Early Childhood Education Degree in Santa Clarita, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Early Childhood Education degree analysis for Santa Clarita, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$74K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$67K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.6 yrs
in Santa Clarita
Cost of Living
148.1
index (100 = avg)
Early Childhood Education in Santa Clarita, CA Overview
Santa Clarita, California (pop. 228,673) has 9 colleges offering Early Childhood Education programs. The local cost of living index of 148.1 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $2,100/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 Santa Clarita is approximately $74,050.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
9
Public Tuition
$14,500/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$16,381/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,814/yr
Unemployment
5.5%
Graduation Rate
66%
Early Childhood Education Salary in Santa Clarita (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Santa Clarita's cost of living index of 148.1 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Early Childhood Education salary: $50,000 starting, $45,000 mid-career, $52,000 senior level.Santa Clarita adjustment factor: 1.48x based on the local cost of living index.
Early Childhood Education ROI Calculator for Santa Clarita
Estimate your return on investment for a Early Childhood Education degree using local Santa Clarita tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,500 | Private avg: $42,000
Santa Clarita avg aid: $11,814/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$123,524
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$22,215
vs HS diploma in Santa Clarita
ROI Payback Period
5.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Santa Clarita
$143,056
Lifetime earnings premium ($266,580) minus total education cost ($123,524)
Student Loan Payoff for Early Childhood Education in Santa Clarita
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Santa Clarita for Early Childhood Education
Santa Clarita State University
public
$13,263/yr
$53,052 total
University of Santa Clarita
public
$16,216/yr
$64,864 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Santa Clarita Community College
$6,330/yr
California Technical College - Santa Clarita
$5,900/yr
Top Employers for Early Childhood Education in Santa Clarita
Santa Clarita offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Early Childhood Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Santa Clarita Hiring Sectors for Education
School districts
Universities
EdTech companies
Non-profits
Training organizations
Common Early Childhood Education Job Titles
Early Childhood Education in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$71K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$70K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$65K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$57K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$59K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$56K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$58K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$66K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other Education Majors in Santa Clarita
Instructional Design & Technology
$74K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$74K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$74K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Elementary Education
$74K starting · 5 yr ROI
Special Education
$74K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Music Education
$74K starting · 6 yr ROI
Physical Education
$74K starting · 5 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education Degree in Santa Clarita — 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 Santa Clarita.