Early Childhood Education Degree in Lexington, KY — Salary & ROI 2026
Early Childhood Education degree analysis for Lexington, KY. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$54K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$48K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.7 yrs
in Lexington
Cost of Living
107
index (100 = avg)
Early Childhood Education in Lexington, KY Overview
Lexington, Kentucky (pop. 322,570) has 14 colleges offering Early Childhood Education programs. The local cost of living index of 107 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,265/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 Lexington is approximately $53,500.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$12,360/yr
Private Tuition
$42,200/yr
Room & Board
$10,700/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,397/yr
Unemployment
6.4%
Graduation Rate
65%
Early Childhood Education Salary in Lexington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lexington's cost of living index of 107 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Early Childhood Education salary: $50,000 starting, $45,000 mid-career, $52,000 senior level.Lexington adjustment factor: 1.07x based on the local cost of living index.
Early Childhood Education ROI Calculator for Lexington
Estimate your return on investment for a Early Childhood Education degree using local Lexington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,360 | Private avg: $42,200
Lexington avg aid: $8,397/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$92,240
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,050
vs HS diploma in Lexington
ROI Payback Period
5.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lexington
$100,360
Lifetime earnings premium ($192,600) minus total education cost ($92,240)
Student Loan Payoff for Early Childhood Education in Lexington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lexington for Early Childhood Education
University of Kentucky
public
$12,360/yr
$49,440 total
Transylvania University
private
$42,200/yr
$168,800 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
$4,680/yr
Top Employers for Early Childhood Education in Lexington
Lexington offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Early Childhood Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lexington Hiring Sectors for Education
School districts
Universities
EdTech companies
Non-profits
Training organizations
Common Early Childhood Education Job Titles
Early Childhood Education in Nearby Kentucky Cities
Other Education Majors in Lexington
Instructional Design & Technology
$54K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$54K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$54K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Elementary Education
$54K starting · 5 yr ROI
Special Education
$54K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Music Education
$54K starting · 6 yr ROI
Physical Education
$54K starting · 5 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education Degree in Lexington — 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 Lexington.