Early Childhood Education Degree in Denver, CO — Salary & ROI 2026
Early Childhood Education degree analysis for Denver, CO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$64K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$58K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.5 yrs
in Denver
Cost of Living
128
index (100 = avg)
Early Childhood Education in Denver, CO Overview
Denver is one of Colorado's top college towns, with 31 institutions and a student population of 74,098. Public tuition averages $11,380/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. 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 Denver is approximately $64,000.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
31
Public Tuition
$11,380/yr
Private Tuition
$49,039/yr
Room & Board
$14,960/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,823/yr
Unemployment
5.8%
Graduation Rate
65%
Early Childhood Education Salary in Denver (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Denver's cost of living index of 128 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Early Childhood Education salary: $50,000 starting, $45,000 mid-career, $52,000 senior level.Denver adjustment factor: 1.28x based on the local cost of living index.
Early Childhood Education ROI Calculator for Denver
Estimate your return on investment for a Early Childhood Education degree using local Denver tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,380 | Private avg: $49,039
Denver avg aid: $8,823/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$105,360
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$19,200
vs HS diploma in Denver
ROI Payback Period
5.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Denver
$125,040
Lifetime earnings premium ($230,400) minus total education cost ($105,360)
Student Loan Payoff for Early Childhood Education in Denver
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Denver for Early Childhood Education
University of Colorado Denver
public
$11,380/yr
$45,520 total
University of Denver
private
$56,268/yr
$225,072 total
Regis University
private
$41,810/yr
$167,240 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Community College of Denver
$4,419/yr
Top Employers for Early Childhood Education in Denver
Denver offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Early Childhood Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Denver Hiring Sectors for Education
School districts
Universities
EdTech companies
Non-profits
Training organizations
Common Early Childhood Education Job Titles
Early Childhood Education in Nearby Colorado Cities
Colorado Springs, CO
$61K starting · COL 122
22 colleges
Aurora, CO
$56K starting · COL 111
28 colleges
Fort Collins, CO
$63K starting · COL 126
5 colleges
Lakewood, CO
$53K starting · COL 105.8
6 colleges
Thornton, CO
$51K starting · COL 102.5
6 colleges
Arvada, CO
$53K starting · COL 105.5
5 colleges
Westminster, CO
$52K starting · COL 103.8
5 colleges
Pueblo, CO
$61K starting · COL 122
13 colleges
Other Education Majors in Denver
Instructional Design & Technology
$64K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$64K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$64K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Elementary Education
$64K starting · 5 yr ROI
Special Education
$64K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Music Education
$64K starting · 6 yr ROI
Physical Education
$64K starting · 5 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education Degree in Denver — 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 Denver.