An online master's in early childhood education prepares you to teach, lead or advocate for children from birth through about third grade, with the coursework delivered at a distance. Some versions lead to a first teaching license, some are built for teachers who already hold one, and some carry no license at all, so the type of program is the first thing to settle.
Classroom hours do not move online. A licensure program still places you in a preschool, kindergarten or primary classroom near your home for student teaching, and your own state decides whether the result counts toward a license.
Source: IPEDS completions and Institutional Characteristics, read October 6, 2026.
fully online master's programs in early childhood education ranked, from 56 schools
56
master's degrees a year at the median ranked program
16
median out-of-state tuition and fees for a master's year, 2023-24
$16,622
home states among the 25 schools on the list
17
This ranking covers fully online master's programs in early childhood education only. Hybrid programs, programs with a required campus visit and programs on campus are counted but not ranked here.
The 25 Best Online Master's Programs in Early Childhood Education, Ranked
The 25 best online master's programs in early childhood education are ranked below by one score out of 100, built from IPEDS degrees awarded and graduate tuition and fees. Across all 56 ranked programs the median charge is $9,975 in state and $16,622 out of state, so each card's figures read high or low against that.
1
American College of Education
Master of Education in Early Childhood Education
Indianapolis, Indiana
94.1- Private for-profit
- Degrees awarded
- 226 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $6,600
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $6,600
American College of Education's 31-credit Master of Education in Early Childhood Education is delivered online with several start dates and a finish in roughly 12 to 15 months. Candidates choose three focus-area courses or skip a set focus altogether, and free tutoring comes with enrollment. The degree is framed as advancement for practicing educators, not initial certification, and the program page cautions that extra evidence may be needed to satisfy an individual state's requirements. The Higher Learning Commission accredits the college.
2
University of the Cumberlands
Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education (IECE) concentration
Williamsburg, Kentucky
87.4- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 37 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $4,560
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $4,560
University of the Cumberlands pairs a 24-hour teaching core with 18 hours of early childhood coursework in its online Master of Arts in Teaching with an Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education concentration, for 42 credit hours in all. The degree leads to Kentucky teacher licensure, and an Option 6 route lets candidates hold a teaching position while they finish coursework. Three clinical or practicum components keep the learning in real early childhood settings. CAEP and the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board stand behind the program.
3
86.1- Private for-profit
- Degrees awarded
- 129 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,657
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,657
Walden University gives its online MS in Early Childhood Studies two formats: traditional courses, or Tempo Learning, a self-paced competency-based option that can be completed in as little as 11 months. The work runs from a 5-credit foundation course through 40 quarter credits of core study to a 5-credit capstone. Specializations cover administration, management and leadership, teaching diversity, or teaching and learning in early childhood settings. Coursework follows NAEYC professional guidelines, but the degree does not lead to teacher licensure or certification.
4
Northwestern College
Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Early Childhood Education, Birth-Grade 3
Orange City, Iowa
83.7- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 31 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $6,600
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $6,600
Teachers who already hold a license are the audience for Northwestern College's 33-credit-hour M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education, which covers birth through grade 3. Participants take one 8-week course at a time, two per semester, and finish in about two years with no GRE. The core degree is professional advancement, not initial certification, though an M.Ed. plus Endorsement track adds coursework and student teaching toward the Birth-Grade 3 Inclusive Settings Endorsement. The Iowa Department of Education approves the program.
5
Liberty University
Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum and Instruction, Early Childhood Education
Lynchburg, Virginia
82.8- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 34 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,340
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,340
Liberty University offers early childhood as a specialization inside its online M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, written for educators who already hold an initial teaching license. Candidates without one are directed to the M.A.T. instead. Courses run in 8-week terms, up to 50% of the credits can transfer from earlier graduate work, and no standardized test is required for admission. The coursework works as an add-on endorsement path rather than a first credential, and SACSCOC accredits the university.
6
Northwest Missouri State University
Master of Science in Education in Early Childhood Education
Maryville, Missouri
81.9- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 30 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $7,946
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $7,946
Reggio Emilia thinking and a teacher-as-researcher stance anchor Northwest Missouri State University's online M.S.Ed. in Early Childhood Education, which explicitly does not provide initial certification. Field placement is arranged through the university's on-campus early childhood learning center, and an advisory board of ECE teachers and administrators shaped the design. There is a single track with no concentrations, and a finish in as few as 12 months is possible. AAQEP accreditation applies, with recognition from Missouri DESE and the Higher Learning Commission.
7
81.2- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 49 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,747
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $9,088
Salem State University prepares candidates for initial Massachusetts licensure to teach PreK through grade 2 in public schools through its online, cohort-based M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education. A supervised practicum anchors the coursework, with reduced hours for current lead teachers. Timelines include a 1-year accelerated route, a 2-year path and a self-paced option. Already-licensed educators can take an advanced studies track or a special education add-on license, and a non-degree licensure-only path exists. Concurrent certificates in Autism Spectrum Disorders and TESOL are available, and the Massachusetts DESE approves the preparation program.
8
80.7- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 31 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,550
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,550
People already working with young children are the intended students of Concordia University-Saint Paul's online Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education, and the student's own workplace doubles as the practical learning laboratory in place of a separate practicum. Seven-week accelerated terms carry 30 credits, with a finish in as little as 18 months and up to 50% of credits transferable. A capstone project reviews current educational research and applies it to the candidate's setting. The degree is advanced and professional-development focused, not an initial licensure program, and CAEP accredits it.
9
University of West Alabama
Master of Education in Early Childhood Education (P-3)
Livingston, Alabama
78.4- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 57 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $13,546
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $6,868
The University of West Alabama splits its online M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education (P-3) into a certification track that ends in the Alabama Class A Professional Educator Certificate and a separate non-certification Early Childhood Development track. The 33 credit hours run in an eight-week course format, up to 9 transfer hours are accepted, and each student is assigned a personal success coach. CAEP accreditation covers the educator preparation, alongside SACSCOC accreditation of the university.
10
Campbellsville University
Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education (P-K)
Campbellsville, Kentucky
77.2- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 29 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $9,920
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $9,920
Campbellsville University's online M.A.T. in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education covers preschool through kindergarten and leads to Kentucky teacher certification by either of two routes. The Option 6 track, at 33 credit hours, lets candidates work as a provisionally certified teacher of record with university and district mentoring, and student teaching is waived after a year of mentored service. The Traditional track, at 36 credit hours, includes 16 weeks of student teaching. SACSCOC, CAEP and Kentucky's Education Professional Standards Board all stand behind it.
11
75.5- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 21 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,113
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,113
Gordon College prepares future pre-kindergarten through grade 2 teachers for Massachusetts through its online M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education, with Initial and Professional Licensure tracks and a separate Montessori Education concentration for ages 3 to 6. The Herschend School of Education delivers evening and weekend online coursework with four start dates a year. The curriculum rests on the science of reading, an evidence-based approach to literacy for young learners, and classes stay small and personalized, which gives the online format a mentored feel.
12
Arizona State University Digital Immersion
Master of Education in Early Childhood Education
Scottsdale, Arizona
73.7- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 27 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,573
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,573
Arizona State University's 30-credit online M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education comes as a base degree, a version paired with K-3 certification or endorsement, and a Curriculum and Instruction concentration. The base degree does not require prior certification, so it can serve newcomers and established teachers alike. Eight core courses, one elective and a capstone make up the plan, and the capstone is a supervised applied project. Candidates need access to children in a professional or community setting to complete the coursework, and the GRE is not required.
13
72.0- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 61 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $15,912
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $15,912
Year-round enrollment lets a focused student finish National University's fully online Master's of Early Childhood Education in as few as 10 months. The 30 semester credits have no named tracks, since each student picks an area of interest to explore in depth, and a capstone portfolio course consolidates the work. The curriculum draws on Universal Design for Learning theory and follows NAEYC guidelines. Completion meets the requirements for the California Child Development Directors Permit, though the university says it does not automatically confer licensure, employment or certification in any state. WASC Senior College and University Commission accredits the institution.
14
70.1- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 53 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $16,621
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $7,166
Birth to age 8 is the span of the single curriculum in the University of Texas at El Paso's fully online M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education, which has no formal tracks. Teaching is approached through culturally sustaining, asset-based practice that treats children's languages and backgrounds as strengths. The 30 credit hours end in a capstone project and can be finished in as little as 12 months. The degree includes no teaching credential, so those after a Texas EC-6 license are pointed to a separate in-person Alternative Certification Program of 45 credits.
15
Capella University
Master of Science in Education, Early Childhood Education Studies
Minneapolis, Minnesota
68.8- Private for-profit
- Degrees awarded
- 42 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $15,066
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $15,066
Play-based learning and classroom observation drive the coursework in Capella University's online M.S. in Education, Early Childhood Education Studies. The program states plainly that it is not designed to prepare graduates for state licensure. Its 46 quarter credits are split into core, specialization, elective and capstone courses, and no GRE or GMAT is required. The specialization holds national recognition from the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and the Higher Learning Commission accredits the university.
16
Arkansas State University
Master of Science in Education (MSE) in Early Childhood Education
Jonesboro, Arkansas
68.5- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 27 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $12,416
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $6,980
Licensed teachers are the intended students of Arkansas State University's online Master of Science in Education in Early Childhood Education, and the degree itself confers no new license. The 30 credit hours can be finished in as few as twelve months. A capstone portfolio documenting mastery of NAEYC standards replaces a written comprehensive exam or thesis. The degree is separate from the university's M.S. in Early Childhood Services, which serves non-teaching roles and does not lead to licensure, and CAEP accredits it.
17
67.0- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 51 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $18,106
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $6,208
Valdosta State University's fully online M.Ed. in Elementary Education asks for a valid Level 4 (T-4) Georgia certificate in Early Childhood or Elementary Education at admission. Graduates may qualify for a Level 5 certification upgrade in Georgia or reciprocal states, so the degree is a route for working teachers to advance, not a way into the profession. Candidates need access to P-12 learners and school-based field time in each enrolled semester. International students on student visas cannot enroll because the program is fully online.
18
Emmanuel University
Master of Education in Elementary Education (P-5, covers early childhood through elementary grades)
Franklin Springs, Georgia
65.1- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 15 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $9,960
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $9,960
A Christian worldview frames Emmanuel University's fully online M.Ed. in Elementary Education, which spans P-5, from early childhood through the elementary grades. Teachers already certified in P-5 are the target, and the degree is a certificate upgrade, not initial certification. Endorsement pathways in Reading, Gifted and ESOL let them widen what they are credentialed to teach. The capstone is an Action Research course, Teacher as Researcher, where candidates study and improve their own classrooms. The university participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement.
19
Concordia University-Nebraska
Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Early Childhood Education
Seward, Nebraska
65.1- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 12 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $7,650
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $7,650
Where a student lives decides what Concordia University, Nebraska's online M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education leads to. Nebraska residents and students in Interstate Mobility Compact states can pursue certification or endorsement, while others follow a field-of-study track that does not lead to certification. The 30 credit hours run in 8-week terms and include 45 hours of direct field experience. The curriculum aligns to NAEYC standards and carries a Christian faith-integrated framing, with CAEP and Higher Learning Commission accreditation, and TEACH Grant eligibility applies for those who qualify.
20
64.1- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 12 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,194
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,194
Spring Arbor University's 100% online Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education offers focus areas in Early Literacy and Behavioral Support. Michigan certificate holders can earn the Early Childhood General and Special Education birth-through-kindergarten endorsement by finishing the coursework and passing the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification. Candidates can finish in as few as 24 months, and neither the GRE nor the GMAT is required. A Christ-centered, faith-integrated curriculum shapes how the coursework approaches teaching young children.
21
American International College
Master of Education (or CAGS) in Early Childhood Education
Springfield, Massachusetts
62.1- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 15 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,983
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,983
American International College in Springfield teaches its Master of Education in Early Childhood Education through synchronous online sessions, so candidates meet with instructors and classmates in real time. Two tracks are offered: a 33-credit licensure track that leads to a Massachusetts Initial License for PreK through Grade 2, and a 30-credit degree-only track with no license attached. Licensure candidates complete 25 hours of pre-practicum, field placements at the PreK-K and Grades 1-2 levels, and a culminating Candidate Assessment of Performance. A Sheltered English Immersion Endorsement course can be added as an option.
22
61.1- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 14 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,710
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,710
Working adults in early childhood settings can earn Champlain College's fully online Master of Education in Early Childhood Education through the Continuing Professional Studies division. The degree totals 36 credits and can be finished in as little as a year and a half. It is a non-licensure program, so it deepens professional knowledge for educators and child-development professionals who want to advance where they already work, and it does not open a route to initial certification. The whole curriculum is delivered online from Burlington, Vermont.
23
60.1- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 76 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $20,954
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $11,524
CUNY Brooklyn College prepares early childhood teachers for Birth to Grade 2 in a fully online Master of Science in Education with three entry options. Option A is 30 credits for those already certified in early childhood, Option B is 33 credits for those certified in Childhood or Special Subjects, and Option C is 45 credits for candidates with no prior certification. Seminars and lectures are online, while fieldwork and student teaching happen in person in early childhood classrooms. Completion leads to the New York State Professional Certificate, and candidates pass the CST-EC, EAS and edTPA exams.
24
Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global
Master of Science in Early Childhood Education
Marion, Indiana
55.8- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 10 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,391
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,391
Indiana Wesleyan University weaves Christian faith into every course of its 33-credit-hour online Master of Science in Early Childhood Education, which holds accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Students choose a licensure track that prepares K-3 teachers for public and private schools, ending in state testing and a 14-week student teaching placement, or a non-licensure track aimed at director, specialist and leadership roles. Courses run mostly asynchronously, one at a time, in six to eight week terms. Each course includes field-based assignments that tie study to daily practice.
25
55.7- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 18 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $15,056
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $11,600
Northern Michigan University designed its 35-credit online Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education for people already working in settings such as GSRP, Head Start, Early Head Start and early childhood special education. Classes are archived and recorded, so everything can be taken asynchronously around a full-time job. Candidates choose an internship pathway: a Teaching Pathway with classroom-based work, or a Systems Support Pathway for coaches, trainers, quality-improvement staff, licensing consultants and policymakers. No license comes with the degree, but primary teachers can pursue a ZS endorsement on a separate track.
How We Rank
Every eligible program is scored out of 100. Each figure becomes a percentile against the 56 ranked programs, and the percentiles are weighted as below. The methodology page explains each choice.
- Degrees awarded: 50%. Master's degrees the program conferred in the latest reported year, counted up to 50. Past 50 a year a program is clearly established and more volume adds nothing.
- Out-of-state tuition and fees: 50%. The university's graduate tuition plus required fees for a full-time year, out-of-state rate, 2023-24. Lower cost scores higher.
Reading the cards. Degrees awarded is the program's own count for the latest year reported to IPEDS, counted up to 50 for the score. Each tuition figure on an early childhood education card is the university's graduate charge for a full-time year, read from IPEDS Institutional Characteristics, 2023-24. It is not a per-credit price or an online-only rate, so ask the program for its own.
Source: federal IPEDS records, read October 6, 2026. Tuition and fees are 2023-24. Scores are our own.
How Many Online Master's Programs in Early Childhood Education Are There?
There are 71 fully online master's programs in early childhood education, out of 169 on federal record, and 56 of them are ranked above. A program counts as fully online when the school's own description of it says the whole degree can be completed at a distance, in line with the federal definition of an exclusively distance education program. In early childhood education, a required campus residency makes a program hybrid here, even when most of the coursework is online, while a student teaching or practicum placement near home does not.
What Does an Online Master's in Early Childhood Education Cost?
An online master's in early childhood education costs from $4,560 to $30,072 a year out of state in graduate tuition and required fees across the 56 ranked programs, with a median of $16,622. In state the median is $9,975. These are each university's annual graduate charge from IPEDS Institutional Characteristics, 2023-24 rather than a per-credit price or an online-only rate, so a early childhood education program's own price page is the figure to plan on.
What Does an Online Master's in Early Childhood Education Cover?
An online master's in early childhood education covers how young children develop, learn and are assessed, and how to run the classrooms and programs that serve them. Walden University's online MS in Early Childhood Studies, for example, has students explore brain development, social and emotional learning, and the place of play in teaching, with case studies that range from infants and toddlers to grades P-3.
Programs then split by purpose. Walden offers specializations in teaching and in administration and leadership, while licensure programs such as Fitchburg State University's PreK-2 program add literacy methods and state content frameworks. Read the course list rather than the degree title, because one title can mean a classroom-teaching degree or a program-management degree.
How Long Does an Online Master's in Early Childhood Education Take?
An online master's in early childhood education takes from about one year to more than two, depending on the credit total, your pace and whether student teaching is included. The University of West Alabama lists 33 credit hours in eight-week courses and an estimated year, while Walden lists 50 quarter credits and as few as 15 months.
Programs with a license attached run longer: Fitchburg State lists 39 credits and as few as two and a half years. A quarter credit is a smaller unit than a semester credit, so compare calendar time and total tuition rather than credit counts.
Does an Online Master's in Early Childhood Education Lead to a Teaching License?
An online master's in early childhood education leads to a teaching license only when it is built as an initial-licensure program, and three kinds of program share the title. Fitchburg State's prepares candidates for a Massachusetts initial license, and Campbellsville University's MAT prepares them for Kentucky P-K certification with 16 weeks of student teaching at the end. The University of West Alabama's admits teachers who already hold an educator certificate, and Walden's is labeled non-licensure.
The age range on a license differs by state, from P-3 in Alabama to PreK-2 in Massachusetts to P-K in Kentucky, so a license earned for one band may not cover the grade you want. Student teaching happens in a classroom near you, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that preparation typically includes student teaching with a mentor teacher.
How Do State Authorization and Licensure Disclosures Work for Online Early Childhood Students?
State authorization and licensure disclosures for online early childhood students work through a federal rule that makes the school tell you, state by state, whether its program meets licensure requirements. 34 CFR 668.43 requires a program designed or advertised to meet licensure requirements to list the states where the school has determined that it does and does not.
The disclosure must reach you directly and in writing, and notice that the program does not meet your state's requirements is due within 14 calendar days of the school's determination. The school locates you under one policy applied to every student, so say where you live and where you plan to teach. NC-SARA, the interstate authorization agreement, says it does not address licensing board approval for teacher education, so a school's permission to enroll you is separate from your state's decision to license you.
What Costs Come With an Online Master's in Early Childhood Education Besides Tuition?
The costs that come with an online master's in early childhood education besides tuition are program fees, books and the way a school prices its credits. Campbellsville lists $319 per credit, the University of West Alabama lists $429 per credit plus a $120 technology fee each semester, and Walden lists $400 per quarter credit plus a $185 program fee each quarter, with books estimated at $1,000 to $1,400.
Your later employer affects loan costs. Public Service Loan Forgiveness requires full-time work for a government or qualifying not-for-profit employer, so a public school or nonprofit program counts and a for-profit child care center does not.
What Jobs Does an Online Master's in Early Childhood Education Lead To?
An online master's in early childhood education leads to jobs as a preschool, kindergarten or primary teacher, a program director or an education manager, and the license decides which are open. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says preschool teachers typically need at least an associate's degree, while public school teachers need a state license, and some states require a master's after certification and hiring.
Leadership roles lean on the degree itself. Under 45 CFR 1302.91, Head Start education managers and coordinators need a baccalaureate or advanced degree in early childhood education, or a baccalaureate or advanced degree plus equivalent coursework and early education teaching experience, and most states require center directors to hold at least a bachelor's degree. The licensure guide by state names each state's agency.
How Much Do Jobs Tied to an Online Master's in Early Childhood Education Pay?
Jobs tied to an online master's in early childhood education pay a median of $62,680 a year in the closest federal occupation, Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education, in May 2025. The Bureau of Labor Statistics counts 108,870 workers in that occupation, and the lowest-paid tenth earn $46,990 or less while the highest-paid tenth earn $101,830 or more.
The Bureau's Occupational Outlook Handbook profile for this occupation covers projected growth, entry requirements and typical duties.
These are national wages for the occupation as a whole, not what a master's graduate earns, so a district's salary schedule or an employer's own pay scale is the figure to plan on.
How Should You Choose an Online Early Childhood Master's Program?
To choose an online early childhood master's program, decide first whether you need a license, then check the accreditation that fits that route. NAEYC accredits associate, baccalaureate and initial master's programs but not programs preparing people for advanced practitioner roles, so a program for licensed teachers may hold none and still be sound.
Look instead for educator-preparation accreditation, such as the CAEP accreditation Campbellsville reports. Then compare how placements are found near you and the credit total, and confirm the license with your state agency, whose rule outranks any school's page.
How Do You Become an Early Childhood Educator With an Online Master's Degree?
You become an early childhood educator with an online master's degree by picking the route first, because a first license, an added credential and a non-licensure degree each lead somewhere different.
- Decide which route fits. Choose an initial-licensure program if you hold no teaching license, an advanced program if you already do, or a non-licensure degree if you aim at program leadership or advocacy.
- Look up your state's license. Find the early childhood license your state agency issues and note its age range and required exams, since the range varies from state to state.
- Get the disclosure in writing. Ask the school for its determination for your state of residence before you apply, and keep the written answer.
- Arrange student teaching near home. Ask who finds your classroom, who supervises you and when the placement can start, and whether a teaching job you already hold can count toward it.
- Finish and apply to your state. Complete the coursework and student teaching, pass the tests your state requires, and send your transcript and the program's recommendation to the agency.
Common Questions About Online Master's Programs in Early Childhood Education
How Many Online Master's Programs in Early Childhood Education Are There?
How Much Does an Online Master's in Early Childhood Education Cost?
What Are the Best Online Master's Programs in Early Childhood Education?
Are Online Master's Programs in Early Childhood Education Accredited?
How Are Online Master's Programs in Early Childhood Education Ranked?
Does a Non-Licensure Online Master's in Early Childhood Studies Qualify You to Teach in a Public School?
Do Head Start Programs Require a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education?
What Is the Difference Between an MAT and an M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education Online?
Can You Complete Student Teaching at the School Where You Already Work?
Do You Need a Master's Degree to Teach Kindergarten or Preschool?
Where Do the Figures on These Online Master's Programs in Early Childhood Education Come From?
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- IPEDS Institutional Characteristics, 2023-24
- Distance Education in IPEDS
- College Navigator
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
- Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP)
- Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- 34 CFR 668.43, Institutional and programmatic information (eCFR)
- NC-SARA, Professional Licensure
- 45 CFR 1302.91, Staff qualifications and competency requirements (eCFR)
- NAEYC, Overview of Higher Education Accreditation
- Walden University, online MS in Early Childhood Studies (Non-Licensure)
- University of West Alabama, online Master's in Early Childhood Education (P-3)
- Fitchburg State University, Early Childhood Education MEd (PreK-2), initial licensure online
- Campbellsville University, online MAT in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education (P-K)
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Preschool Teachers
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Preschool and Childcare Center Directors
- Federal Student Aid, Public Service Loan Forgiveness
The figures on these online master's programs in early childhood education come from federal records that each college reports about itself, as of the dates shown. Each card's description is researched from that program's own page, which the card links.
Show the federal record for all 25 colleges ranked, in 17 states
American College of Education University of the Cumberlands Walden University Northwestern College Liberty University Northwest Missouri State University Salem State University Concordia University-Saint Paul University of West Alabama Campbellsville University Gordon College Arizona State University Digital Immersion National University The University of Texas at El Paso Capella University Arkansas State University Valdosta State University Emmanuel University Concordia University-Nebraska Spring Arbor University American International College Champlain College CUNY Brooklyn College Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global Northern Michigan University