Early Childhood Education Degree in Columbia, MO — Salary & ROI 2026
Early Childhood Education degree analysis for Columbia, MO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$42K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$38K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7 yrs
in Columbia
Cost of Living
84
index (100 = avg)
Early Childhood Education in Columbia, MO Overview
Columbia, Missouri (pop. 126,254) has 10 colleges offering Early Childhood Education programs. The local cost of living index of 84 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $1,005/month. Early Childhood Education enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Child Development and Play-Based Learning. The adjusted starting salary in Columbia is approximately $42,000.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
10
Public Tuition
$11,142/yr
Private Tuition
$31,070/yr
Room & Board
$10,910/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,890/yr
Unemployment
3.4%
Graduation Rate
63%
Early Childhood Education Salary in Columbia (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Columbia's cost of living index of 84 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Early Childhood Education salary: $50,000 starting, $45,000 mid-career, $52,000 senior level.Columbia adjustment factor: 0.84x based on the local cost of living index.
Early Childhood Education ROI Calculator for Columbia
Estimate your return on investment for a Early Childhood Education degree using local Columbia tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,142 | Private avg: $31,070
Columbia avg aid: $16,890/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$88,208
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,600
vs HS diploma in Columbia
ROI Payback Period
7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Columbia
$62,992
Lifetime earnings premium ($151,200) minus total education cost ($88,208)
Student Loan Payoff for Early Childhood Education in Columbia
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Columbia for Early Childhood Education
University of Missouri
public
$11,142/yr
$44,568 total
Stephens College
private
$31,070/yr
$124,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Moberly Area Community College Columbia
$3,900/yr
Top Employers for Early Childhood Education in Columbia
Columbia offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Early Childhood Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Columbia Hiring Sectors for Education
School districts
Universities
EdTech companies
Non-profits
Training organizations
Common Early Childhood Education Job Titles
Early Childhood Education in Nearby Missouri Cities
Kansas City, MO
$47K starting · COL 94
44 colleges
St. Louis, MO
$49K starting · COL 97
23 colleges
Springfield, MO
$40K starting · COL 80
5 colleges
Independence, MO
$43K starting · COL 85.8
5 colleges
Lee's Summit, MO
$48K starting · COL 95.5
4 colleges
OFallon, MO
$44K starting · COL 87.3
4 colleges
St. Joseph, MO
$45K starting · COL 90.4
3 colleges
St. Charles, MO
$42K starting · COL 83.4
3 colleges
Other Education Majors in Columbia
Instructional Design & Technology
$42K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$42K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$42K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Elementary Education
$42K starting · 5 yr ROI
Special Education
$42K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Music Education
$42K starting · 6 yr ROI
Physical Education
$42K starting · 5 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education Degree in Columbia — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Early Childhood Education ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Columbia.