If you dig into the history of American universities, you’ll discover many began as “normal schools” (i.e. teachers’ schools) in the 1800s. Wherever the population went, a school to train teachers soon followed. Some eventually became four-year universities over the succeeding decades when the needs of the population expanded, but training teachers remains a critical component of, well, civilized society. That’s why College Rank made a list of the school which offer aspiring educators the best online Master’s in Early Childhood Education.
Some of the most important instruction students receive occurs early in their education, making practitioners of early childhood education particularly important. A Master’s in the field helps established teachers prepare for more senior or specialized roles, and those simply interested in an education career a broad knowledge base of today’s important touch points: diversity, child development, constructivism, and more.
Related (Campus):
- Top Educational Counseling MS Degrees
- Top Early Childhood Education Graduate Programs
- Best Graduate Programs for an Education Degree
- Top Educational Leadership Graduate Programs
- Best Instructional Technology Master’s Degrees
- Top MS in Curriculum Instruction Programs
- Best Graduate Programs for School Administration
- Best Schools for Educational Technology Master’s Programs
Related (Online):
What are the Best Early Childhood Education Degrees?
We know that you have educational goals that you’re itching to pursue, but you may not know where to start. The editors of College Rank utilize a unique ranking methodology based on the following three aspects:
40% Potential Salary After Graduation: Average mid-career salary of school alumni
30% Institutional Accreditation: Regional and national accreditation for the 2019-2020 school year
30% Overall Degree Affordability: Average cost of undergraduate and graduate tuition per school
At College Rank, we strive to do our best to guide you and your family toward a fruitful academic career. The pursuit of knowledge is a noble one, and we want to help you reach your goals. Please feel free to visit our dedicated methodology page for a step-by-step breakdown. For questions, comments, badge downloads, or data corrections, please feel free to reach out to us at editor@www.collegerank.net.
Clemson University

Geared toward working with PK-12 instructors, Clemson’s Master of Education in Teaching and Learning doesn’t mess around. People interested in the program need to work in “formal educational settings” and have consistent access to a classroom of students because several of the courses in the curriculum have a field component.
Applicants also need transcripts, GRE or GMAT scores, a résumé, three letters of recommendation, and a personal statement.
The 30-hour program offers three specializations: STEAM (using science, tech, engineering, arts, and mathematics to solve real-world problem scenarios), experiential learning (which supports kids “in making connections between prior knowledge, new learning explorations, and social constructs”), and instructional coaching (using evidence-based practices to assist teachers in improving student learning).
Core coursework accounts for 18 credit hours, with specialization courses providing the remaining 12 credits. Students complete the degree in 18 months, doing one course at a time in seven-and-a-half-week increments (five in the summer). All coursework is completed through Canvas, a popular online learning platform.
At $19,508, Clemson is pricier than the average of our list, but it also took the No. 1 spot in U.S. News and World Report’s Best Online Graduate Education Programs.
Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw, Georgia’s namesake University offers a 36-hour Master of Education in early childhood education program that takes 13 months to complete. Designed around the schedule of public schools, it begins and ends in the summer months, with students taking three courses in each of the four semesters.
Courses include Educational Equity in Early Childhood and Elementary Settings, Pedagogy for 21st Century P-5 Classrooms, and Teaching Number, Operations, and Algebraic Thinking.
Beyond a Master’s, students can also earn additional endorsements or graduate certificates in reading, ESOL, gifted studies, online teaching, teacher leadership, and special education, or take a step toward Tier 1 leadership certification.
Getting into the program requires transcripts, a Georgia teaching certificate, two letters of recommendation, a personal profile, a personal statement, and a letter of commitment that basically acknowledges you understand how the program works. Plan to spend $17,618, a little under average for the 20 best online Master’s in early childhood education.
University of North Dakota

The University of North Dakota builds its Master of Science in early childhood education on the belief that kids are born learners, and teachers must be “open-minded observers” who develop their curriculum with the kids in mind.
The program offers thesis (30 credits) and non-thesis (32 credits) options, with the non-thesis one having a scholarly project or independent study. Both require a two-credit practicum (requiring 60 hours in an early-childhood setting).
Among the required courses are: Social Emotional Learning & Guidance, Foundations of Reading Instruction, and Play in Development and Early Childhood Education.
One important note about UND: Its coursework is synchronous, so students in “virtual” classrooms watch lectures and ask questions in real-time. Completing it will take two years of part-time study (two courses per semester) or 18 months full-time.
While UND doesn’t require a teaching certificate for admission, it does require an undergraduate degree (with a 2.75 GPA or better) in early childhood education, child development, elementary education, or something similar. Applicants will also need transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement answering three essay prompts. It costs $15,374 per academic year.
Northwestern College

It’s not easy being Iowa’s Northwestern College when one state overlies Northwestern University. If any NC students need to vent, their peers at DePauw University in Indiana can commiserate about constantly being mistaken for DePaul.
By the way, Northwestern University doesn’t even offer a program like the one at Northwestern College, which costs a lot less than its more famous neighbor, $24,269. Its 33-credit Master of Education in Early Childhood is geared toward pre-kindergarten to third grade, and it takes two years to complete. Courses last eight weeks, and Master’s students take two of them per semester.
The curriculum is divided into 18 credits of core coursework (such as Teaching and Learning with Technology) and 15 credits of early childhood classes (Advanced Child Development, Strategies for Early Literacy Development, etc.). Included in the core coursework is a three-credit capstone research project. Students who want to go further can opt for the Master of Education in Early Childhood and Birth through Grade Three inclusive setting endorsement for some extra coursework.
Applicants will need a valid teaching license, a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA or better, and transcripts, but no letters of reference or personal statements.
Northern Arizona University

Early childhood education is a growing field of study at Northern Arizona University, which offers three—and soon four—areas of emphasis within its Master of Education in childhood education degree: early childhood teacher, early childhood leadership, and early childhood national board preparation (which has additional requirements).
Joining them in the fall of 2020 is early childhood multiage, which will round out NAU’s “technologically advanced, culturally responsive, and student-focused” curriculum. Add “fairly cheap” to that, as it costs $14,882, more than $3,000 below average.
The 30-31 unit program requires 12-15 credits of core classes (such as Early Childhood Curriculum and Development of Children’s Logical Concepts), then 16-18 units of specialization work. Specialization courses include Parental Involvement in Education (for early childhood teachers), Leadership Skills (for leadership), and Philosophy of Education (board prep, which also includes a host of portfolio assessments). The total credits vary by concentration, with early childhood teacher and early childhood leadership requiring 18 and board prep 16.
To get into NAU’s Master’s program, applicants need an undergraduate degree with a 3.0 GPA, transcripts, a fingerprint clearance card from the state of Arizona, and a teaching certificate.
University of Toledo

The teacher is the decision-maker. Learning is relationship-based. Active partnerships with families are crucial. Learning should be individualized to the needs of every child. These are the four principles on which the University of Toledo bases its Master of Education in Early childhood education degree.
Those principles are reflected in the core coursework, which pulls one course each from four foundation areas (for 12 credit hours): psychological, research, social, and curriculum. Among the recommended courses in those areas are pre-K/Primary Curriculum, Educational Testing and Grading, Basic Educational Psychology, and Multicultural Non-Sexed Education.
Core studies are followed by 18 hours of specialty coursework approved by an advisor, then finishes with a thesis or research project, adding up to 30 credit hours.
The University of Toledo’s admission requirements are pretty de rigueur: a bachelor’s degree with a 2.7 GPA or better, a statement of purpose, and three letters of recommendation. Not de rigueur: the below-average price of $16,588.
Ball State University

Ball State University in Muncie, IN, began in 1918 as the Indiana State Normal School Eastern Division, and its Master of Arts in elementary education leans on the school’s original mission. It offers three concentrations: early childhood education, reading/literacy instruction, and elementary education.
The early childhood education specialization is a 30-credit non-licensure program focusing on the needs of kids from birth to age 8. The curriculum features a comprehensive array of 10 courses touching all the important stuff, like School, Family, and Community Partnerships, Educational Programs for Young Children, Education in a Diverse Society, Child Development, and more.
As Ball State’s website notes, the coursework exceeds the national accreditation requirements for early childhood administrators (nine credits or a minimum of 144 clock hours in administration, management, and leadership of early childhood education).
Ball State also makes it easy. Prospective students need only an undergraduate degree with a minimum 2.75 GPA and transcripts, along with $13,642 per academic year, which is on the cheaper end of the 20 best online Master’s in early childhood education.
Portland State University

Portland State University’s Master’s program is specific. It’s not just the lengthy name (Master of Arts/Science in Early Childhood: Inclusive Education and Curriculum & instruction) but also the three concentrations within that unwieldy degree title. There’s constructivism in early childhood, infant/toddler mental health, and early childhood special education, all zooming in further in the world of early childhood education.
Students opt for a Master of Arts or Science, the difference being the MS doesn’t require foreign language competency. Both require 45 credits, will take two to three years to complete, and cost $13,758. The curriculum is divided among core (18 credits), specialization (18), and electives (nine).
The core coursework includes stuff like Foundations in Early Childhood and Inclusive Education, but also a two-course action research project that accounts for six credits. Students write their proposal in the first course and then implement it in the second.
People interested in Portland State will find the usual admissions requirements: an undergrad degree witha 3.0 GPA, a statement of purpose, résumé, two references, and unofficial transcripts. Because working with kids and families is “highly valued,” PSU also looks for volunteer or field-work experience with early childhood or similar programs.
West Chester University

While some schools restrict their programs to working teachers and others allow for people interested in education, Pennsylvania’s West Chester University splits the difference with its Master of Education in early childhood education. It offers two tracks: one for accomplished teachers (which requires a teaching certificate), and one for program administrators (which requires one year of professional experience in an early-childhood setting).
Both require 33 credits, start in the spring, and will set you back $19,091 per academic year. They also share the same core curriculum of eight courses—covering topics like Play as a Learning Medium and Trends and Issues in ECE—and finish with a three-credit capstone course where they conduct “teacher as researcher” activities in early childhood education contexts.
Accomplished teachers select two courses from one of four sections: special education, teaching and learning, literacy, and educational technology. Program administrators get no choices, just a pair of classes: Leadership in ECE and Small Business Management in ECE.
In addition to the program-specific prerequisites mentioned earlier, applicants will need a bachelor’s with a minimum 2.8 GPA, transcripts, two professional recommendations, and a statement of professional goals.
Liberty University

A few notes before digging into Liberty University’s Master of Education in curriculum and instruction–early childhood education degree. First, it puts the “early” in “early childhood education” as it explores “methods for organizing and operating kindergartens, nursery schools, daycares, and playgroups.”
Second, because the curriculum provides steps to pursue add-on or advanced licensure, students need to have a teacher’s license.
Third, as a Christian university founded by Jerry Falwell, Liberty offers “biblically based educational principles and values” that assess the spiritual needs of children.
Phew. Liberty’s is a 36-hour program that takes about a year and a half to complete. It begins with 15 hours of core courses (Foundations of Education, Curriculum Evaluation, etc.), proceeds to a 15-hour early childhood education cognate (Advanced Child Development, Elementary Curriculum & Methods, and more), and concludes with six hours of professional courses, including a practicum capstone.
Admission lies on the gentler end of the spectrum, with a bachelor’s (3.0 GPA or better) and transcripts being all that’s required. Well, and $27,432.
Kansas State University

Kansas State University wants to meet students halfway. While its Master of Science in Early Childhood Education requires students to have a teaching license, it also allows them to complete prerequisite courses to earn it concurrently with their degree. Bonus: those who go that route also earn eligibility for licensure in early childhood (birth through kindergarten) in Kansas.
Everyone else will find a 30-credit program split between 15 hours of required courses and 15 hours selected from a sizeable list of “recommended courses.” That includes everything from lecture-based classes like Play Facilitation and Assessment of Young Children, along with practicums (childhood education, parent education, and human development research), a research project in family services and human services, or a thesis.
At $18,002, K State is a bull’s-eye for the average cost of the 20 best online Master’s in early childhood education. Also average? The requirements, which include a bachelor’s degree (3.0 GPA minimum), statement of objectives, three professional references, transcripts, and early childhood education licensure.
Northwestern State University

Pop quiz: How do you pronounce Natchitoches, the hometown of Northwestern State University of Louisiana? “Natch-eh-doe-chess”? “Naw-cha-toosh”? “Nah-codish”? “Doesn’t matter, I’m a distance learner”? While we’ll accept that last one, the correct answer is “nah-codish.”
The city is also home to the only Master of Education in early childhood education in the entire state, thanks to NSU. It’s also the cheapest option on our list, $10,448. The curriculum, built around 12 courses, addresses standards created by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. That means it helps students build their skills for working with kids up to age 8.
The courses rotate by season and year, with a pair of courses only available every other year. They cover a broad swath of topics, such as Curriculum Development for School Improvement, Advanced Child Development, Positive Relationships with Children, Families, and Communities, and others. It all culminates in a research project about school improvement or a thesis.
Northwestern State’s program is one that caters to working instructors, so prospective students need to have their teacher’s license. They also need transcripts and two letters of recommendation.
University of Dayton

The University of Dayton’s Master of Science in Education Early Childhood Leadership and Advocacy program (that’s a mouthful) doesn’t have stringent admission requirements: transcripts, three letters of recommendation, a personal statement or résumé, and GRE/GMAT scores if your undergrad GPA fell below 2.75. But the coursework is geared to teachers who have been in the trenches.
Students choose a focus in early childhood leadership or early childhood advocacy, and the program offers a thesis or research project option. It begins with nine hours of core courses and then proceeds to 12 hours of “graduate leadership” core requirements (Educational Leadership, Leadership in Diverse Communities, an internship practicum).
From there, the specialization coursework begins. People on the leadership track take a couple of laboratory courses along with others looking at regulations, law, finances, marketing, and more. The advocacy track also has a couple of laboratories, as well as other courses about transdisciplinary early childhood education and advocacy.
Prospective students unsure about online learning can try an online training course for ten hours over three weeks, which counts toward workshop credit hours. Sound good? Then line up your financial aid now: The University of Dayton costs $34,718, the most expensive program on our list.
Stephen F. Austin State University

Northwestern College of Louisiana (No. 12 above) lies in Natchitoches, and Stephen F. Austin State University is in Nacogdoches, TX. They’re the two cheapest options in our top 20, with SFA costing $11,759. The main difference? Nacogdoches is spelled the same way it’s pronounced, so +1, SFA.
The university’s Master of Education in early childhood education program—what it calls “early childhood specialist”—instructs students in developing “specialized competency in organizing programs for young children and families.”
The 36-credit program has a thesis option (which reduces coursework by six credits) and is offered entirely online. While prospective students will need a minimum of six undergraduate credit hours in early childhood courses for admission, SFA has relaxed standards otherwise—just a bachelor’s degree with a 2.75 GPA.
Students who enter the program may have the opportunity to work with the university’s Early Childhood Lab, a child-care facility open to the public for kids ages two months to pre-kindergarten. The facility takes a constructivist approach to child care, which will be familiar to any student pursuing a Master’s in early childhood education.
Biola University

Biola University in Southern California instructs students to “think biblically about everything,” which, in the case of its Master of Arts in Teaching, entails preparing them “to teach with excellence and model the love of Christ to your students and colleagues.”
Among the 15 credits of core coursework are the classes Introduction to Spiritual Formation for the Educator and Exposition of New Testament Segments or Themes. Also required is a capstone project that may take up to three terms to complete. In it, students study student-, classroom-, and school-based problems, then prepare action plans to study the effectiveness of interventions.
The Master of Arts in Teaching degree offers six concentrations, with early childhood requiring 15-course credits, most of them involving fieldwork. Coursework covers topics like child development, classroom management, and observing and assessing kids. It ends with a capstone that sends students to complete 75 hours of fieldwork.
For admission into Biola’s program, applicants need an undergraduate degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA, GRE scores, and proof of eligibility to complete fieldwork. They’ll also need $32,729, the second most expensive program among the 20 best online Master’s in early childhood education.
National Louis University

When it comes to early childhood education, it hardly gets more OG than National Louis University in Chicago. Founder Elizabeth Harrison had a shockingly progressive idea in 1886: to create a college to train women as kindergarten teachers. She knew early childhood education was critical, and she believed teaching required a college degree. In 1886, this was a monocle-shattering assertion.
The university’s 34-hour Master of Education in early childhood administration directly follows Elizabeth Harrison’s mission, with a curriculum emphasizing development, curriculum, family systems, assessment, ethics, and diversity. The nine-hour core comprises classes on Human Development (Infancy and Childhood), the Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Early Childhood Education, and Inquiry and Assessment.
The light core course load serves as a prelude to 25 hours of program requirements, a suite of 11 classes that covers a wide swatch of topics, including finances, writing, grant writing, public relations, facilities management, staff management, curriculum, organizational theory, and more.
Getting into National Louis is pretty simple: transcripts, an admission essay, and three references. (An interview may be required too.) At $14,285, it’s on the cheaper end of the programs in our top 20.
University of Mississippi

The University of Mississippi—Ole Miss to its friends—has been around since 1848 and was the state’s only comprehensive university for a staggering 110 years. Its history in online learning is obviously a lot shorter, but U.S. News and World Report ranks it No. 34 in Best Online Graduate Education Programs.
Its Master of Education in early childhood education emphasizes instruction on the pre-K level; completion of the degree qualifies graduates for a pre-K license endorsement from Mississippi if they have a teacher’s license. To wit, the school offers two tracks: one that doesn’t require a teaching license and the other for working teachers who wanted an advanced license.
The core coursework boils down to one class: Educational Research I, for three hours, then 27 hours of specialization classes: Child Development: Pre-Birth to Age 8; Theoretical Foundations of Early Childhood; Social Contexts in Early Childhood; and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math among them. Because it’s a cohort program, all new students begin in the fall.
Ole Miss keeps admission requirements simple: an undergrad degree in education or a related field (with a 3.0 GPA), two references, and GRE or Praxis II tests. It costs $14,459 per academic year.
Jacksonville State University

Alabama’s Jacksonville State University is one of myriad universities that began in the 19th century as a “normal school” to train teachers. It stayed that way until 1957 when it became Jacksonville State College, but education remains close to its heart.
The university offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate education programs and inexpensively. Its Master of Science in education for early childhood education is the second cheapest in our top 20, $12,243.
The 33-hour degree is divided between core classes (Advanced 21st Century Teaching and Learning, Research in Education, etc.) and what it calls “teaching field requirements,” which aren’t all spent doing field work. While there is a practicum, the courses are about teaching, like Teaching Reading in ECE, Intervention in the Early Childhood Classroom, and Literacy Interventions in the Early Childhood Classroom.
Admission to Jacksonville State is a little more rigorous than some other programs on our list. Beyond the usual stuff like transcripts and three references, it also requires a valid professional educator certificate in early childhood education and a background check.
University of South Alabama

Called “South” in its home state, the University of South Alabama is a youngster in the world of academia—it began in 1963 after civic leaders in Mobile realized the area needed more higher-learning options.
People who need more childhood learning options should check out the school’s Master of Education in Early Childhood Education. The 30-hour program is designed for working teachers looking to advance, as the degree’s coursework qualifies them for Alabama’s Class A Professional Early Childhood Education (P-3) certificate.
The curriculum is structured around five areas: curriculum and teaching (15 hours), diversity (three hours), educational foundations (three hours), research and evaluation (three hours), and electives (six hours).
The curriculum and teaching module offers courses in instructional planning, organization, and reading practices; students then opt to select an additional class in either language, mathematics, or science to complete the 15 hours.
Because the degree is geared toward teachers, prospective students must have a valid bachelor’s-level Class B Professional Educator certificate in Alabama. They’ll also need transcripts, a 2.5 GPA or better, a personal statement, and the ability to pay $12,836 per academic year. People who can’t meet the GPA minimum can earn an exemption with good GRE or GMAT scores.
University of Northern Iowa

We’re pretty sure no other university in our top 20 started as an orphanage for children affected by the Civil War (which may be the saddest phrase on all of CollegeRank). As the orphans grew up, the building needed a new mission, so it became a teachers’ school.
The teaching mission continues, as the University of Northern Iowa claims to have the state’s No. 1 teacher-education program. Its Master of Arts in Education aims to help working teachers become leaders in the field of early childhood education via a 30- to 33-hour program. It offers two tracks: thesis (33 hours) or research (30), with the latter also requiring some testing at the end.
Both tracks share the same six-hour core: Educational Research and Foundations of Instructional Psychology, then segue into 19-21 hours of focus coursework in technology, diversity, literacy education, curriculum design, assessment, and more. The thesis or research project follows that. Students finish in six consecutive semesters.
UNI’s program is cohort based, with new programs beginning in the fall. Coursework is mostly synchronous via video conferencing on Monday evenings. Getting in requires transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and possibly an interview. It costs $16,453.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Master’s in ECE is a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education. This graduate program focuses on advanced teaching methodologies, child development, curriculum design, and educational leadership in the context of early childhood. Graduates receive training in educational practices and contribute to the field of early childhood education.
There are many benefits that make getting a master’s in ECE worth it. First, you get to work with children and help them get an early start in life. Next, you can enjoy job security because of the stable job growth and demand for the industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a 3% growth in jobs is expected through 2032 for preschool teachers.
It takes two years, on average, to get a master’s in early childhood education. Some online programs have shorter timelines for full-time students. These programs take between one and two years to complete. The length depends on other factors like the program structure, credit requirements, and your pace of study.
It depends on which career path you take, but the average pay, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, for early childhood educators and workers includes:
• Childcare workers: $28,520/year
• Kindergarten and elementary school teachers: $61,620/year
• Preschool and childcare center directors: $49,690/year
• Preschool teachers: $35,330/year
Kindergarten and early childhood teachers get paid the most in the field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this occupation pays an average of $61,620/year. Kindergarten teachers working in elementary schools make an average of $61,780/year. The highest 10% of workers in this occupation make over $101,310/year, on average.
A bachelor’s or master’s degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE) is best for students seeking work in the field. These programs cover child development, teaching strategies, and educational leadership specific to young children. Graduates receive training that allows them to create engaging and effective learning environments for preschool and early elementary school students. Your job prospects are more favorable with a graduate degree in ECE than with a bachelor’s degree.
While you can get a job as a preschool teacher with a bachelor’s degree, advancement and higher pay comes with graduate-level training. A master’s degree in ECE can help you move into leadership roles quicker. You can also increase your earning potential with an advanced degree.
While ECE coursework involves child development theories, teaching strategies, and classroom management, the hands-on nature of working with young children is rewarding. But it can also be challenging! Success depends on passion, patience, and a commitment to fostering early learning.