10 Affordable Early Childhood Education (ECE) Degrees

Whether you want to work in an elementary education setting, a Head Start program, or a childcare center, it helps to have a bachelor's degree in early childhood education. However, to work as a teacher in a public school, the degree is almost always mandatory.

While higher education can often be expensive, many affordable online early childhood degree programs won't break the bank. Keep reading to discover the top affordable early childhood education programs for 2025.

Top Affordable Early Childhood Education Degree Programs

Multiple colleges and universities across the U.S. offer affordable early childhood education degree programs, either by offering low tuition costs or hefty financial aid packages. We've highlighted ten of these programs below.

1. Arizona State University

Arizona State University is a public research university in Tempe, AZ. It offers a Bachelor of arts in early childhood education, as well as a master's degree in the field.

In-state undergraduate students pay an average of $13,353 per year in tuition and fees. However, numerous financial aid options exist, including the Arizona Promise Program, which covers the remaining tuition and fees after scholarships and grants have been applied.

2. Ball State University

Ball State University is a public research university in Muncie, IN. It offers several degrees in early childhood education, including:

• on-campus bachelor's degree in early childhood education that leads to teacher licensure
• online bachelor's degree in early childhood education, non-licensure
• on-campus bachelor's degree in early childhood and early childhood special education, licensure

Indiana residents pay $8,948 per year in tuition and fees. Out-of-state residents pay significantly more, but those in online programs don't pay quite as much. Ball State offers several scholarships to help students pay for their programs.

3. Florida State College at Jacksonville

Florida State College at Jacksonville is a public college in Jacksonville, FL. It offers a Bachelor of Science in early childhood education that covers topics like:

• assessment, evaluation, and diagnosis
• child development
• classroom management
• learning environments for young children

Florida residents pay $104.88 per credit for lower-division credits and $116.52 for upper-division credits. This means that full-time students planning to finish within four years will pay a minimum of $3,146.40 yearly.

4. Fort Hays State University

Fort Hays State University is a public university in Hays, KS. It offers a Bachelor of Science in early childhood education that teaches concepts such as:

• behavioral strategies and support
• curriculums for early childhood settings
• early childhood development
• special needs assessment

Residents of Kansas and several surrounding midwest states pay only $5,923.80 per year for full-time study, and residents of a handful of other midwest states pay $8,276.10 per year. The university also offers various scholarships.

5. Indiana University Bloomington

Indiana University Bloomington is a public research university in Bloomington, IN. It offers a Bachelor of Science in early childhood education that leads to dual Indiana state teachinger certification for teaching young children in infant, toddler, and preschool settings or kindergarten through 3rd-grade classrooms.

In-state students pay an average of $12,142 per year for tuition and fees. The university offers several scholarships, and early childhood education students can also take advantage of the state's TEACH Early Childhood scholarships.

6. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a public research university in Champaign, IL. It offers a Bachelor of Science in early childhood education that covers topics like:

• assessment of young learners
• child development and technology
• infancy and early childhood
• language and literacy in early childhood education

Indiana residents pay, on average, $12,712 per year when studying full-time. The college automatically considers students for scholarships when they enroll.

7. University of Missouri

The University of Missouri is a public land-grant research university in Columbia, MO. It offers a Bachelor of Science in early childhood education, as well as master's degree and PhD options.

On average, tuition for Missouri residents studying full-time is $14,830. However, in-state undergraduate students at Mizzou who are Pell Grant eligible will receive free tuition through the Missouri Land Grant.

8. University of Nebraska at Kearney

The University of Nebraska at Kearney is a public university in Kearney, NE. It offers an early childhood education bachelor's degree that offers on-campus and online courses, as well as multiple real-world field experiences in addition to student teaching.

In-state students pay just $6,690 per year, and the university extends that tuition rate to many out-of-state students as well. Additionally, several scholarship and financial aid options are available.

9. University of Virginia

The University of Virginia is a public research university in Charlottesville, VA. It offers a bachelor's early childhood education program that includes general education coursework and practicum in an elementary school.

Virginia residents studying full-time pay $15,784 per year in tuition and fees. The university also offers several scholarships to students in education bachelor's degree programs.

10. University of Washington

The University of Washington is a public research university in Seattle. It offers an online early childhood education bachelor's degree that students can take full-time or part-time.

Online students pay $231 per credit, regardless of their state of residency. The university offers several scholarships, including the Early Learning Equity Scholarship, which can completely cover the cost for students in the early childhood education program.

Financial Aid Options for Early Childhood Education Degrees

There are several financial aid options for students studying to work as preschool teachers or elementary school teachers. These include federal student aid, scholarships, and grants.

Federal Student Aid

To qualify for federal student aid, you'll need to fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. There are several federal aid programs, like the Pell Grant, that many students qualify for.

Additionally, education students can pursue the U.S. Department of Education's TEACH Grant, which provides education students up to $4,000 per year. To qualify, you must agree to teach in a low-income school district for at least four years after graduation.

Scholarships

Scholarships are a type of gift financial aid, meaning you are not required to pay them back. You can find scholarships for future teachers from your school, and also from independent organizations.

Scholarships are sometimes based on financial need, but they're more commonly awarded for a specific reason, like academic excellence. Some may cover up to the full cost of your tuition.

Grants

Various organizations offer grants for future teachers. Grants are similar to scholarships, but they are almost exclusively need-based. Government entities, colleges, and universities are the primary providers of grants.

Other Ways To Make Your ECE Degree More Affordable

There are other things you can do to help make your early childhood education program affordable. We've listed a few options below.

Choose an Online Early Childhood Education Degree

Online degrees are, in many cases, less expensive than in-person degrees. This is especially true for out-of-state students, as many institutions charge a lower rate or even the in-state rate to online students.

However, keep in mind that online programs are less likely to lead to teacher certification. Additionally, even if your coursework is online, you'll still need to do your student teaching in person.

Apply to an In-State School

Public colleges and universities offer lower tuition rates to in-state students as an incentive to keep students within the state. This goes a long way in helping their affordability, as many of these schools charge in-state students less than $10,000 per year. Public colleges are often significantly less than private schools as well.

Use Transfer Credits

Transfer credits are credit hours that you've earned elsewhere, like through an associate degree. By bringing these credits into a bachelor's degree program, they'll go toward your overall total and the time and money you've spent on these credits won't go to waste.

Earn Your Early Childhood Education Degree Today

If you're looking for a career that focuses on the education of young children, take a look at some of the accredited early childhood programs listed on Learn.org. Reach out to these schools today to request info, such as what teacher education programs they offer, what the admissions requirements are, and what the enrollment process looks like.