Why This Matters
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AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE WILL QUALIFY YOU FOR 41% OF PRESCHOOL TEACHER JOBS
According to O*NET, 12% of preschool teacher jobs require applicants to have at least a postsecondary nondegree award, while 29% only require a high school diploma.
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17,200 NEW JOBS FOR PRESCHOOL TEACHERS
The demand for early childhood educators is expected to grow 3% from 2022 to 2032, resulting in over 17,000 new jobs.
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EARN $35,330 AS AN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR
Preschool teachers earn $35,330 per year on average. The lowest 10% make less than $23,920, while the highest 10% make more than $58,580.
Our Research
This list features some of the best online associate in early childhood education degree programs at top colleges nationwide. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary education. Many of the programs on our list have been accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), which assesses the objectives, quality, and overall effectiveness of early childhood education programs.
We evaluated each school’s program on admission, retention, and graduation rates as well as tuition costs, faculty, reputation, and the resources provided for online students. Then, we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.
Next, we compared this comprehensive list of online associate in early childhood education degree programs to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications like U.S. News & World Report, among others, to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.
Why Trust Us
The Intelligent.com Higher Education Team is dedicated to providing students with independent, equitable school and program rankings and well-researched resources. Our expert-driven articles cover topics related to online colleges and programs, paying for school, and career outlooks. We use data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard, the National Center for Education Statistics, and other reputable educational and professional organizations. Our academic advisory team reviews content and verifies accuracy throughout the year for the most current information. Partnerships do not influence rankings or editorial decisions.
- Analyzed over 2,000 national, accredited, and nonprofit colleges and universities
- 800+ rankings pages are reviewed and updated yearly
- Content is informed by reputable sources, surveys, and interviews with academic advisors and other experts
- Over 100 data points are reviewed for accuracy and quality throughout the year, including sources
How we rank schools
Our list features the best online Early Childhood Education degree programs at top colleges nationwide. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary institutions.
We evaluated each school’s program on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, reputation, and the student resources provided for online students. We collected data from trusted sources like the National Center for Education Statistics, individual school and program websites, school admissions counselors, and other data sources. Then, we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100 based on the following criterion:
Academic Quality:
- Admission rate versus enrollment rate
- Retention rate of students who return after year one
- Accreditation status (regional and programmatic)
- Nonprofit status, both private and public institutions
Graduation Rate
- Overall graduation rate
- Total number of currently enrolled students, including diversity metrics
- Student-to-faculty ratio
Cost and ROI
- In-state and out-of-state per-credit tuition rates and fees
- Required credits to graduate
- Earning potential after graduation
- Availability of federal student loans, scholarships, and other financial aid options
Student Resources
- Available student services for online-only and hybrid programs
- On-campus amenities like tutoring centers and the number of libraries
Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 61 hours to write this article
- 200 universities and colleges we assessed
- 363 education programs we compared
Best 38 Online Associate in Early Childhood Education Programs
FiltersInstitution Type
Status
- Intelligent Score
- Alphabetically By University Name
- Acceptance Rate
- Enrollment
- In-state Graduate Tuition
- Out-of-state Graduate Tuition
- In-state Undergraduate Tuition
- Out-of-state Undergraduate Tuition
Pitt Community College
Intelligent Score: 98.59In-state: $14,522
Out-of-state: $19,130
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: 480 or higher
ACT: 18-22
Resident: $76
Non-Resident: $268
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
72
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
Intelligent Score: 96.54In-state: $17,008
Out-of-state: $27,928
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: N/A
ACT: 16-22
$159
Online
Higher Learning Commission
60
Northeast Community College
Intelligent Score: 96.07In-state: $16,023
Out-of-state: $17,313
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: N/A
ACT: 12-29
Resident: $108
Non-Resident: $151
Online
Higher Learning Commission
60
Pima Community College
Intelligent Score: 95.78In-state: $19,424
Out-of-state: $25,978
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
Resident: $92
Non-Resident: $223
Online, On-Campus
National Association for the Education of Young Children
60
Minnesota State College Southeast
Intelligent Score: 95.1In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
$209
Online
Higher Learning Commission
60
Indiana Wesleyan University
Intelligent Score: 94.08In-state: $28,184
Out-of-state: $28,184
In-state: $13,512
Out-of-state: $13,512
SAT: 1010-1200
ACT: 21-27
$305
Online
Higher Learning Commission
60
Montgomery College
Intelligent Score: 93.56In-state: $32,142
Out-of-state: $35,922
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: 500 or higher
ACT: N/A
Resident: $134 - $273
Non-Resident: $380
Online
National Association for the Education of Young Children
60
Fayetteville Technical Community College
Intelligent Score: 93.04In-state: $16,438
Out-of-state: $22,582
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: Not Required
ACT: Not Required
Resident: $76
Non-Resident: $268
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
71
University of Cincinnati
Intelligent Score: 92.65In-state: $9,723
Out-of-state: $25,057
In-state: $13,224
Out-of-state: $13,224
SAT: 1120-1330
ACT: 23-29
$376 - $564
Online
Higher Learning Commission
60
Southwestern Oregon Community College
Intelligent Score: 91.85In-state: $17,619
Out-of-state: $17,619
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: Not Required
ACT: Not Required
$109
Online
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
98
Truckee Meadows Community College
Intelligent Score: 90.62In-state: $25,570
Out-of-state: $33,047
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: 1270
ACT: 26
In-State: $189
Out-of-State: $284
Online, On-Campus
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
60
UAF Community & Technical College
Intelligent Score: 90.19In-state: $7,224
Out-of-state: $23,072
In-state: $10,773
Out-of-state: $10,773
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
Resident: $234
Non-Resident: $800
Online
National Association for the Education of Young Children
60
Haywood Community College
Intelligent Score: 88.7In-state: $18,377
Out-of-state: $24,521
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: 480 or higher
ACT: 18 or higher
Resident: $76
Non-Resident: $268
Online
National Association for the Education of Young Children
71
Liberty University
Intelligent Score: 87.05In-state: $14,791
Out-of-state: $14,791
In-state: $7,935
Out-of-state: $7,935
SAT: 1040-1250
ACT: 21-29
$390
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
60
NHTI - Concord's Community College
Intelligent Score: 86.96In-state: $23,468
Out-of-state: $31,718
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
Resident: $215
Non-Resident: $490
Online
New England Commission of Higher Education
60-62
Casper College
Intelligent Score: 86.85In-state: $15,868
Out-of-state: $20,908
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
Resident: $147
Non-Resident: $357
Online
Higher Learning Commission
61
Colorado Northwestern Community College
Intelligent Score: 86.69In-state: $20,388
Out-of-state: $22,892
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: 470 or higher
ACT: 17 or higher
Resident: $263
Non-Resident: $401
Online
Higher Learning Commission
60
Spokane Falls Community College
Intelligent Score: 86In-state: $24,850
Out-of-state: $26,200
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: Not Required
ACT: Not Required
Resident: $119
Non-Resident: $306
Online
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
86-92
What You Should Know About This Degree
Early childhood education traditionally covers birth through about age 8. The key difference among early childhood educators are the ages they focus on. Preschool teachers focus on teaching basic skills such as identifying colors, numbers, letters, and shapes, while kindergarten and elementary school teachers focus more on math, reading, and writing. Elementary school teachers often also need a bachelor’s degree.
Only apply to schools approved by a DOE-recognized accrediting organization, such as the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) or Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). If your school isn’t accredited, you may be unable to access financial aid or transfer credits to another institution if needed.
If you’re interested in a job in early childhood education and want to work in a public school, you will need a state teaching license or ECE certificate.
What’s Next?
Here are some questions to ask when researching online associate in early childhood education programs:
- Am I eligible for this program? Most associate degree programs require a high school diploma or equivalency. Students often must complete some general education college courses in areas like math, English, and science. You might also need to maintain a certain GPA and be able to pass a criminal and character background check.
- How long does it take to complete this online degree? Associate degree programs are typically offered at community colleges and include 60 college credit hours. Students generally complete these requirements in two years by taking 12 to 18 credit hours per semester.
Once you’ve decided on a program and the courses you’re interested in pursuing, you should contact the admissions department at the school you want to attend and find out what their process and requirements are.
Also, research your financing options. Make sure to note what scholarships, financial aid, and tuition reimbursements you might qualify for and what the deadlines are for each.
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