Early childhood education is an often-overlooked specialty in the world of education. We tend to focus on high school and college since that bears more apparent and immediate relevance to the lives of most adults. However, the years between birth and around age four are critical for human development. Thus, the need for well-trained, highly qualified early childhood educators is imperative. These professionals must be more than babysitters. It's vital that they provide care and nurturing, but also stimulate each child's mind.
To that end, we have put together this page that helps budding educators find the very best early childhood education degree program for them. While they may not find a school close to them for their degree, the methods we discuss can be applied to any school whatsoever. We hope that this page will help students and their families discover the college or university that is best for them.
Top 50 Affordable Early Childhood Education Colleges and Universities
1
Florida State College at Jacksonville
Score: 100
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,878
- Out-of-State:$9,992
- Net Price: $2,789
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 55%
- Graduation Rate: 32%
- Total Enrollment: 20,530
- Undergrad Students: 20,530
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $59,000
- Student-to-faculty: 24:1
2
Texas A&M International University
Score: 95.24
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,846
- Out-of-State:$19,382
- Net Price: $3,833
- Acceptance Rate: 46%
- Retention Rate: 74%
- Graduation Rate: 49%
- Total Enrollment: 8,536
- Undergrad Students: 7,004
- Graduate Students: 1,532
- Grads Salary: $80,000
- Student-to-faculty: 21:1
3
Ohio University-Eastern
Score: 94.95
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,178
- Out-of-State:$9,170
- Net Price: $3,897
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 65%
- Graduation Rate: 20%
- Total Enrollment: 1,149
- Undergrad Students: 1,149
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
4
CUNY Lehman College
Score: 94.14
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,410
- Out-of-State:$15,360
- Net Price: $4,076
- Acceptance Rate: 55%
- Retention Rate: 74%
- Graduation Rate: 49%
- Total Enrollment: 12,894
- Undergrad Students: 11,227
- Graduate Students: 1,667
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
5
CUNY Brooklyn College
Score: 94
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,452
- Out-of-State:$15,402
- Net Price: $4,105
- Acceptance Rate: 54%
- Retention Rate: 80%
- Graduation Rate: 57%
- Total Enrollment: 13,935
- Undergrad Students: 11,330
- Graduate Students: 2,605
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
6
CUNY Hunter College
Score: 93.9
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,382
- Out-of-State:$15,332
- Net Price: $4,127
- Acceptance Rate: 54%
- Retention Rate: 80%
- Graduation Rate: 61%
- Total Enrollment: 22,879
- Undergrad Students: 17,378
- Graduate Students: 5,501
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
7
Florida Gateway College
Score: 92.53
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,100
- Out-of-State:$11,747
- Net Price: $4,428
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 79%
- Graduation Rate: 57%
- Total Enrollment: 2,837
- Undergrad Students: 2,837
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $52,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
8
California State University-Los Angeles
Score: 91.97
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,818
- Out-of-State:$18,698
- Net Price: $4,551
- Acceptance Rate: 92%
- Retention Rate: 73%
- Graduation Rate: 53%
- Total Enrollment: 25,080
- Undergrad Students: 21,527
- Graduate Students: 3,553
- Grads Salary: $77,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
9
CUNY City College
Score: 91.75
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,340
- Out-of-State:$15,290
- Net Price: $4,599
- Acceptance Rate: 58%
- Retention Rate: 79%
- Graduation Rate: 55%
- Total Enrollment: 15,012
- Undergrad Students: 12,356
- Graduate Students: 2,656
- Grads Salary: $81,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
10
Ohio University-Southern
Score: 91.38
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,178
- Out-of-State:$9,170
- Net Price: $4,682
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 63%
- Graduation Rate: 19%
- Total Enrollment: 1,639
- Undergrad Students: 1,639
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $55,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
11
Ohio University-Lancaster
Score: 90.22
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,178
- Out-of-State:$9,170
- Net Price: $4,935
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 64%
- Graduation Rate: 14%
- Total Enrollment: 1,977
- Undergrad Students: 1,977
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $45,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
12
Ohio University-Chillicothe
Score: 88.54
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,178
- Out-of-State:$9,170
- Net Price: $5,304
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 64%
- Graduation Rate: 12%
- Total Enrollment: 1,941
- Undergrad Students: 1,941
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
13
Miami Dade College
Score: 88.25
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,838
- Out-of-State:$9,661
- Net Price: $5,367
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 68%
- Graduation Rate: 45%
- Total Enrollment: 39,139
- Undergrad Students: 39,139
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $61,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
14
Northern New Mexico College
Score: 84.91
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,400
- Out-of-State:$14,328
- Net Price: $6,102
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 61%
- Graduation Rate: 33%
- Total Enrollment: 1,310
- Undergrad Students: 1,310
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $63,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
15
CUNY Medgar Evers College
Score: 84.43
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,352
- Out-of-State:$15,302
- Net Price: $6,207
- Acceptance Rate: 83%
- Retention Rate: 52%
- Graduation Rate: 22%
- Total Enrollment: 3,846
- Undergrad Students: 3,846
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $68,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
16
Northwest Florida State College
Score: 83.83
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,246
- Out-of-State:$11,625
- Net Price: $6,339
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 60%
- Graduation Rate: 43%
- Total Enrollment: 5,160
- Undergrad Students: 5,160
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $64,000
- Student-to-faculty: 22:1
17
Eastern New Mexico University
Score: 82.26
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,863
- Out-of-State:$8,843
- Net Price: $6,683
- Acceptance Rate: 55%
- Retention Rate: 62%
- Graduation Rate: 40%
- Total Enrollment: 5,386
- Undergrad Students: 4,072
- Graduate Students: 1,314
- Grads Salary: $70,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
18
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Score: 80.91
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,859
- Out-of-State:$19,939
- Net Price: $6,978
- Acceptance Rate: 85%
- Retention Rate: 79%
- Graduation Rate: 49%
- Total Enrollment: 31,931
- Undergrad Students: 27,040
- Graduate Students: 4,891
- Grads Salary: $66,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
19
Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto
Score: 80.32
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,760
- Out-of-State:$14,760
- Net Price: $7,108
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 100%
- Graduation Rate: 50%
- Total Enrollment: 575
- Undergrad Students: 183
- Graduate Students: 392
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 5:1
20
Saint Johns River State College
Score: 79.62
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,830
- Out-of-State:$10,352
- Net Price: $7,262
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 66%
- Graduation Rate: 46%
- Total Enrollment: 7,066
- Undergrad Students: 7,066
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $65,000
- Student-to-faculty: 20:1
21
Brigham Young University-Idaho
Score: 79.47
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,656
- Out-of-State:$4,656
- Net Price: $7,295
- Acceptance Rate: 97%
- Retention Rate: 70%
- Graduation Rate: 55%
- Total Enrollment: 42,996
- Undergrad Students: 42,996
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 20:1
22
Fayetteville State University
Score: 79.46
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,969
- Out-of-State:$7,969
- Net Price: $7,298
- Acceptance Rate: 80%
- Retention Rate: 78%
- Graduation Rate: 35%
- Total Enrollment: 6,847
- Undergrad Students: 5,845
- Graduate Students: 1,002
- Grads Salary: $65,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
23
California State University-Fresno
Score: 79.43
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,980
- Out-of-State:$18,860
- Net Price: $7,303
- Acceptance Rate: 96%
- Retention Rate: 78%
- Graduation Rate: 55%
- Total Enrollment: 23,986
- Undergrad Students: 21,430
- Graduate Students: 2,556
- Grads Salary: $77,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
24
University of New Mexico
Score: 78.41
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,115
- Out-of-State:$26,450
- Net Price: $7,528
- Acceptance Rate: 95%
- Retention Rate: 73%
- Graduation Rate: 53%
- Total Enrollment: 22,700
- Undergrad Students: 16,905
- Graduate Students: 5,795
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
25
Louisiana State University-Shreveport
Score: 78.29
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,327
- Out-of-State:$20,481
- Net Price: $7,554
- Acceptance Rate: 83%
- Retention Rate: 63%
- Graduation Rate: 33%
- Total Enrollment: 9,736
- Undergrad Students: 2,548
- Graduate Students: 7,188
- Grads Salary: $65,000
- Student-to-faculty: 27:1
26
Coppin State University
Score: 77.7
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,001
- Out-of-State:$13,789
- Net Price: $7,684
- Acceptance Rate: 50%
- Retention Rate: 73%
- Graduation Rate: 26%
- Total Enrollment: 2,101
- Undergrad Students: 1,810
- Graduate Students: 291
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
27
New Mexico State University
Score: 74.65
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,147
- Out-of-State:$25,271
- Net Price: $8,353
- Acceptance Rate: 76%
- Retention Rate: 75%
- Graduation Rate: 52%
- Total Enrollment: 14,779
- Undergrad Students: 12,113
- Graduate Students: 2,666
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
28
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Score: 74.16
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,904
- Out-of-State:$18,870
- Net Price: $8,460
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 68%
- Graduation Rate: 16%
- Total Enrollment: 724
- Undergrad Students: 724
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $77,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
29
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma
Score: 73.14
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,000
- Out-of-State:$20,190
- Net Price: $8,685
- Acceptance Rate: 56%
- Retention Rate: 71%
- Graduation Rate: 36%
- Total Enrollment: 914
- Undergrad Students: 914
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
30
Western New Mexico University
Score: 73.01
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,868
- Out-of-State:$14,354
- Net Price: $8,712
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 54%
- Graduation Rate: 35%
- Total Enrollment: 3,570
- Undergrad Students: 2,602
- Graduate Students: 968
- Grads Salary: $66,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
31
Tennessee State University
Score: 70.65
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,568
- Out-of-State:$22,284
- Net Price: $9,231
- Acceptance Rate: 93%
- Retention Rate: 60%
- Graduation Rate: 33%
- Total Enrollment: 8,198
- Undergrad Students: 6,765
- Graduate Students: 1,433
- Grads Salary: $77,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
32
Harris-Stowe State University
Score: 70.33
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,442
- Out-of-State:$11,074
- Net Price: $9,302
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 69%
- Graduation Rate: 27%
- Total Enrollment: 1,098
- Undergrad Students: 1,098
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $55,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
33
East Central University
Score: 70.08
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,032
- Out-of-State:$17,542
- Net Price: $9,355
- Acceptance Rate: 66%
- Retention Rate: 57%
- Graduation Rate: 33%
- Total Enrollment: 3,200
- Undergrad Students: 2,460
- Graduate Students: 740
- Grads Salary: $66,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
34
Purdue University Northwest
Score: 68.8
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,419
- Out-of-State:$15,620
- Net Price: $9,637
- Acceptance Rate: 71%
- Retention Rate: 68%
- Graduation Rate: 44%
- Total Enrollment: 8,679
- Undergrad Students: 7,902
- Graduate Students: 777
- Grads Salary: $70,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
35
Murray State University
Score: 68.34
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,708
- Out-of-State:$19,452
- Net Price: $9,738
- Acceptance Rate: 86%
- Retention Rate: 76%
- Graduation Rate: 60%
- Total Enrollment: 9,841
- Undergrad Students: 7,878
- Graduate Students: 1,963
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
36
Polk State College
Score: 67.91
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,366
- Out-of-State:$12,272
- Net Price: $9,832
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 67%
- Graduation Rate: 34%
- Total Enrollment: 7,963
- Undergrad Students: 7,963
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $61,000
- Student-to-faculty: 20:1
37
Chicago State University
Score: 67.82
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,754
- Out-of-State:$12,754
- Net Price: $9,852
- Acceptance Rate: 41%
- Retention Rate: 47%
- Graduation Rate: 17%
- Total Enrollment: 2,324
- Undergrad Students: 1,495
- Graduate Students: 829
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
38
Morehead State University
Score: 67.07
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,838
- Out-of-State:$14,706
- Net Price: $10,017
- Acceptance Rate: 82%
- Retention Rate: 69%
- Graduation Rate: 48%
- Total Enrollment: 8,618
- Undergrad Students: 8,058
- Graduate Students: 560
- Grads Salary: $66,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
39
Wiley University
Score: 65.82
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,500
- Out-of-State:$12,500
- Net Price: $10,290
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 32%
- Graduation Rate: 20%
- Total Enrollment: 636
- Undergrad Students: 636
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $63,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
40
The University of Texas at El Paso
Score: 65.63
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,744
- Out-of-State:$25,512
- Net Price: $10,333
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 77%
- Graduation Rate: 46%
- Total Enrollment: 24,351
- Undergrad Students: 20,609
- Graduate Students: 3,742
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 20:1
41
University of North Alabama
Score: 65.14
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,990
- Out-of-State:$22,190
- Net Price: $10,441
- Acceptance Rate: 96%
- Retention Rate: 78%
- Graduation Rate: 54%
- Total Enrollment: 10,059
- Undergrad Students: 7,451
- Graduate Students: 2,608
- Grads Salary: $68,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
42
Florida Gulf Coast University
Score: 64.65
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,118
- Out-of-State:$25,162
- Net Price: $10,548
- Acceptance Rate: 77%
- Retention Rate: 83%
- Graduation Rate: 56%
- Total Enrollment: 16,167
- Undergrad Students: 14,227
- Graduate Students: 1,940
- Grads Salary: $63,000
- Student-to-faculty: 21:1
43
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Score: 64.45
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,593
- Out-of-State:$23,339
- Net Price: $10,592
- Acceptance Rate: 90%
- Retention Rate: 76%
- Graduation Rate: 58%
- Total Enrollment: 17,743
- Undergrad Students: 14,156
- Graduate Students: 3,587
- Grads Salary: $65,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
44
University of North Florida
Score: 64.28
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,389
- Out-of-State:$20,793
- Net Price: $10,628
- Acceptance Rate: 62%
- Retention Rate: 81%
- Graduation Rate: 68%
- Total Enrollment: 16,453
- Undergrad Students: 14,264
- Graduate Students: 2,189
- Grads Salary: $68,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
45
Florida International University
Score: 63.76
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,565
- Out-of-State:$18,963
- Net Price: $10,742
- Acceptance Rate: 59%
- Retention Rate: 92%
- Graduation Rate: 74%
- Total Enrollment: 53,953
- Undergrad Students: 44,363
- Graduate Students: 9,590
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 24:1
46
Kent State University at Salem
Score: 63.52
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,272
- Out-of-State:$16,744
- Net Price: $10,796
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 61%
- Graduation Rate: 28%
- Total Enrollment: 1,463
- Undergrad Students: 1,463
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $57,000
- Student-to-faculty: 24:1
47
Governors State University
Score: 63.35
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,320
- Out-of-State:$11,320
- Net Price: $10,833
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 59%
- Graduation Rate: 20%
- Total Enrollment: 4,337
- Undergrad Students: 2,536
- Graduate Students: 1,801
- Grads Salary: $68,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
48
Eastern Kentucky University
Score: 63.26
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,130
- Out-of-State:$20,820
- Net Price: $10,852
- Acceptance Rate: 78%
- Retention Rate: 80%
- Graduation Rate: 50%
- Total Enrollment: 15,008
- Undergrad Students: 12,726
- Graduate Students: 2,282
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
49
North Seattle College
Score: 63.21
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,058
- Out-of-State:$5,547
- Net Price: $10,864
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: N/A
- Graduation Rate: 32%
- Total Enrollment: 5,017
- Undergrad Students: 5,017
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
50
University of Washington
Score: 62.48
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,643
- Out-of-State:$41,997
- Net Price: $11,023
- Acceptance Rate: 43%
- Retention Rate: 95%
- Graduation Rate: 84%
- Total Enrollment: 55,620
- Undergrad Students: 39,515
- Graduate Students: 16,105
- Grads Salary: $87,000
- Student-to-faculty: 20:1
