There are a lot of online colleges offering Early Childhood Education program and in this article, we are bringing you the best online colleges for early childhood education. Seeing the benefits of the early childhood education program, most schools have decided to stretch out their arms to accommodate more students through distance learning.
As we go along together, we will not just take a look individually at the online colleges for early childhood education, but also check out the benefits of studying early childhood education online. You should also note that these colleges are also affordable so tuition fee should not be a problem if you find interest in any of these schools.
There are more non-profit online colleges that are affordable you can check out.
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Best Online Colleges for Early Childhood Education
1. Liberty University
Location: Lynchburg, Virginia
Liberty University (LU) is a private Evangelical university and when measured in terms of student enrollment, it is one of the largest Christian universities in the world and it is also one of the largest private non-profit universities in the United States. Although the university’s physical campus is in Lynchburg, most of its students are online.
Liberty University offers an affordable early childhood education bachelors degree online and it provides students the educational theory and leadership skills they need to be successful early education teachers.
The 120-credit program helps them create an understanding of early childhood educational development while emphasizing Christian values. The students also learn about the various behavior and the associated methods of instruction and also complete a practicum.
Those who wish to obtain teaching licensure can use this program as a means to the master’s degree in teaching. Graduates of this program may pursue careers in preschool education, tutoring, ministry, and related fields.
Tuition Fee: $390 per credit.
2. Purdue University Global
Location: West Lafayette, Indiana
Purdue University Global, Inc (PG) is an adult-serving public university, operating as a public-benefit corporation and it is also part of the Purdue University system. With their content delivered mostly online, Purdue University Global programs focus on career-oriented fields of study at the credential, associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral level. The university also has 4 physical classroom locations and a Concord Law School.
Purdue Global University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Administration which trains students to become leaders in the early childhood field. The 180-credit program is created to enhance their knowledge in early childhood growth and development, early childhood leadership and advocacy, early childhood education, and curriculum along with business and management skills. By the end of the program, students are well-equipped to pursue a career in a lot of fields related to early education and can even become independent business owners. The student can also option for the accelerated format which allows him/her to complete the course in less time and prepare for their master’s degree program online as well.
Tuition Fee: $371 per credit.
3. Grand Canyon University
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Grand Canyon University is a private for-profit Christian university. Based on student enrollment, GCU was the largest Christian university in the world in 2018, with 20,000 attending students on campus and 70,000 online.
Grand Canyon University offers an affordable Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education online. The 120-credit hour program includes core courses like Educational Psychology in Early Childhood, Early Childhood Literature, Quality Practices for Typical and Atypical Behaviors of Young Children, and Technology in the Early Childhood Classroom.
The online program leads to initial teacher licensure and it follows the same rigor and engagement as the on-campus program and is taught by professionals in the faculty who are active practitioners in the field.
The online bachelor’s degree in early childhood education offers the fundamentals for teaching and prepares one to become a highly qualified teacher.
Tuition Fee: $440 per credit.
4. Northern Arizona University
Location: Flagstaff, Arizona
NAU is a popular public research university, which is governed by the Arizona Board of Regents. Founded in the year 1899, this institute was accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and it focuses on providing a student-centered experience through distinguished programs led by its committed professors.
Northern Arizona University provides an affordable Online Early Childhood Education & Early Childhood Special Education, Bachelor of Science in Education through its Department of Teaching and Learning. The 120-credit program offers a dual certification in both early childhood (EC) and early childhood special education (ECSE) at the bachelor’s level.
This makes aspiring teachers eligible to teach all children between ages 0-8 including special kids. The students gain strong child development knowledge and learn to work in strategic and evidence-based ways across multiple settings.
The online Master of Education program at Northern Arizona University offers 4 different areas of emphasis which are; Early Childhood Teaching, Early Childhood Leadership, Early Childhood Multi-age, Early Childhood National Board Preparation.
Tuition Fee: $459 per credit.
5. University of Washington
Location: Seattle, Washington
The University of Washington is a public research university and it’s one of the oldest universities on the West Coast as it was founded in 1861. it was created in Seattle approximately a decade after the city’s founding to aid its economic development.
The University of Washington offers an affordable Online Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood and Family Studies. The 116 to 120 credit program allows students to choose from 2 pathways – the core pathway or the teaching and learning pathway. It has a research-intensive curriculum that prepares students to work in a variety of early education settings like preschool teachers, administrators, or other related early childhood education field. The online bachelor’s degree includes specialty course topics like Exceptional Children, Social Policy & Young Children & Families, and Positive Behavior & Support in Early Childhood.
Tuition Fee: $231 per credit
6. Florida International University
Location: Miami, Florida
Florida International University is a public research university, having its main campus in University Park, Florida. This university was founded in 1965, and serves a diverse student body of more than 58,000 in population.
Florida International University offers an affordable bachelor of science in Early Childhood Education degree online. The program is 120-credit unit and it covers topics like literacy development, children with special needs, assessment techniques, cultural diversity, and classroom management among others.
Students has the option to specialize in Education in History and Play and Development of Social Competence. The online program has the same rigor and engagement as the on-campus program and addresses the development of children.
Graduates of this program go on to work in various areas like childcare, child development, and early education for children in preschool or early elementary years.
Tuition Fee: $329.77 per credit.
7. The University of Toledo
Location: Toledo, Ohio
The University of Toledo (UT) is a public research university that was established in 1872. It is the northernmost campus of the University System of Ohio and has a total admitted undergraduates of 14,406. University of Toledo is another one of our top picks for the best online colleges for early childhood education.
Students can earn a master’s in early childhood education through the non-licensure track. This is a program is designed for childcare, preschool, and early learning educators and administrators. To get admission into this program, the student requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and work experience related to the advanced degree program. For undergraduates, the online early childhood education fast track bachelor’s degree program is a great choice.
This 100% online non-licensure program can be completed in 2 years only if the student already holds an associate degree in early childhood.
While the program will not permit you to teach in public schools, it will prepare you for a position working with at-risk or special needs infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.
Tuition Fee: $362 per credit.
8. Regent University
Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Regent University is a private Christian school founded in 1977.
Online programs provided by the institution have consistently been ranked among the best by various remarkably renowned organizations.
Regent provides a transformational experience, with nationally acclaimed academic programs, institutional accreditation, graduation rates that are higher than the national average, and some of the most reasonable tuition among private colleges.
The B.S in Early Childhood Education offered by Regent is all you need if you wish to make a great impact in the lives of the younger generation.
What’s more intriguing is that this 120+ credit hour course is delivered entirely online. This simply means you have the freedom to learn at your own pace and leisure.
Tuition Fee: $395 per credit
9. National University
Location: San Diego, California
National University is a private university. Founded in 1971, and it offers academic degree programs at campuses throughout California, a satellite campus in Nevada, and various programs online. Programs at National University are designated for adult learners.
NU’s online Early Childhood Education degree allows students to choose from courses in 3 different areas, namely: early childhood administration (which explores leadership planning, human resources and finance), infant and toddler (which takes a look at the finer points of educating and caring for young children), or teacher education (which offers practical skills training, and gives a range of subjects like literacy, technology, and exceptionalities). In addition to these areas, this program stands apart from many others in that its completion leads to California licensure.
Tuition Fee: $362 per credit.
10. University of Cincinnati
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
The University of Cincinnati is a public research university that was founded in 1819 as Cincinnati College. It is the oldest institution of higher education in Cincinnati and has an annual enrollment of over 44,000 students, this makes it the second largest university in Ohio.
The University of Cincinnati offers an affordable degrees in Early Childhood Education online. The program is designed for candidates who love working with young children and wish to teach kids from their birth to five years old.
It prepares them to work in a lot of early education settings like preschools, child-care centers, head start programs, private and public schools, and other related programs.
The successful completion of the degree requirements and faculty’s recommendation may lead to a pre-K license in Ohio. This online program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
Tuition Fee: $459 per credit.
Benefits of Studying Early Childhood Education Online
1. It is flexible
Studying early childhood education online enables the teacher and the student to set their own learning pace, and there’s the added flexibility of setting a time that fits everyone’s agenda. As a result, using an online educational platform for this program, allows for a better balance of work and studies so there’s no need to give anything up.
Studying Early childhood education online also teaches you vital time management skills, which makes finding a good work-study balance easier.
2. It is accessible
Studying early childhood education online enables you to study from anywhere in the world. This means there’s no need to travel from one place to another, or follow a rigid schedule. In addition, not only do you save time, but you also save money, which can be spent on other needs. The virtual classroom is also available anywhere there’s an internet connection.
3. It’s more cost-effective than traditional education.
Unlike in-person education methods, studying early childhood education online tends to be more affordable. Also, there’s often a wide range of payment options that let you pay in installments or per class. This makes room for better budget management.
In conclusion, studying in one of the best online colleges for early childhood education is a great step you will take, seeing the flexibility and accessibility of the program. Not to mention the low tuition fee attached to the quality education you would be enjoying as a student.
You could also be interested in these early childhood education courses that are studied in Canada. So feel free to explore.
