Best Online Early Childhood Education Programs of 2025

A career in early childhood education can be highly rewarding, from helping a child learn how to read to teaching them how to write their name.

Early childhood education programs can equip you with the fundamental skills to support the growth and development of children in a flexible learning environment and help you succeed as an early childhood educator.

Many schools offer flexible online options to earn your degree in early childhood education. We ranked the best online early childhood education programs based on factors like selectivity, graduation rate, retention, and program cost.

There are several factors to consider when evaluating an online early childhood education program, including cost, program length, and accreditation. Take time to think about what you want in a program before you apply.

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

There are several options you can explore to help lower the cost of an early childhood education degree, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), loans, grants, work-study programs, and scholarships.

Online students in early childhood education can access 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 for full-time students to finish.

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

When considering an online early childhood education program, make sure it has 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 from 2023-2033. Preschool teachers look to have the highest demand in the field, with a 4% projected job growth between 2023 and 2033.

A state license is typically required for teaching positions, and an early childhood education degree can help prepare you for the licensing process. While many online teaching programs help you earn a license, in-person student teaching is usually necessary for licensure.

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

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

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

Our 2024 BestColleges survey found that 93% of students and program graduates said they thought earning an online degree has had or will have a positive return on investment.

Additionally, 100% of psychology, education, and social sciences online students and program graduates said they would recommend online education to others.

A bachelor’s in early childhood education can lead to 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.