career continues, you may find that you would like to specialize in certain areas such as Special Education, Advanced Learning and Gifted Education, or English as a Second Language (ESL).

Special Education:
This is a specialty area that often requires you to have a very specific focus. You might have a general classroom full of wonderful children who have been diagnosed with things varying from developmental disabilities, hearing impairment, visual impairment, or some variety of learning disorder. To qualify for this specialty area, you will need to pass the Praxis II test that correlates with your specific area.

There are tests for the following areas:

Adapted Curriculum
Behavioral/Emotional Disorders
Cross Categorical
General Curriculum
Learning Disabled
Mentally Disabled
Visually Impaired

Advanced Learning and Gifted Education:
To add this specialty to your license, you will need to complete a 12-16 semester hour state-approved program. Your program might require a practicum over the summer, and then you will need to pass a Praxis II test with a minimum score of 157. The state notes that the most successful test-takers are in a graduate program for Gifted education or have an undergraduate degree and several years in the field working with especially talented students.

English as a Second Language:
You can add this specialty to your license with approximately 15 semester hours of college credit. You will then need to pass the appropriate Praxis II examination and pass with a minimum score of 155.

Potential Careers and Salaries for Graduates

Public Schools
North Carolina is a great state in which to teach in public schools. This career path will provide countless opportunities from the shores to the Appalachian Mountains. Public school teachers naturally have opportunities in every North Carolina town as well as a state-guaranteed salary structure and other benefits.
Private Childcare
If you wish to work with individual families to help their children prepare for later schooling you can find ample opportunities if you have a degree. Many families value professionals with dual language skills, or special experience in their field. If you are seeking a long-term career in education, seek out families that need a childcare professional who can help with their child's early learning experiences.
Private Schools
Private schools don't often pay as well as North Carolina public schools, but they do offer teachers a bit more leeway in terms of curriculum. Further, you won't need to maintain a state license and your class sizes are sure to be much smaller than those in public schools. While private schools don't require a state license, you may want to demonstrate multiple years of experience or other training in your field.
Head Start Programs
This program was started in the Kennedy administration and provides preschool for low-income families. Preschool has been found to have a profound impact of young people and your work with their children will be very important indeed. This program doesn't always require a state license to teach for them, but it will benefit you to have a North Carolina teaching credential.
Community-based Programs
These programs might entail anything from an after-school program to an arts and performance curriculum. You won't likely need much education or licensure to work for these programs. However, hiring managers might prefer relevant experience.
Faith-based Programs
These might be church-sponsored preschools or a part of a faith-based school that serves older kids, too. Most often you'll find faith-based programs as part of large churches, but there are many stand-alone religious schools that teach all ages. This is a good choice if you wish to integrate your faith into your career in palpable, concrete ways.
Military Programs
Your North Carolina teaching credential will qualify you to teach on military bases worldwide. This is a great option for adventuresome educators who see the needs military kids have.
Preschool Teacher
This profession educates children in their prekindergarten years. You need to have ample creativity to create lesson plans to stimulate and engage the little ones, who might be easily distracted. You might consider learning an instrument or honing your skills in one or more visual art fields.
Elementary School Teacher
This occupation can indicate a teacher in any grade from kindergarten to fifth grade. You will need to pass a Praxis II exam that covers math, reading, and writing. Elementary School Teachers provide the fundamental knowledge that facilitates student success for a lifetime.
Professor of Education
Teaching Education at the college level can be just as important as teaching little ones in preschool. That is, you will teach young college students how to be teachers. You will help inspire generation after generation of aspiring educators as they venture out into the world.
School Principal
To become a principal in North Carolina, you will need to first attain a valid teaching credential. You must then complete a graduate program in school administration. Many educators work towards an administrative position after several years in the classroom. Your experience will pay off later, so assess whether you have enough prior to entering a master's program.
Special Education Teacher
This occupation is one of the most richly rewarding in education. In North Carolina, you need to attain a specific license in your area of specialization. Specialty areas include, but are not limited to: mental disability, learning disorders, and visual impairment.
ESL Teacher
As more and more non-English speaking families make their homes in the United States, we need more ESL teachers to teach their children. With your help navigating an English-dominated culture, you can help shape tomorrow's leaders.
School Psychologist
Children sometimes have more trouble than mastering academic subjects. Whether they have problems at home or with the kids at school, you can help them overcome these problems. When you help the youngsters in your school to navigate their early lives, they can move on to become thriving, successful adults.

Occupation	Entry-Level	Mid-Career	Late-Career
Preschool Teacher	$25,200	$29,100	$32,000
Elementary School Teacher	$39,800	$41,200	$47,700
Professor of Education	$50,000	$104,400	$104,400
School Principal	$61,800	$68,000	$74,100
Special Education Teacher	$35,000	$40,600	$50,000
ESL Teacher	$35,000	$40,600	$50,000
School Psychologist	$51,000	$60,100	$67,200

Sources:

Search All Programs

How to Become an Early Childhood Education Teacher in North Carolina

What is Early Childhood Education?

Top Ranked Campus & Online Early Childhood Education Programs in North Carolina

East Carolina University

Winston-Salem State University

Western Carolina University

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Fayetteville State University

Brevard College

University of Mount Olive

North Carolina Central University

Beaufort County Community College

Wilkes Community College

Barton College

McDowell Technical Community College

Wayne Community College

Gaston College

Blue Ridge Community College-Flat Rock

Randolph Community College

Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute

Southeastern Community College-Whiteville

Wake Technical Community College

Stanly Community College

Edgecombe Community College

James Sprunt Community College

Richmond Community College

Brunswick Community College

Nash Community College

Steps to Become an Early Childhood Education Teacher in North Carolina

Step 1. Earn Your Degree

Step 2. Pass Your Exam

Step 3. Acquire and Upgrade Your License

Additional Specialization Certifications

Potential Careers and Salaries for Graduates

Sources: