Top 50 Affordable Early Childhood Education Schools

Choosing an Affordable Early Childhood Education College

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When seeking an affordable online early childhood education bachelor's degree, there are more factors in play than mere cost. Other factors can include the overall reputation and quality of education, whether the classes are online or in classrooms, and the academic focus of the program.

As for the reputation and quality of an education, students should research schools based on sources that evaluate the appropriate educational statistics. Some of the key data points to use when assessing an early childhood education program are the retention rate, graduation rate, and student-to-faculty ratio. These objective measures can provide a counterweight to other, more emotional factors.

In fact, one of the most important factors to research is the program's accreditation. Students should only apply to fully accredited programs. That is, programs that have received credentials from CHEA approved accreditation agencies. This will ensure that the level of instruction is adequate to help launch a career and serve the most children possible.

CHEA approved regional accreditation agencies include:

Students may also choose to look for programmatic accreditation that covers teacher education. These include groups such as the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). These days students can also choose whether to pursue an online education or a traditional classroom experience. While research shows that outcomes are the same regardless of how the material is delivered, students will probably have a preference. For those who feel torn, many programs offer hybrid options for students who wish to experiment with online courses.

Finally, another quality to consider is the focus of each program. Some programs may emphasize a specific educational modality, such as Montessori or Reggio Emilia. Others might offer a focus of particular interest, such as special education or gifted education. There may be other educational philosophies that students prefer, and it's important to find a program that can accommodate those views.

Online Options

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Online education is a huge part of the academic picture these days. If the COVID pandemic can be said to have had any lasting impact, it certainly changed the face of online education, for better or worse. During the pandemic, nearly every active student in the nation took their courses online for approximately a year and a half. Thus, there are likely to be even more online classes and even whole programs dedicated to early childhood education than there were before these events.

Whether or not this modality is ideal for an education program is debatable. The courses that are heavy on theory and textbook instruction can likely translate easily to the online medium. However, those courses that rely more on group interactions and active, participatory activities, such as mock teaching, might suffer in an online format. However, if this problem can be solved, there is no doubt that an education faculty can arrive at the proper curricular solution.

Search Programs Offering Early Childhood Education Majors

Online education is surely here to stay and students should consider giving it a shot for at least one course, if only for the experience. After all, online courses certainly provide flexibility in one's schedule and so might be optimal for students who are working or doing an internship. Furthermore, studies show that online education has the same academic outcomes as traditional classroom instruction.

Online universities also open up more opportunities for learning. Since online education is often more affordable than traditional options, students have more options at their fingertips. No longer do students have no options other than to move hundreds of miles away to enroll in the program of their choice. Now, those opportunities are readily available and there's no moving required.

Early Childhood Education Graduates Earn More After College

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Across the board, those with a bachelor’s degree tend to make more than those who don't graduate from college. According to Payscale.com, those with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education earn an average of $55,000. Their salary can go even higher if they become a curriculum director, as Payscale's research indicates that their average salary is around $63,000. At the top end, executive directors in early childhood programs can make an average of $94,000.

Meanwhile, those who start their careers with an associate degree in early childhood education make a little less, on average. Payscale reports that two-year degree holders average just over $35,000 as early childhood educators. At the high end, this degree level averages $44,000 in the position of preschool director.

Finally, those who take their personal education to the next level and earn an MEd in early childhood education earn a reported average salary of $50,000. They are also able to land positions such as assistant principal, which brings their average pay up above $90,000. Those with this level of education might also be able to work as counselors for troubled or traumatized youth. Their graduate degree may also open up opportunities to work as consultants to public and private schools.