Early Childhood Education Degree in Port St. Lucie, FL — Salary & ROI 2026
Early Childhood Education degree analysis for Port St. Lucie, FL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$49K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$44K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.6 yrs
in Port St. Lucie
Cost of Living
98.5
index (100 = avg)
Early Childhood Education in Port St. Lucie, FL Overview
Port St. Lucie, Florida (pop. 217,573) has 8 colleges offering Early Childhood Education programs. The local cost of living index of 98.5 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,020/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 Port St. Lucie is approximately $49,250.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
8
Public Tuition
$6,400/yr
Private Tuition
$30,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,301/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,088/yr
Unemployment
3.1%
Graduation Rate
55%
Early Childhood Education Salary in Port St. Lucie (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Port St. Lucie's cost of living index of 98.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Early Childhood Education salary: $50,000 starting, $45,000 mid-career, $52,000 senior level.Port St. Lucie adjustment factor: 0.98x based on the local cost of living index.
Early Childhood Education ROI Calculator for Port St. Lucie
Estimate your return on investment for a Early Childhood Education degree using local Port St. Lucie tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $6,400 | Private avg: $30,000
Port St. Lucie avg aid: $9,088/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$82,804
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$14,775
vs HS diploma in Port St. Lucie
ROI Payback Period
5.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Port St. Lucie
$94,496
Lifetime earnings premium ($177,300) minus total education cost ($82,804)
Student Loan Payoff for Early Childhood Education in Port St. Lucie
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Port St. Lucie for Early Childhood Education
Port St. Lucie State University
public
$6,581/yr
$26,324 total
University of Port St. Lucie
public
$7,114/yr
$28,456 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Port St. Lucie Community College
$5,508/yr
Florida Technical College - Port St. Lucie
$5,038/yr
Top Employers for Early Childhood Education in Port St. Lucie
Port St. Lucie offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Early Childhood Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Port St. Lucie Hiring Sectors for Education
School districts
Universities
EdTech companies
Non-profits
Training organizations
Common Early Childhood Education Job Titles
Early Childhood Education in Nearby Florida Cities
Jacksonville, FL
$59K starting · COL 117
35 colleges
Miami, FL
$49K starting · COL 98
12 colleges
Tampa, FL
$51K starting · COL 101
26 colleges
Orlando, FL
$48K starting · COL 96
16 colleges
St. Petersburg, FL
$49K starting · COL 97
22 colleges
Hialeah, FL
$39K starting · COL 78
22 colleges
Tallahassee, FL
$45K starting · COL 89
11 colleges
Cape Coral, FL
$49K starting · COL 97.8
7 colleges
Other Education Majors in Port St. Lucie
Instructional Design & Technology
$49K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$49K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$49K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Elementary Education
$49K starting · 5 yr ROI
Special Education
$49K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Music Education
$49K starting · 6 yr ROI
Physical Education
$49K starting · 5 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education Degree in Port St. Lucie — 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 Port St. Lucie.