Best Online Early Childhood Education Programs of 2025

Explore early childhood education programs that provide the highest return on investment and what you need to know about this degree.
Margaret Attridge
By
Edited by
Updated June 25, 2024
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Online early childhood education programs provide you with fundamental skills to support the growth and development of childhood in a flexible learning environment. We ranked the best online early childhood education programs based on admission, graduation, retention rates, and program costs.

Featured Online Early Childhood Education Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

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Best Online Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education Programs

#1

University of Washington

Seattle, WA4 yearCampus + Online

$12,643

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$39,687

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

43%

Acceptance Rate

19%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$17,004

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$30,477

Retention Rate

95%

Students Enrolled

55,230

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$12,643

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$39,687

University of Washington

Seattle, WA4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$12,643

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$39,687

Acceptance Rate

43%

Online Enrollment

19%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$17,004

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$30,477

Retention Rate

95%

Students Enrolled

55,230

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#2

Florida International University

Miami, FL4 yearCampus + Online

$6,168

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$18,566

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

59%

Acceptance Rate

67%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$911

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$2,003

Retention Rate

92%

Students Enrolled

54,085

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,168

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,566

Florida International University

Miami, FL4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,168

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,566

Acceptance Rate

59%

Online Enrollment

67%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$911

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$2,003

Retention Rate

92%

Students Enrolled

54,085

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#3

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL4 yearCampus + Online

$12,474

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$30,446

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

44%

Acceptance Rate

62%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$14,891

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$29,176

Retention Rate

94%

Students Enrolled

56,563

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$12,474

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$30,446

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$12,474

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$30,446

Acceptance Rate

44%

Online Enrollment

62%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$14,891

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$29,176

Retention Rate

94%

Students Enrolled

56,563

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#4

Iowa State University

Ames, IA4 yearCampus + Online

$8,982

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$26,168

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

89%

Acceptance Rate

55%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,572

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$26,776

Retention Rate

85%

Students Enrolled

30,177

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$8,982

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$26,168

Iowa State University

Ames, IA4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$8,982

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$26,168

Acceptance Rate

89%

Online Enrollment

55%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,572

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$26,776

Retention Rate

85%

Students Enrolled

30,177

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#5

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro, NC4 yearCampus + Online

$4,422

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$19,582

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

90%

Acceptance Rate

69%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,219

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,937

Retention Rate

76%

Students Enrolled

17,743

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,422

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,582

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro, NC4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,422

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,582

Acceptance Rate

90%

Online Enrollment

69%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,219

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,937

Retention Rate

76%

Students Enrolled

17,743

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#6

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, ND4 yearCampus + Online

$9,237

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$13,856

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

77%

Acceptance Rate

68%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$11,963

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$17,944

Retention Rate

83%

Students Enrolled

14,172

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$9,237

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$13,856

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, ND4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$9,237

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$13,856

Acceptance Rate

77%

Online Enrollment

68%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$11,963

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$17,944

Retention Rate

83%

Students Enrolled

14,172

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#7

Ball State University

Muncie, IN4 yearCampus + Online

$8,688

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$26,696

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

72%

Acceptance Rate

59%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$9,884

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$21,222

Retention Rate

77%

Students Enrolled

20,440

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$8,688

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$26,696

Ball State University

Muncie, IN4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$8,688

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$26,696

Acceptance Rate

72%

Online Enrollment

59%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$9,884

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$21,222

Retention Rate

77%

Students Enrolled

20,440

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#8

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, MI4 yearCampus + Online

$10,992

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$19,800

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

91%

Acceptance Rate

52%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$808

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$808

Retention Rate

73%

Students Enrolled

14,423

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$10,992

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,800

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, MI4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$10,992

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,800

Acceptance Rate

91%

Online Enrollment

52%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$808

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$808

Retention Rate

73%

Students Enrolled

14,423

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#9

Winona State University

Winona, MN4 yearCampus + Online

$8,388

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$15,120

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

74%

Acceptance Rate

52%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,320

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$12,560

Retention Rate

76%

Students Enrolled

6,154

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$8,388

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$15,120

Winona State University

Winona, MN4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$8,388

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$15,120

Acceptance Rate

74%

Online Enrollment

52%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,320

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$12,560

Retention Rate

76%

Students Enrolled

6,154

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#10

Concordia University-Wisconsin

Mequon, WI4 yearCampus + Online

$32,770

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$32,770

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

68%

Acceptance Rate

57%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$12,042

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$12,042

Retention Rate

79%

Students Enrolled

5,063

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$32,770

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$32,770

Concordia University-Wisconsin

Mequon, WI4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$32,770

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$32,770

Acceptance Rate

68%

Online Enrollment

57%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$12,042

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$12,042

Retention Rate

79%

Students Enrolled

5,063

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

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A degree in early childhood education is worth it if you are interested in pursuing a career working with young children. With this degree, you can qualify for roles as a preschool teacher or childcare director.

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