Best Online Early Childhood Education Programs of 2025

A career in early childhood education can be gratifying, from helping children learn how to read their first book to teaching them how to write their name.

If this is something that interests you, enrolling in an early childhood education program can help you become a early childhood educator and equip you with the fundamental skills to help children growth and develop.

In this guide, we rank the best online early childhood education programs based on factors like graduation rate and program cost.

When evaluating an online early childhood education program, consider its cost, program length, and accreditation.

You should also take time to think about the specific skills you want learn from a program so you can evaluate its core courses and electives.

During the 2019-2020 academic year, the average tuition and fees for an online bachelor’s degree in education was just under $9,600. However, if you factor in grants and scholarships, the average net price was just over $5,300.

There are several options you can explore to help lower the cost of your early childhood education degree. For instance, fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Also contact your schools financial aid office to find out if you qualify for other loans, grants, work-study programs, and scholarships.

Also, note that online students in early childhood education may qualify for special scholarships offered by organizations like the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the National Education Association.

A degree in early childhood education typically requires 120 credits and four years to finish, if you’re a full-time student. As a art-time student, it may take an additional year or more for you to graduate, depending on how many classes you sign up for per semester.

If you want to fast-track your degree, there are several steps you can take, such as taking summer courses, transferring credits, and earning credit for work and life experience.

You can also consider enrolling in an accelerated education program. An accelerated program lets you finish your degree faster by offering shorter courses or dividing the academic year into more than two semesters, depending on the school.

Make sure to choose an online early childhood education program from a school that holds institutional accreditation, particularly regional accreditation, which is known for having more rigorous quality standards.

Additionally, many early childhood education programs hold programmatic accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). This agency requires programs to meet standards in areas like teaching approaches, staff qualifications, and relationships with children’s families.

An early childhood education degree can prepare you for several positions in the education field, such as a childcare worker and elementary school teacher.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects around 106,500 openings for kindergarten and elementary school teachers each year between 2023 and 2033, despite a decline in employment.

Similarly, the BLS projects 162,500 yearly openings for childcare workers through 2033. Preschool teachers have the highest demand in the field, with a 4% projected job growth between 2023 and 2033.

You typically need a state license for teaching positions, and an early childhood education degree can help prepare you for the licensing process. However, while many online teaching programs can help you earn a license, you might still need in-person student teaching experience to qualify.

An online early childhood education degree can be worthwhile if you’re interested in working with young children.

With this degree, you can typically qualify for teaching roles at preschools and elementary schools or as a childcare worker. And while entry-level positions in early childhood education may not offer high salaries, many find it a rewarding career with a consistent employment demand.

Online education programs are also usually highly recommended by students and graduates, according to our research.

Our 2024 Online Education Trends Reports found that 93% of students and graduates thought earning an online degree has had or will have a positive return on investment. Additionally, all of the psychology, education, and social sciences online students and program graduates we surveyed said they would recommend online education to others.

A bachelor’s in early childhood education can help you land entry-level roles like teacher and childcare worker. But if you’re looking for career advancement and increased earning potential, you might want to get a master’s degree in education.

There are different types of master’s degrees in education available, including a master of education (M.Ed.), a master’s in early childhood education, and a master’s in elementary education. These programs take 1-3 years to complete, depending on whether you enroll part time or full time.

Furthermore, if you’re interested in advanced research and academic leadership, you might consider earning a doctor of education (Ed.D.), which takes around three years to complete on average.