Best Affordable Online Early Childhood Education Programs of 2025

If you’re considering pursuing an online degree in early childhood education, affordability is probably top of mind. However, finding the best value goes beyond choosing the lowest tuition.

With this in mind, our ranking list features affordable online early childhood education programs that balance cost and educational quality.

We evaluate degree programs using our proprietary methodology, which considers tuition price, student outcomes, flexibility, accessibility, ease of admission, reputation, and student diversity. This approach can help you find a program that provides both affordability and long-term value.

The advertised sticker price of a degree program can be deceiving when comparing your options.

That’s because financial aid — like grants and scholarships — can drastically reduce the actual cost you’ll pay out of pocket for tuition. The table below highlights just how much financial aid can slash the cost of college.

Affordability also depends on the quality of the education you’ll receive and your potential return on investment (ROI).

Accredited institutions with experienced faculty, comprehensive curriculums, and student support programs can help you avoid retaking courses or losing credits when transferring to another school. Ultimately, this can save you both time and money.

A program that provides comprehensive preparation can also lead to better job prospects once you graduate and a higher earning potential. This improves your potential return on investment, which makes your degree more valuable in the long run.

According to our 2025 Online Education Trends Report:

The cost of an early childhood education degree depends on several factors, including which institution you attend and the format of the program (online or in person).

To give you an idea of what to expect, the table above highlights the average costs, as of 2020, based on data by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

Online programs typically cost less than in-person ones, even without financial aid. However, you can save even more by researching and applying for scholarships and grants. Fortunately, education majors qualify for several specialized ones, including the TEACH Grant.

Calculating the ROI of an early education degree starts with determining your total expected cost — including tuition, fees, books, supplies, and other educational expenses. Next, compare these expenses with the salary you expect to earn after graduation.

Education majors from the class of 2023 reported an average starting salary of $43,570, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). And about 86% of those graduates reported positive career outcomes.

Keep in mind that your salary also depends on things like your specialization and where you live. For instance, kindergarten and elementary school teachers report a median pay of $62,310 per year, according to May 2024 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). On the other hand, preschool teachers earn a median annual salary of closer to $37,120.

Here are several tips to help you save on your college degree:

Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to see if you qualify for federal student aid, such as the Pell Grant. Around 85% of full-time, first-year undergrads receive financial aid, so it’s definitely worth your time.

Research scholarships and grants, too. These offer money you don’t need to repay and can use to cover tuition and other expenses. Finally, reach out to your school’s financial aid office to learn about more opportunities you might not find on your own.

Early childhood education majors qualify for several teacher-specific scholarships and grants, including national programs like the TEACH Grant. In addition to national awards, consider applying for local scholarships offered in your state or community, which typically have less competition.

Starting at a community college is one of the best ways to save money on a bachelor’s degree. Consider this: Two-year public colleges cost under $120 per credit on average. On the other hand, four-year private colleges cost around $1,200, 10 times as much.

Many community colleges even offer two-year associate degree programs designed to help you easily transfer into a four-year school. By spending your first two years at a community college and then transferring, you’ll end up paying way less overall.

You typically need to earn at least 120 credits to earn a bachelor’s degree, but you can reduce that number by transferring credits or earning credits for life and work experience.

Be sure to research your transfer options and submit transcripts on time. Also, look into credit-by-exam options, such as College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests or placement exams. This can help you graduate faster and spend less money overall.

If you already hold a bachelor’s degree, you may qualify for special teacher credentialing or residency programs that waive tuition for participants.

For example, the University of California, Riverside now offers a teacher residency program that covers tuition and guarantees a teaching position in the local school district upon completion. These programs help address teacher shortages while also making it more affordable to pursue a career in education.

However, this option isn’t available in all states and may be limited to only certain school districts.