Best Online Associate in Early Childhood Education

Badge for BEST ONLINE ASSOCIATE'S IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

By Dr. James Barham and Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Jenn Finley

Published: Jun 22, 2021
Updated: Jan 19, 2024

Find top-ranked online associate in early childhood education degree programs to help students take the first step towards entry-level education and childcare positions.

The Top 10 Online Associate in Early Childhood Education Degrees

University of Cincinnati
Liberty University
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Purdue Global
St. Petersburg College
Bay Path University
Charter Oak State College
Granite State College
College of Southern Nevada
Florida State College at Jacksonville

University of Cincinnati
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Liberty University
Tallahassee Community College
St. Petersburg College
Purdue Global
Southwestern Assemblies of God University
Florida State College at Jacksonville
College of Southern Nevada
Montgomery College

Liberty University 99%
State University of New York at Canton 95%
Delaware Valley University 95%
Arkansas Tech University 94%
Lewis–Clark State College 87%
University of Cincinnati 86%
Southwestern Assemblies of God University 86%
Lebanon Valley College 77%
Bay Path University 76%
Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences 46%

State College of Florida, Manatee–Sarasota 38 to 1
Bakersfield College 28 to 1
Purdue Global 26 to 1
Florida State College at Jacksonville 23 to 1
Tallahassee Community College 23 to 1
Dyersburg State Community College 23 to 1
St. Petersburg College 22 to 1
College of Southern Idaho 22 to 1
Front Range Community College 21 to 1
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 20 to 1

Lebanon Valley College $48,620
Delaware Valley University $42,120
Bay Path University $35,781
Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences $30,821
Liberty University $22,511
Southwestern Assemblies of God University $17,782
University of Cincinnati $10,656
Purdue Global $10,080
Muskegon Community College $9,360
Montgomery College $8,070

Lebanon Valley College $31,875
Bay Path University $19,235
Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences $16,470
University of Cincinnati $13,224
University of Alaska Fairbanks $11,535
Granite State College $9,810
Purdue Global $9,472
Charter Oak State College $9,288
Delaware Valley University $8,832
Southwestern Assemblies of God University $8,280

Indian Hills Community College
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Kennebec Valley Community College
Kaskaskia College
Dawson Community College
North Georgia Technical College
State University of New York at Canton
Paradise Valley Community College
Georgia Northwestern Technical College
Monterey Peninsula College

Haywood Community College
Georgia Northwestern Technical College
Dyersburg State Community College
North Georgia Technical College
Kennebec Valley Community College
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Johnston Community College
North Central Missouri College
Indian Hills Community College
Chippewa Valley Technical College

Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences 46%
Bay Path University 76%
Lebanon Valley College 77%
Southwestern Assemblies of God University 86%
University of Cincinnati 86%
Lewis–Clark State College 87%
Arkansas Tech University 94%
Delaware Valley University 95%
State University of New York at Canton 95%
Liberty University 99%

Haywood Community College 7 to 1
University of Alaska Fairbanks 11 to 1
Bay Path University 11 to 1
Lebanon Valley College 11 to 1
Paradise Valley Community College 11 to 1
Baltimore City Community College 12 to 1
Delaware Valley University 13 to 1
Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences 13 to 1
North Georgia Technical College 13 to 1
Chattanooga State Community College 13 to 1

Monterey Peninsula College $1,104
Bakersfield College $1,380
St. Petersburg College $1,943
College of Central Florida $1,987
Tallahassee Community College $2,002
Paradise Valley Community College $2,040
Florida State College at Jacksonville $2,095
Guilford Technical Community College $2,128
Pima Community College $2,136
State College of Florida, Manatee–Sarasota $2,365

Lewis–Clark State College $4,703
Arkansas Tech University $5,481
Liberty University $7,893
Southwestern Assemblies of God University $8,280
Delaware Valley University $8,832
Charter Oak State College $9,288
Purdue Global $9,472
Granite State College $9,810
University of Alaska Fairbanks $11,535
University of Cincinnati $13,224

Key Takeaways

The associate degree in early childhood education is an affordable way to get started on your college education. The typical associate degree will take about two years to complete.

Many community colleges and two-year schools offer both traditional and online degree programs for students pursuing their associate degree in early childhood education.

Earning an online associate degree in early childhood education can prepare you for a variety of entry level jobs in your field. Many students also continue into a bachelor’s degree program in early childhood education or a related area.

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

Frequently Asked Questions About Early Childhood Education Degrees

Why get an associate in early childhood education?

Future childcare workers, teachers, and tutors can take the first step toward a career in education by enrolling in an early childhood education program. The early childhood education program is an excellent degree for any student interested in working with young children in an early childhood education setting. Online students pursuing a degree in early childhood education will typically have access to the same curriculum, content, and courses as traditional early childhood education students.

Early childhood education associates with gain the skills and qualifications necessary to provide learning support, education, and pedagogy in early childhood settings.

Early childhood education graduates will qualify to work as early childhood educators, preschool teachers and as teacher’s assistants in public or private schools. Students who earn an online associate degree in early childhood education may also qualify to work full-time teaching young children in the private school setting. Students interested in teaching in elementary schools will typically be required to continue into early childhood education programs at the bachelor’s degree level.

Find out what is the best career path for a teacher with an online associate in early education.

What courses will I need to take to get an associate in early childhood education?

Early childhood education programs will typically be composed of both general education courses and core courses geared toward early childhood educators Students who pursue the associate degree in early childhood education online will learn foundational skills like curriculum planning, child guidance, children’s literature, language development, child growth, and the basic theories behind supporting short- and long-term student success.

Are online classes the best way to earn an associate in early childhood education?

Though early childhood education is a hands-on field, the online associate degree in early childhood education is a popular option among working adults. The online program offers a flexible and accessible option for early childhood education students interest in balancing current workplace responsibilities with the pursuit of their early childhood education associates. If you do choose pursue your associate in early childhood education online, be sure that your school has proper regional accreditation from the colleges and schools commission in your region.

How long does it take to get an associate in early childhood education?

A typical associate in early childhood program will require the completion of 60 credit hours. Students will typically take about two years to earn this degree, whether completing a brick and mortar degree program or pursuing their early childhood education online.

What can you do with an associate in early childhood education good for?

The associate in early childhood education can be a direct pathway to entry-level education and childcare positions, or it can serve as a stepping stone toward an array of bachelor’s degree in early childhood education programs, as well as a teaching certificate.

Learn more about how to major in education.

How do we determine the best online early childhood education associate degree programs?

Methodology

Pursuing your degree online doesn’t mean you need to settle for an inferior school. Today, most universities and colleges offer online degrees, and many respected schools are seeing significant growth in their numbers of online students.

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why influence — i.e., the academic impact of faculty and alumni associated with a school — gets at the heart of what is truly best in education. The combined influence score of a college or university’s top academic influencers is the best indicator of academic excellence. For our online degree rankings, we focus on the academic influence of faculty and alumni in the specific disciplines we’re ranking.

If you are serious about finding the best online colleges, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence. Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine, provides a ranking that is free from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

An associate degree is a great way for many to start their educational journey, but you may want to also consider an online bachelor’s in early childhood education.

Best Online Associate in Early Childhood Education Degree Programs

Career Outlook for Students with Early Childhood Education Degree

Go to Degree Finder tool

Early Childhood Education And Teaching

Degree Level: Associate's

Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
Avg. Cost of Degree*: $4,628
Avg. Expenses*: $13,932
Avg. Starting Salary*: $23,053
Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $29,902
Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 7 years
Job Growth: 1.44%
Number of Jobs: 2,135,000
* denotes ‘annually’
** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’

Career Salaries

Career	Job Growth	Avg. Salary
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other	3.61%	$68,169
Education Teachers, Postsecondary	3.77%	$67,197
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	1.04%	$61,619
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	0.82%	$60,338
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education	0.70%	$59,354
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education	0.57%	$57,939
Teachers and Instructors, All Other	1.96%	$56,699
Self-Enrichment Teachers	3.21%	$40,451
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education	3.38%	$33,219

Average Career Salaries

Bottom 10%	Median	Top 10%
$39,926	$59,808	$89,383

Promising Job Markets

State	Cost of Living	Avg. Salary
#2 New York	5% higher than average	$79,241
#3 Michigan	15% higher than average	$60,970
#4 Ohio	14% higher than average	$61,211
#5 California	26% higher than average	$86,860
#6 Rhode Island	20% higher than average	$81,131
#7 Georgia	13% higher than average	$58,652
#8 Washington	7% higher than average	$72,067
#9 Virginia	5% higher than average	$63,635
#10 Texas	10% higher than average	$59,725
#11 Pennsylvania	5% higher than average	$62,669
#12 Kentucky	14% higher than average	$56,089
#13 Oregon	11% higher than average	$71,081
#14 Illinois	7% higher than average	$58,978
#15 Minnesota	4% higher than average	$60,420
#16 New Jersey	13% higher than average	$70,830
#17 Nebraska	6% higher than average	$58,620
#18 Alabama	13% higher than average	$53,941
#19 Missouri	16% higher than average	$52,367
#20 New Mexico	7% higher than average	$57,944
#21 Connecticut	18% higher than average	$73,040
#22 Utah	4% higher than average	$58,920
#23 South Carolina	8% higher than average	$56,100
#24 Delaware	2% higher than average	$61,788
#25 Idaho	7% higher than average	$55,881
#26 Massachusetts	24% higher than average	$74,160
#27 Wisconsin	7% higher than average	$55,910
#28 Tennessee	14% higher than average	$51,085
#29 Wyoming	2% higher than average	$58,021
#30 Montana	3% higher than average	$56,962
#31 Kansas	9% higher than average	$53,371
#32 Indiana	11% higher than average	$51,530
#33 Florida	6% higher than average	$54,292
#34 Mississippi	18% higher than average	$47,338
#35 Iowa	9% higher than average	$52,181
#36 Louisiana	9% higher than average	$51,651
#37 Alaska	23% higher than average	$69,874
#38 Arkansas	16% higher than average	$47,815
#39 North Carolina	11% higher than average	$49,780
#40 Oklahoma	13% higher than average	$48,664
#41 Colorado	3% higher than average	$57,861
#42 North Dakota	average	$55,703
#43 West Virginia	11% higher than average	$49,202
#44 Nevada	5% higher than average	$57,804
#45 Maryland	18% higher than average	$65,018
#46 Arizona	5% higher than average	$51,879
#47 Maine	9% higher than average	$59,145
#48 South Dakota	7% higher than average	$49,838
#49 New Hampshire	13% higher than average	$60,350
#50 Vermont	13% higher than average	$59,491
#51 District of Columbia	49% higher than average	$72,107
#52 Hawaii	40% higher than average	$60,628

Top Industries

Industry	Avg. Salary
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other	$68,169
Education Teachers, Postsecondary	$67,197
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	$61,619
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	$60,338
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education	$59,354
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education	$57,939
Teachers and Instructors, All Other	$56,699
Self-Enrichment Teachers	$40,451
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education	$33,219

Data from The Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Department of Education College Scorecard, The Department of Education NCES, and The Council for Community and Economic Research.

Online ECE Programs Looking for You

Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require a time of adjustment. Although you’ll typically learn the same material and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, going online will require greater independence and responsibility than going in person. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, for harnessing the online educational technology that you’ll need to use, and for completing the course requirements, such as listening to lectures, learning lessons, reading texts, and handing in assignments. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take the initiative in building relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

No. The only part of online education that’s easier than campus-based education is ease of access: all you need is a computer and an internet connection for online education. But even this seeming advantage of online education can be misleading: what’s easier, studying online with your computer and internet connection from your home where you need to cook, clean, pay rent, and maintain a job? Or studying on campus in a dorm where all your living needs are handled by the school, and college staff are there to help you every step of the way?

If you take the commute to campus out of the equation, campus-based education is easier. All the support structures available on campus for students, especially with real people to help you in person, are not there online. The demands on you as an online student will largely be the same as for your campus-based counterpart, but without the same helps.

In general, your online courses will present the same material and test you in the same way as traditional in-person courses. In many cases, you’ll even have the same instructors as your on-campus counterparts. In fact, if you are adjusting to the experience of independent learning with remote educational technology for the first time, online college may be considerably more challenging than campus-based college. For a few insights on how to manage this new online experience, check out our 10 Tips for Adjusting to School Online.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable non-profit institutions on the one end and less-than-reputable for-profit institutions on the other end. Accreditation gives you the power to identify the more reputable actors in online education. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency indicating that a college or university is meeting standards of quality and credibility. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university that is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. For students seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that they opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree. For more on this important topic, check out our What is Accreditation and Why Does It Matter? College & University Accreditation Guide.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited (see the previous point), you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer of credits. In many cases, you will encounter some bureaucratic haggling in which some of your credits will be transferred and others may be refused. However, provided that you have attended an online school with recognized regional accreditation, you should be in good shape in transferring your credits earned online.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript, or resumé differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

Some employers may express the concern that because you did your degree online, you may need to transition from an online education experience to in-person workplace experience. But in an age of Covid, that concern seems much diminished. The fact is that much employment these days is remote. And collaboration increasingly happens online over Zoom. Many employers will therefore view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will be less than ideal for you (though depending on your circumstances, it may also be the only viable option).

While there is much in traditional campus-based education that can be substituted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing that can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual in-person classroom setting. As you transition to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face in getting the most out of your online classes is overcoming this difference between “real reality” and “virtual reality.” Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

The advantages of online classes are many. Above all, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete at your own pace and on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.

Do you have a question about this topic? Ask it here

Best Online Associate in Early Childhood Education

The Top 10 Online Associate in Early Childhood Education Degrees

Key Takeaways

Featured Programs

Frequently Asked Questions About Early Childhood Education Degrees

Why get an associate in early childhood education?

What courses will I need to take to get an associate in early childhood education?

Are online classes the best way to earn an associate in early childhood education?

How long does it take to get an associate in early childhood education?

What can you do with an associate in early childhood education good for?

Best Online Associate in Early Childhood Education Degree Programs

Career Outlook for Early Childhood Education degree at University of Cincinnati

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Early Childhood Education degree at Liberty University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Early Childhood Education degree at University of Alaska Fairbanks

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Early Childhood Education degree at St. Petersburg College

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Early Childhood Education degree at Bay Path University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Early Childhood Education degree at Charter Oak State College

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Early Childhood Education degree at Granite State College

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Early Childhood Education degree at College of Southern Nevada

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Early Childhood Education degree at Florida State College at Jacksonville

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Early Childhood Education degree at Montgomery College

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Early Childhood Education degree at Delaware Valley University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Early Childhood Education degree at Arkansas Tech University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Early Childhood Education degree at Great Basin College

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Early Childhood Education degree at Tallahassee Community College

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Early Childhood Education degree at Monroe Community College

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Early Childhood Education degree at Front Range Community College

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Early Childhood Education degree at Western Oklahoma State College

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Early Childhood Education degree at Muskegon Community College

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Early Childhood Education degree at Lebanon Valley College

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Early Childhood Education degree at Pima Community College

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Early Childhood Education degree at College of Central Florida

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Early Childhood Education degree at Bluegrass Community and Technical College

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Early Childhood Education degree at Baltimore City Community College

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Early Childhood Education degree at College of Southern Idaho

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Early Childhood Education degree at Chattanooga State Community College

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Early Childhood Education degree at Southwestern Assemblies of God University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Early Childhood Education degree at Lewis–Clark State College

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Early Childhood Education degree at Onondaga Community College

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Early Childhood Education degree at State College of Florida, Manatee–Sarasota

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Early Childhood Education degree at Southwest Tennessee Community College

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Early Childhood Education degree at Cleveland State Community College

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Early Childhood Education degree at Bakersfield College