Early Childhood Education Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Education and development of children from birth through age eight.
Starting Salary
$50K
median
Mid-Career
$45K
salary
ROI Payback
6 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
2%
rate
Early Childhood Education Overview
Education and development of children from birth through age eight.
Category
Education
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Graduation Rate
68%
Enrollment Trend
stable
Online Available
Yes
Underemployment
10%
Lifetime Premium
$180K
Female Graduates
92%
Early Childhood Education Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$13,500
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$13,500
after scholarships
ROI Payback
1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$166,500
Lifetime earnings premium ($180,000) minus net degree cost ($13,500)
Early Childhood Education Salary Progression
Common Early Childhood Education Careers
Preschool Teacher
Child Development Specialist
Head Start Director
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Early Childhood Education
#1
Vanderbilt
#2
University of Virginia
#3
Bank Street College
#4
Erikson Institute
#5
University of Georgia
Related Majors
Early Childhood Education Degree FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Enrollment and graduation data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES/IPEDS). Tuition estimates based on College Board Annual Survey of Colleges. Last updated March 2026.
Early Childhood Education Programs by City
Tuition, salary outcomes, and cost of living for early childhood education programs vary by city. See your local numbers:
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