Early Childhood Education Degree in Santa Rosa, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Early Childhood Education degree analysis for Santa Rosa, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$64K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$57K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.3 yrs
in Santa Rosa
Cost of Living
127
index (100 = avg)
Early Childhood Education in Santa Rosa, CA Overview
Santa Rosa, California (pop. 178,127) has 12 colleges offering Early Childhood Education programs. The local cost of living index of 127 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,113/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 Rosa is approximately $63,500.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
12
Public Tuition
$7,724/yr
Private Tuition
$56,404/yr
Room & Board
$12,528/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,165/yr
Unemployment
6.6%
Graduation Rate
47%
Early Childhood Education Salary in Santa Rosa (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Santa Rosa's cost of living index of 127 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Early Childhood Education salary: $50,000 starting, $45,000 mid-career, $52,000 senior level.Santa Rosa adjustment factor: 1.27x based on the local cost of living index.
Early Childhood Education ROI Calculator for Santa Rosa
Estimate your return on investment for a Early Childhood Education degree using local Santa Rosa tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,724 | Private avg: $56,404
Santa Rosa avg aid: $13,165/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$81,008
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$19,050
vs HS diploma in Santa Rosa
ROI Payback Period
4.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Santa Rosa
$147,592
Lifetime earnings premium ($228,600) minus total education cost ($81,008)
Student Loan Payoff for Early Childhood Education in Santa Rosa
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Santa Rosa for Early Childhood Education
Sonoma State University
public
$7,724/yr
$30,896 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Santa Rosa Junior College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Early Childhood Education in Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Early Childhood Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Santa Rosa 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 Rosa
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 Santa Rosa — 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 Rosa.