Discover Early Childhood EDU Released Top 85 Most Affordable Early Childhood Degrees

Few people touch as many lives as an early childhood education teacher. It is among the most rewarding and necessary of occupations. Helping children learn and thrive is a crucial calling. Not only do early childhood educators teach children the basics of letter and number recognition and other early academic ventures, but they also help children develop emotionally and socially. Early childhood education teachers aid in molding the foundation for lifelong learning.

A strong early childhood education program impacts the youngster’s later cognitive development. A child’s future success, both as an individual and economically, depends on the early learning environment. Such important work requires a sound education, steeped in the best practices and latest research for teaching young minds. That is why where students decide to attend school and receive their degree is one of the most important decisions they will make. Besides teaching, a degree in early childhood education is also a steppingstone to an administrative career in elementary education.

Criteria and Ranking System Used

The criteria for the new Discover Early Childhood EDU top 85 affordable ECE programs ranking list included the requirement that the college specialize in early childhood education while offering a variety of degree programs. The chosen colleges are high quality and very affordable and distributed throughout the US. While providing information regarding some of the best schools for early childhood education, there is also recognition of the fact that students must find the right school for their needs. This ranking of ECE programs is geared toward helping students make an informed decision about the best possible choices available.

The proprietary ratings system used ranks those colleges and universities with the finest, most affordable early childhood education programs. The data used reveals critical facts about each school. These are all factors students should keep in mind when making educational decisions.

Data such as retention rates tells students how many first-time students returned to the school the following year. A low retention rate is a potential red flag. Graduation rates describe what percentage of first-time students received a degree within 150% of the standard program time. That standard program time is generally 4-6 years. Again, a low graduation rate might indicate some type of systemic issue.

Sometimes, low rates are positive elements. That is true of a school’s acceptance rate, the rate of the number of students accepted versus the number of applicants. The lower the acceptance rate, the more selective the school. Schools with low acceptance rates usually have excellent reputations. Acceptance rates refer to first-time, first-year students only.

Because affordability is a key component of this list, the Discover Early Childhood rankings include colleges offering the best value, but not at the expense of a quality education. Also listed is the average salary for graduates, so that students know whether these are the most competitive rates in the field. While tuition is a big aspect of affordability, it is not the sole criteria. Some schools provide generous scholarship and grant opportunities for students and may offer significant work/study possibilities.

Some of the most affordable early childhood education programs in the United States are Elizabeth City State University, CUNY Lehman College, California State University-Los Angeles, CUNY City College, CUNY Brooklyn College, CUNY Hunter College, CUNY Queens College, California State University-Dominguez Hills, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and Fayetteville State University

Those fortunate enough to live in the New York City metropolitan area might consider attending one of the four city universities on the list. The same holds true for those in California or Texas, which also have more than one school in the top 10. However, there are good early childhood education programs available nationwide.

The beauty of online learning is that students can receive a degree from a school in any other area of the country. Online learning permits students to work at their own pace and at a convenient time. That aids students juggling family and work obligations. This ranking list includes a college or university’s online educational program offerings. Online education is expected to grow significantly in the next few years. In some fields, it may soon become the norm.

Some students prefer a traditional classroom environment, while many more enjoy a hybrid of online and in-class courses. Students can use these early childhood education ranking lists to find an affordable early childhood education program to make their career dreams come true.