Early Childhood Education Degree in Lee's Summit, MO — Salary & ROI 2026
Early Childhood Education degree analysis for Lee's Summit, MO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$48K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$43K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.8 yrs
in Lee's Summit
Cost of Living
95.5
index (100 = avg)
Early Childhood Education in Lee's Summit, MO Overview
While Lee's Summit has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Early Childhood Education students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $14,180/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. 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 Lee's Summit is approximately $47,750.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$10,200/yr
Private Tuition
$30,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,180/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,461/yr
Unemployment
2.8%
Graduation Rate
45%
Early Childhood Education Salary in Lee's Summit (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lee's Summit's cost of living index of 95.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Early Childhood Education salary: $50,000 starting, $45,000 mid-career, $52,000 senior level.Lee's Summit adjustment factor: 0.95x based on the local cost of living index.
Early Childhood Education ROI Calculator for Lee's Summit
Estimate your return on investment for a Early Childhood Education degree using local Lee's Summit tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,200 | Private avg: $30,000
Lee's Summit avg aid: $8,461/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$97,520
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$14,325
vs HS diploma in Lee's Summit
ROI Payback Period
6.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lee's Summit
$74,380
Lifetime earnings premium ($171,900) minus total education cost ($97,520)
Student Loan Payoff for Early Childhood Education in Lee's Summit
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lee's Summit for Early Childhood Education
Lee's Summit State University
public
$9,311/yr
$37,244 total
University of Lee's Summit
public
$11,299/yr
$45,196 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Lee's Summit Community College
$5,472/yr
Top Employers for Early Childhood Education in Lee's Summit
Lee's Summit offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Early Childhood Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lee's Summit 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
Columbia, MO
$42K starting · COL 84
10 colleges
Independence, MO
$43K starting · COL 85.8
5 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 Lee's Summit
Instructional Design & Technology
$48K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$48K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$48K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Elementary Education
$48K starting · 5 yr ROI
Special Education
$48K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Music Education
$48K starting · 6 yr ROI
Physical Education
$48K starting · 5 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education Degree in Lee's Summit — 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 Lee's Summit.