20 Best Online Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education

Florida International University started out with just three classes and five employees in their online university, which has grown to over 40,000 online learners. In 2018, FIU celebrated its 20th year of offering online education to attending students. Today, this university offers over 100 fully online programs and have over 18 regional and national accreditations for their programs. 

Gaining expertise in early childhood education has never been easier with FIU’s online Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Development degree. With that said, this program does not lead to automatic teacher certification, and you should check with your specific state licensing board to ensure that the content of this degree is adequate to fulfill state teaching license requirements. 

Besides the standard foundational courses accompanying a Bachelor of Science degree, students of this program are required to complete 30 credit hours of professional education courses in the areas of teaching foundations, teaching methods, curriculum, and early childhood education. The curriculum is taught and lead by leaders and active researchers in early childhood education, which means you will be taught some of the most cutting edge educational content. 

Home of the Wildcats, Kansas State University, is located in Manhattan, Kansas. The school has been offering online education since the mid-1990s when learners were sent VHS tapes and assignments. The school has evolved with the changes in technology moving from VHS to CDs and DVDs, to portal based e-learning platforms. One thing we are pretty sure of is if KSU was able to evolve through these technology changes, they are likely to be around in the future. 

The online Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education offered through KSU almost identical to the one you would receive their campus in Manhattan. You’ll learn the same content and complete field experiences in a nearby school while being observed and evaluated through video recordings. Students that successfully complete this degree are able to sit for licensure in Kansas for early childhood education. If your from another state, you will be able to transfer your teaching license, although you may be required to fulfill additional state requirements. 

KSU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the regional accrediting agency, along with the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. The work you complete at KSU will be recognized for quality wherever you may go or move to. 

If you’re looking to be taught by award-winning, knowledgeable faculty, you might want to check out what Ball State University has to offer. Many of the same faculty that teach Ball State on-campus courses also teach their online courses.

This university has a long history of providing quality education dating back to its opening in 1918. Whether you attend a class on campus at their Muncie, Indiana location or online BSU allows you to learn while offering flexibility for your busy schedule!

The Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education offered through BSU is a non-licensure degree. The degree is designed specifically for childcare professionals who have already earned a degree in early childhood education. This degree requires that students take at least 48 credit hours of early childhood education courses. The classes are semester-based and allow up to 70 credit hours of transfer of the 120 credit hours required for this degree. 

If you are living in Indiana and are currently working in or for a childcare program, you may qualify for a T.E.A.C.H. scholarship that can cover 3/4ths of the estimated tuition and textbook. Ball State University does require that applicants to this program already have an associate’s degree in early childhood education and a 2.5 or higher GPA of transferable credits.

Mississippi State University began as a university that specialized in engineering and agriculture but has grown into a school known for providing excellent education across a wide variety of subjects. The Bulldogs, as Mississippi State University students are known due to it being the school’s mascot, are fiercely proud of their university’s sports teams.

MSU is part of the Southeastern Conference’s (SEC) western division of the NCAA Division I athletics. In fact, they were one of the founders of SEC in the early 1900’s. 

MSU offers a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in which students can choose to specialize in either early childhood or middle school. These programs have two start dates, the spring and fall semesters. Many of the courses are taught by the same faculty that teaches at the brick-and-mortar university, and you will gain experience with real-life teaching as part of the degree requirements. 

Individuals in the state of Georgia may want to consider another program if they are looking for teaching licensure in that state as the program is unable to place students in their field experiences. But for those not in Georgia, upon graduation, you will receive the same diploma that MSU confers to its on-campus students and be able to apply for teaching licensure. 

The University of Alabama is one of the most respected public universities in the nation, so the degree that you here will be well respected. In the southwest, the UA was one of the first research university established in this part of the country. In 2020, U.S. News & World Report ranked the University of Alabama as the 72nd best public university in the nation; that’s out of more than 1,500 public universities!

If you’re looking to attend a school with their own child development research center, then the University of Alabama is for you! The Bachelor of Science in Human Environmental Sciences with a concentration in Early Childhood Education is the perfect degree for anyone looking to teach children and parents to solve life problems.

Applications for this program are accepted year-round, and the program is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). 

If you happen to be already working in a Head Start organization, then the Child Development Practitioner concentration may be a better fit for you. Both of these concentrations are not a teacher certificate program geared at preparing students for licensure post-graduation. 

West Virginia University has produced an impressive 25 Rhodes Scholars, proof that the education from this university is top-notch. This is a space-grant university meaning it is one of only a few schools in the nation that researches outer space-related topics. Pretty impressive, right? Exploring must be in the blood of WVU as their mascot is the Mountaineer. 

You have the choice of taking two curriculum pathways when you pursue a Bachelor of Science in Child Development and Family Studies at WVU. The first pathway is birth through pre-kindergarten, in which you will learn to create environments for young ones conducive to optimal learning.

This option also requires spending a lot of time with young children through extensive field experiences. The second option is the family and youth pathway, which you’ll spend your time learning about adolescents and family dynamics. 

First-time freshmen looking for admission to this program at this university will have to have a high school minimum GPA of 2.0 for West Virginia residents and 2.5 non-West Virginia residents. ACT or SAT scores are also an admission requirement.    

Students that attend this university are sometimes referred to as “rockets,” due to Rocky the Rocket, the school’s mascot. Located in Toledo, Ohio, the University of Toledo has over 300 student organizations and houses a vibrant and unique university culture. If you go to the campus, you will see a lot of midnight blue and gold, the official colors of the school. 

What important in a teaching degree? The knowledge is undoubtedly essential, but being able to implement the knowledge and pass state licensing exams is equally important. Students who finish UT’s Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Education well prepared for state licensing exams, demonstrated by their pass rates, and at finding employment after graduation. 

There are many classes to choose from when pursuing this degree and some flexibility in directing your education to what you find most interesting. Examples of courses available at this university include: 

• Effective Teaching Practices, Pre-K To 3rd Grade
• Child Behavior And Development
• Art Education for the Pre-Primary and Primary Child
• Educating Young Talented And Gifted Children

Northern Arizona University offers the lowest tuition in the state of Arizona, but don’t let the low price fool you into thinking you’ll be receiving a lower quality education as this university is regionally and nationally accredited. The NAU campus is located in beautiful Flagstaff, Arizona, where over 20,000 students attend classes. This is an NCAA Division I school whose mascot is Louie the Lumberjack. 

The Bachelor of Applied Science with a concentration in Early Childhood is explicitly designed for those individuals who already have an associate’s degree. This degree does not lead directly to state licensure as a teacher but may help graduates land a job in a non-profit or state organization that is looking for individuals with knowledge and expertise in early childhood. 

To be admitted into this program, you must have already completed an associate’s degree from an accredited university. At least 30 credit hours must be taken through NAU to be eligible to receive their degree. The university also requires that its students maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA during their studies. 

This school can trace its roots all the way back to 1860’s Russia to the Mennonite Brethren Church, who ultimately ended up creating what would become Fresno Pacific University. The university’s mission is to develop its students into leaders who serve through Christian higher education.

The school is regionally accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission and their school of education by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). 

Students who decide to pursue the Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Development at Fresno Pacific University will be placed in a small cohort of one to two dozen students that will meet one night per week either in person or online. The program is designed to help the student make sense of the growth and development of young children as well as how to handle children with exceptional abilities and those with special needs. 

For admission to this program, you will need to submit the school’s application form along with a $40 application fee. The program requires that you have earned at least an associate’s degree or 60 transferable college credits while maintaining at least a 2.4 GPA. If you can attend an information meeting that the school periodically holds, the university will waive the application fee. 

Liberty University is a Christian liberal arts educational institute that houses more than 16 colleges with more than a hundred thousand students. The university also offers more than 600 programs, 2/3rds of which are available through an online platform.

Liberty University is tried, and true experts in providing online education and have continued to improve the process since launching their first distance education program in the 1980s. 

You’ll gain a solid foundation in instructing young individuals and understanding the natural developmental stages of children through Liberty University’s Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education program. Each of the courses lasts eight weeks, with an average completion time of this degree being 3.5 years. The program is regionally accredited and also accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). 

Bestcolleges.com ranked this degree in their the top 5 of the Best Online Bachelor’s in Education. If you’re already in another degree program or at another school, don’t worry because LU allows you to transfer up to 75% of credit hours of the total 120 credit hours required for this degree.

Residing in a state known for its great lakes, Central Michigan University is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. If you are a music lover, you may have heard songs from the White Pine music label, which was created by this university. But the university is known for more than its music and quality education.

In 2018, the Central Michigan University’s women’s basketball team made it to the sweet sixteen NCAA Division I tournament. 

The Bachelor of Applied Arts with a concentration in Early Childhood Development and Learning was created by CMU to meet state teaching licensing requirements and the training standards of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). This degree program requires that you also select a minor. You can choose from these minors when enrolling: 

• Coaching
• Geography
• Political Science
• Psychology

If high school were not some of your most academically productive years and you have a GPA to show for it then you may still have a good chance of being accepted into this program. If you have between a 1.5 to 1.9 high school GPA, this university will consider granting you conditional admission with the submission of their resume and typed personal statement. 

Producing stars such as Brett Farve and Jimmy Buffett, the University of Southern Mississippi has star power. Southern Miss was once called the Mississippi State Teachers College before eventually changing the name to its current version.

However, Southern Miss still has an excellent reputation for turning out great teachers. This is one reason you may want to attend this university for your undergraduate degree if wishing to pursue an education career. 

Southern Miss offers a fully online BS in Child and Family Sciences with an emphasis in Child Development. The degree was created to prepare students in the program to become licensed teachers and competent education professionals. Don’t fret about paying non-resident tuition fees as all the students taking classes online pay the same tuition rates. 

When applying for admission to this program, pay particular attention to the scholarship opportunities, as Southern Miss has many scholarships available for their online students. Students wishing to transfer to this university from another should have at least a 2.0 GPA in at least 30 credit hours of coursework. 

Located at the base of St. Louis Heights in Honolulu, Hawaii, Chaminade University is a private Catholic university offering Bachelor’s degrees in more than two dozen fields of study. Chaminade is the only Catholic university located in Hawaii and is one of only three Society of Mary, often called Marianist universities in the United States. Chaminade aims to develop the mind, body, and spirit of its students during their educational experience. 

Chaminade offers both an Associate Degree and a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education to its students. The program is designed to meet licensing requirements for teaching as well as meeting the standards of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Examples of classes that are required to obtain this degree include: 

• Educational Technology
• Children’s’ Literature
• Developmentally Appropriate Practice I
• Developmentally Appropriate Practice II
• Language Arts: Curriculum & Methods
• Math Curriculum & Methods
• Curriculum Foundations
• Leadership & Guidance in Ed

There are also two seminar requirements and two classes of fieldwork experience that must be taken before receiving your diploma. For admission into this program, simply fill out the school’s admission form and submit your high school transcripts along with any college transcripts you may have. 

Created by Pat Robertson, a media mogul and originally named the Christian Broadcasting Network University, Regent University now has eight academic schools that offer more than 70 courses of study. In 2015, U.S. News & World Report ranked Regent University as having the 11th best online undergraduate education in the United States. 

The Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education offered by Regent University is not aimed at preparing its students for licensure as a teacher. Courses are offered in eight-week sessions. The school claims that it’s ranked as the third best college for education in the state of Virginia, but this site does not indicate who performed the ranking. This program is designed to give the learner a comprehensive understanding of childhood education combined with business operations. This combination may be perfect for those looking to open a childcare center, but want to avoid the actual teaching of the youngsters. 

Admission is made simple and streamlined by only requiring the submission of unofficial transcripts from colleges you have attended in the past. You’ll also be required to fill out the school’s admissions application packet and pay a $50 non-refundable application fee. 

Eastern Kentucky University has a tradition repeated each year of the new freshman walking with the president of the school from one side of the campus to the other. This is just one of the many traditions that create the unique culture of EKU. The campus is located in Richmond, Kentucky, and can date its inception back to 1874. If you decide to visit the campus, remember to wear maroon and white as these are the university’s official colors.

EKU may be an ideal place for active-duty military members to get their Bachelor’s in Child and Family Studies as these students get a reduced tuition rate of only $250 per credit hour compared to the $409 per credit hour for civilians. The program is designed around accelerated eight-week terms. The university is dedicated to your success, which is demonstrated by the school offering free tutoring and career service assistance. 

This program follows standards set by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and is a regionally accredited university. For full admission as a freshman, the university looks for individuals who have a 2.5 high school GPA with either a 20 composite ACT or 950 SAT. Transfer students must have maintained at least a 2.0 GPA and have completed at least 24 hours of college credits. 

The University of Washington is often referred to as a ‘public Ivy,’ meaning you can get an ivy league education for public university tuition. In 2019, U.S. News & World Report ranked UW as the 10th best global university in the world. The University of Washington has an extensive research program that consistently makes new discoveries and innovations. 

UW offers a Bachelor of Arts in Early Care and Education to online students and a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood and Family Studies to its on-campus students. The online early care and education program is a degree completion program designed for students that have at least 70 credit hours of completed coursework. The courses are taught by some of the same professors that teach their brick and mortar degrees along with professions with real-world experience. 

To be eligible for admission into this program, students must have completed at least 70 credit hours of college while maintaining at least a 2.5 or higher GPA. You’ll have to submit your resume, personal statement, application fee, and official college transcripts to complete the admissions packet.

A vanguard is defined as leaders in a movement, an appropriate name for Vanguard University, which was the first four-year university in Orange County, California. Located in Costa Mesa, California, the university educates around 2,500 students each year. In 2019, US News and World Reports ranked this university as the 43rd best western regional college. 

Vanguard University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood, composed of 120 credit hours. Close to half of the total credits are formed by classes surrounding child education, while the rest is made up of general education and elective courses. There are special education emphasis courses available for those interested in learning more about this subject. If you’re not looking to get an entire Bachelor’s degree with this subject, the university does offer a certificate in early childhood. 

The school has a record of accepting 68% of the applicants that apply, which means that your odds of getting in are pretty good! The specific information regarding admission criteria for incoming freshmen and transfer students were not available on the website. 

South Dakota State University is the state’s largest and oldest continually running university in the state, founded in 1881. The Jackrabbit is the school mascot, and its color is blue and yellow. If the Jackrabbits sound familiar, you may have seen them in NCAA Division I tournaments in which they regularly appear. The school has an excellent political science program, with many of its graduates currently residing in the senate. 

If the idea of learning from a variety of schools while taking a diversity of classes appeals to you, then the Bachelor of Science in Early Education and Care from SDKU may be perfect for you. The university offers this program through the Great Plains Idea Partnership, which is a group of 20 public universities that collaborate to offer a degree with multiple perspectives. 

Before you can take Idea partnership courses, you must have completed 30 credit hours of coursework, one human development course, and maintained at least a 2.5 or higher GPA. Those looking to become licensed as a teacher my find their ideal degree in this program as the courses are designed to meet licensing requirements. 

California Baptist University Bachelor in Early Childhood Studies focuses on teaching both disabled and non-disabled children up to the age of 8 years old. This program recognizes this time of a child’s life as a time of accelerated neurological and behavioral growth and development. It prepares its graduates to not only teach but to teach in a way which is conducive to children’s developmental needs at this time in their life. 

To be accepted into the program, applicants must have an average GPA of 2.0 and a high-school diploma or 24 hours of transferable credits. In total, the program is 48 credits, and the average time to complete the program is 16 months. 

After completing the Bachelor’s degree, graduates can apply for either Early Childhood Education Specialist credentials who wish to focus on pre-k or children with disabilities or the credential program for teaching K-12. Teaching opportunities range from high-school and elementary school teachers, to librarians and museum workers.

Families who are continually relocating or traveling for work–such as those in the military–are a special population. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Early Childhood Education in a Mobile Society program which specifically prepares you to provide education services for these types of populations. This school is regarded as a top public university and focuses on collaboration and thinking outside the box.

While Early Childhood Education in a Mobile Society program adheres to the standards set by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and enables you to teach children up to eight years of age in various programs, it will not lead to teacher licensure. In total, the program is 120 credit hours. 

The admissions process includes a criminal background check, a GPA-point average of 2.5, as well as 30 credit hours from an accredited university or college. The courses in this online program are taught by the same professors who teach on campus, which enables you to be taught by their top-of-the-line professors.