100 Best colleges for Early Childhood Education in the United States

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 845K citations received by 31.7K academic papers made by 298 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. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Early Childhood Education

#1 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

2. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Early Childhood Education

#2 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

3. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Early Childhood Education

#3 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

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: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
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: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

6. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Early Childhood Education

#6 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 63%

7. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Early Childhood Education

#7 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

8. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Early Childhood Education

#8 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

9. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Early Childhood Education

#9 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

10. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Early Childhood Education

#10 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

11. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Early Childhood Education

#11 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

12. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Early Childhood Education

#12 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $20,389
Enrollment: 26,420

13. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Early Childhood Education

#13 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

14. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Early Childhood Education

#14 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

15. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Early Childhood Education

#15 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

16. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Early Childhood Education

#16 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

17. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Early Childhood Education

#17 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

18. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Early Childhood Education

#18 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 74%

19. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Early Childhood Education

#19 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

20. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Early Childhood Education

#20 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

21. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Early Childhood Education

#21 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

22. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Early Childhood Education

#22 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

23. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Early Childhood Education

#23 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

24. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Early Childhood Education

#24 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

25. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Early Childhood Education

#25 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

26. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Early Childhood Education

#26 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

27. University of North Carolina at Charlotte

North Carolina | Charlotte

For Early Childhood Education

#27 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 75%

28. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Early Childhood Education

#28 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

29. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Early Childhood Education

#29 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 98%

30. Utah State University

Utah | Logan

For Early Childhood Education

#30 in North America

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1175
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

31. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Early Childhood Education

#31 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

32. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Early Childhood Education

#32 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

33. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Early Childhood Education

#35 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $36,467

34. University of North Carolina at Greensboro

North Carolina | Greensboro

For Early Childhood Education

#36 in North America

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1195
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

35. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Early Childhood Education

#37 in North America

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 85%
Average Aid: $5,963

36. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Early Childhood Education

#38 in North America

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 83%

37. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Early Childhood Education

#39 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 86%

38. University of Nevada - Las Vegas

Nevada | Las Vegas

For Early Childhood Education

#40 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1110
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 96%

39. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Early Childhood Education

#41 in North America

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,651

40. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Early Childhood Education

#42 in North America

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

41. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Early Childhood Education

#43 in North America

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 95%

42. Kent State University at Kent

Ohio | Kent

For Early Childhood Education

#44 in North America

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 98%

43. Northern Illinois University

Illinois | DeKalb

For Early Childhood Education

#45 in North America

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $12,552
Enrollment: 15,649

44. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Early Childhood Education

#46 in North America

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $24,034

45. University of Vermont

Vermont | Burlington

For Early Childhood Education

#47 in North America

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 98%

46. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Early Childhood Education

#48 in North America

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

47. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Early Childhood Education

#49 in North America

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

48. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Early Childhood Education

#50 in North America

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

49. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Early Childhood Education

#51 in North America

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

50. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Early Childhood Education

#52 in North America

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

51. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Early Childhood Education

#53 in North America

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 85%

52. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Early Childhood Education

#54 in North America

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

53. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Early Childhood Education

#55 in North America

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

54. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Early Childhood Education

#56 in North America

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

55. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Early Childhood Education

#57 in North America

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

56. Lehigh University

Pennsylvania | Bethlehem

For Early Childhood Education

#59 in North America

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $30,453

57. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Early Childhood Education

#60 in North America

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

58. University of Northern Iowa

Iowa State | Cedar Falls

For Early Childhood Education

#61 in North America

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1175
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 89%

59. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Early Childhood Education

#62 in North America

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

60. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Early Childhood Education

#63 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,575
Enrollment: 33,196

61. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Early Childhood Education

#64 in North America

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

62. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Early Childhood Education

#65 in North America

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

63. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Early Childhood Education

#66 in North America

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $22,042
Enrollment: 26,809

64. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Early Childhood Education

#67 in North America

#92 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

65. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Early Childhood Education

#68 in North America

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 91%

66. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Early Childhood Education

#69 in North America

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

67. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Early Childhood Education

#70 in North America

#98 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

68. San Francisco State University

California | San Francisco

For Early Childhood Education

#71 in North America

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Receiving Aid: 78%
Average Aid: $9,830
Enrollment: 25,282

69. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Early Childhood Education

#72 in North America

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

70. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Early Childhood Education

#74 in North America

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $9,280

71. Seattle University

Washington | Seattle

For Early Childhood Education

#75 in North America

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $35,412

72. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Early Childhood Education

#76 in North America

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

73. Illinois State University

Illinois | Normal

For Early Childhood Education

#77 in North America

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 98%

74. University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii | Honolulu

For Early Childhood Education

#78 in North America

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 80%

75. SUNY at Albany

New York State | Albany

For Early Childhood Education

#79 in North America

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

76. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Early Childhood Education

#80 in North America

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

77. University of Northern Colorado

Colorado | Greeley

For Early Childhood Education

#81 in North America

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1095
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 100%

78. University of Memphis

Tennessee | Memphis

For Early Childhood Education

#82 in North America

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1080
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 99%

79. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Early Childhood Education

#83 in North America

#123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 84%

80. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Early Childhood Education

#85 in North America

#126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1374
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $13,521

81. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Early Childhood Education

#86 in North America

#127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

82. Ball State University

Indiana | Muncie

For Early Childhood Education

#88 in North America

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1175
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

83. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Early Childhood Education

#89 in North America

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1110
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

84. San Diego State University

California | San Diego

For Early Childhood Education

#90 in North America

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $9,934
Enrollment: 37,402

85. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Early Childhood Education

#91 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

86. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Early Childhood Education

#92 in North America

#135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

87. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Early Childhood Education

#93 in North America

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $8,537
Enrollment: 19,722

88. Appalachian State University

North Carolina | Boone

For Early Childhood Education

#94 in North America

#142 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 70%

89. Cleveland State University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Early Childhood Education

#95 in North America

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1005
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 94%

90. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Early Childhood Education

#96 in North America

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

91. Old Dominion University

Virginia | Norfolk

For Early Childhood Education

#97 in North America

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 92%

92. Florida Atlantic University

Florida | Boca Raton

For Early Childhood Education

#98 in North America

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1110
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 92%

93. Albany State University

Georgia | Albany

For Early Childhood Education

#99 in North America

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $11,026
Enrollment: 6,334

94. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Early Childhood Education

#100 in North America

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,829

95. Boston College

Massachusetts | Boston

For Early Childhood Education

#102 in North America

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1488
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,559

96. University of Massachusetts - Boston

Massachusetts | Boston

For Early Childhood Education

#103 in North America

#160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1190
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 99%

97. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Early Childhood Education

#104 in North America

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $26,680

98. College of William and Mary

Virginia | Williamsburg

For Early Childhood Education

#105 in North America

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Average SAT: 1448
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 79%

99. CUNY Queens College

New York State | New York City

For Early Childhood Education

#106 in North America

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $7,927
Enrollment: 17,001

100. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Early Childhood Education

#107 in North America

#168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

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