Advancing your career in early childhood education shouldn't mean taking on tremendous student debt.
Early childhood education students are looking for ways to affordably earn a bachelor's degree and advance their professional career, not be riddled with student loans and debt. A flexible degree that allows you to take classes and be gainfully employed at the same time is even better.
Sound like an impossible dream? Happily, it is not. With the many affordable online bachelor in early education degrees available, graduating without carrying tremendous debt can be a reality.
Other online degrees offer this opportunity as well. Take a look at College Choice's Most Affordable Online Schools to learn more.
Preschool teachers drew a median pay of about $30,000 per year in 2018, while preschool and child care directors made $47,940 in the same period. Education makes a difference in which job title one can attain, as preschool teachers need only an associate degree, while a bachelor's in early childhood education provides a chance at directorial positions.
Job growth prospects for both teachers and early childhood administrators look promising. Bureau of Labor Statistics projections for both fields indicate solid growth, outstripping the national average for all positions. Motivated graduates in this field should be able to find work, though those who have prior experience working with young children tend to have an easier time landing jobs.
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What are the financial gains in early childhood education?
Compensation in early childhood education differs based on the organizations in which they work. Those who work for local schools tend to make more money, while those working in day care organizations or religious institutions pull down lower salaries. Compensation for preschool teachers with day care organizations can dip below $28,000 per year, while those who work for state or local private schools can make more than $45,000.
How do online classes work?
Online classes are easy to access and offer extreme flexibility. Depending on your instructor and institution, classes may meet at a set time each week or otherwise can be completed when your schedule allows in the term. School's offer technology support and instructors are familiar with the unique demands of online classes. Ipads or other tablet devices and software suites are sometimes bundled into tuition, making logging in and completing coursework even easier.
How can I maximize affordability in my degree?
Researching our list of affordable programs is the place to start. Combining a high-quality, low-dollar program with financial aid assistance offered through the school, from current employers (who often have tuition matching or reimbursement programs) and from private scholarships is next.
Carefully vetting any credits that you may wish to transfer in from a previous school is important too. If you are able to pursue your degree while working, that is even better. Online education's flexibility will enable this to happen.
Carefully vetting any credits that you may wish to transfer in from a previous school is important too. If you are able to pursue your degree while working, that is even better. Online education's flexibility will enable this to happen.
What are the Most Affordable Early Childhood Education Degrees?
If you want to find an early childhood education degree program that will equip you to teach without emptying out your bank account, take a look at these rankings. Every program has received a rank based on available data from U.S. News & World Report and Payscale.com, as well as information found on individual schools' websites.
Programs that rank highly have a mix of solid academic quality, return on investment, and reported student satisfaction. Each of these categories takes multiple metrics into account, such as a school's graduation rate, student-to-faculty ratio, student reviews, and early career salaries for graduates.
Rankings
See our rankings methodology page.
