100 Best colleges for Early Childhood Education in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Early Childhood Education. A graph of 1.18M citations received by 34.9K academic papers made by 211 universities in the United States was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Early Childhood Education

#1 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

2. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Early Childhood Education

#2 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

3. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Early Childhood Education

#3 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

4. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Early Childhood Education

#4 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

5. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Early Childhood Education

#5 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

6. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Early Childhood Education

#6 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

7. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Early Childhood Education

#7 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

8. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Early Childhood Education

#8 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

9. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Early Childhood Education

#9 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1214
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

10. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Early Childhood Education

#10 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

11. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Early Childhood Education

#11 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

12. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Early Childhood Education

#12 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

13. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Early Childhood Education

#13 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

14. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Early Childhood Education

#14 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

15. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Early Childhood Education

#15 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

16. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Early Childhood Education

#16 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

17. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Early Childhood Education

#17 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

18. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Early Childhood Education

#18 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 79%

19. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Early Childhood Education

#19 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

20. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Early Childhood Education

#20 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

21. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Early Childhood Education

#21 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

22. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Early Childhood Education

#22 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

23. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Early Childhood Education

#23 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

24. University of North Carolina at Charlotte

North Carolina | Charlotte

For Early Childhood Education

#24 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 75%

25. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Early Childhood Education

#25 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 94%

26. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Early Childhood Education

#26 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

27. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Early Childhood Education

#27 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

28. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Early Childhood Education

#28 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

29. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Early Childhood Education

#29 in North America

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

30. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Early Childhood Education

#31 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

31. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Early Childhood Education

#32 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

32. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Early Childhood Education

#33 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

33. University of North Carolina at Greensboro

North Carolina | Greensboro

For Early Childhood Education

#35 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1253
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 92%

34. Utah State University

Utah | Logan

For Early Childhood Education

#36 in North America

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 92%

35. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Early Childhood Education

#37 in North America

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

36. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Early Childhood Education

#38 in North America

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

37. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Early Childhood Education

#39 in North America

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

38. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Early Childhood Education

#40 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

39. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Early Childhood Education

#41 in North America

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

40. Kent State University at Kent

Ohio | Kent

For Early Childhood Education

#42 in North America

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 97%

41. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Early Childhood Education

#43 in North America

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $48,215

42. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Early Childhood Education

#44 in North America

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

43. University of Nevada - Las Vegas

Nevada | Las Vegas

For Early Childhood Education

#45 in North America

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 94%

44. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Early Childhood Education

#46 in North America

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

45. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Early Childhood Education

#47 in North America

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $6,347

46. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Early Childhood Education

#48 in North America

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

47. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Early Childhood Education

#49 in North America

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

48. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Early Childhood Education

#50 in North America

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

49. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Early Childhood Education

#51 in North America

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $14,837
Enrollment: 29,640

50. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Early Childhood Education

#52 in North America

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

51. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Early Childhood Education

#53 in North America

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

52. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Early Childhood Education

#54 in North America

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

53. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Early Childhood Education

#55 in North America

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

54. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Early Childhood Education

#56 in North America

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

55. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Early Childhood Education

#57 in North America

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

56. Northern Illinois University

Illinois | DeKalb

For Early Childhood Education

#58 in North America

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $14,387
Enrollment: 15,414

57. University of Vermont

Vermont | Burlington

For Early Childhood Education

#59 in North America

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 95%

58. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Early Childhood Education

#61 in North America

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

59. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Early Childhood Education

#62 in North America

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

60. University of Northern Colorado

Colorado | Greeley

For Early Childhood Education

#63 in North America

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1070
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 97%

61. Lehigh University

Pennsylvania | Bethlehem

For Early Childhood Education

#65 in North America

#99 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $34,154

62. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Early Childhood Education

#66 in North America

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 92%

63. University of Northern Iowa

Iowa State | Cedar Falls

For Early Childhood Education

#67 in North America

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 84%

64. Illinois State University

Illinois | Normal

For Early Childhood Education

#68 in North America

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 98%

65. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Early Childhood Education

#69 in North America

#105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

66. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Early Childhood Education

#70 in North America

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

67. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Early Childhood Education

#71 in North America

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

68. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Early Childhood Education

#72 in North America

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

69. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Early Childhood Education

#73 in North America

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $24,355
Enrollment: 26,384

70. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Early Childhood Education

#74 in North America

#110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

71. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Early Childhood Education

#76 in North America

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,078

72. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Early Childhood Education

#78 in North America

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

73. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Early Childhood Education

#79 in North America

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

74. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Early Childhood Education

#81 in North America

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

75. Ball State University

Indiana | Muncie

For Early Childhood Education

#82 in North America

#123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 91%

76. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Early Childhood Education

#83 in North America

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

77. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Early Childhood Education

#84 in North America

#125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

78. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Early Childhood Education

#85 in North America

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 92%

79. Peninsula College

Washington | Port Angeles

For Early Childhood Education

#86 in North America

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $7,157
Enrollment: 2,153

80. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Early Childhood Education

#87 in North America

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $16,694

81. SUNY at Albany

New York State | Albany

For Early Childhood Education

#88 in North America

#135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $11,210
Enrollment: 17,560

82. San Francisco State University

California | San Francisco

For Early Childhood Education

#89 in North America

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Receiving Aid: 81%
Average Aid: $12,996
Enrollment: 22,563

83. University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii | Honolulu

For Early Childhood Education

#90 in North America

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1187
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 76%

84. San Diego State University

California | San Diego

For Early Childhood Education

#91 in North America

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Receiving Aid: 62%
Average Aid: $12,053
Enrollment: 41,137

85. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Early Childhood Education

#92 in North America

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 88%

86. Old Dominion University

Virginia | Norfolk

For Early Childhood Education

#94 in North America

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1190
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 94%

87. University of Memphis

Tennessee | Memphis

For Early Childhood Education

#95 in North America

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1048
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 95%

88. Boston College

Massachusetts | Boston

For Early Childhood Education

#96 in North America

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,519

89. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Early Childhood Education

#97 in North America

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

90. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Early Childhood Education

#98 in North America

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 95%

91. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Early Childhood Education

#99 in North America

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

92. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Early Childhood Education

#100 in North America

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

93. University of Massachusetts - Boston

Massachusetts | Boston

For Early Childhood Education

#101 in North America

#168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 92%

94. University of Texas at San Antonio

Texas | San Antonio

For Early Childhood Education

#102 in North America

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1110
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 86%

95. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Early Childhood Education

#103 in North America

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

96. Appalachian State University

North Carolina | Boone

For Early Childhood Education

#105 in North America

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1200
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 69%

97. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Early Childhood Education

#106 in North America

#177 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

98. Florida Atlantic University

Florida | Boca Raton

For Early Childhood Education

#107 in North America

#178 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1120
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

99. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Early Childhood Education

#108 in North America

#181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

100. Cleveland State University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Early Childhood Education

#109 in North America

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Receiving Aid: 90%
Average Aid: $9,795
Enrollment: 14,074

The best cities to study Early Childhood Education in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Lawrence, Nashville, Charlottesville, and Chapel Hill.