<a href="https://www.onlinemasterscolleges.com/masters-in-early-childhood-education-online/">Early Childhood Education Online</a>

College Name & Address	Tuition	Graduation Rate
#1 Clemson University 201 Sikes Hall, Clemson, South Carolina 29634	$10,600	84%
#2 Auburn University Auburn, Alabama 36849	$10,080	79%
#3 West Chester University of Pennsylvania University Avenue and High Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania 19383	$9,288	77%
#4 University of Dayton 300 College Park, Dayton, Ohio 45469	$17,730	82%
#5 University of Houston, Clear Lake 2700 Bay Area Blvd, Houston, Texas 77058	$7,920	NA
#6 Biola University 13800 Biola Ave, La Mirada, California 90639	$11,772	74%
#7 University of Missouri 105 Jesse Hall, Columbia, Missouri 65211	$9,478	71%
#8 George Mason University 4400 University Dr, Fairfax, Virginia 22030	$12,594	71%
#9 Martin Luther College 1995 Luther Ct, New Ulm, Minnesota 56073	$5,400	69%
#10 California State University, Fullerton 800 N State College Blvd, Fullerton, California 92831	$7,176	69%
#11 University of Mississippi Oxford, Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677	$8,718	66%
#12 Ball State University 2000 University Ave, Muncie, Indiana 47306	$9,328	67%
#13 Concordia University, Nebraska 800 N Columbia Ave, Seward, Nebraska 68434	$8,650	64%
#14 Kansas State University 919 Mid-Campus Drive, Anderson Hall, Manhattan, Kansas 66506	$10,212	65%
#15 University at Albany 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12222	$11,310	63%
#16 University of North Dakota 264 Centennial Drive, Stop 8193, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58202	$11,060	61%
#17 University of Colorado, Denver 1380 Lawrence Street, Lawrence Street Center, Suite 1400, Denver, Colorado 80217	$6,786	52%
#18 Georgia Southern University 1332 Southern Drive, Statesboro, Georgia 30460	$4,986	50%
#19 Liberty University 1971 University Blvd, Lynchburg, Virginia 24515	$7,935	47%
#20 Kennesaw State University 1000 Chastain Rd, Kennesaw, Georgia 30144	$5,328	46%

Source – Integrated Post Secondary Education Data System & University Data
*Tuition rates are for in-state and per year. Program specific rates may apply.
**NA – data not available

<a href="https://www.onlinemasterscolleges.com/masters-in-early-childhood-education-online/">Early Childhood Education Online</a>

College Name & Address	Tuition	Graduation Rate
#1 Texas A & M University 2600 South Neal Street, Commerce, Texas 75428-3011	$3,630	43%
#2 Valdosta State University 1500 N Patterson St, Valdosta, Georgia 31698	$4,572	40%
#3 Georgia Southern University 1332 Southern Drive, Statesboro, Georgia 30460	$4,986	50%
#4 University of North Carolina, Greensboro 1400 Spring Garden St, Greensboro, North Carolina 27402	$5,219	59%
#5 Stephen F. Austin State University 2008 Alumni Drive, Rusk 206, Nacogdoches, Texas 75961	$5,262	52%
#6 Kennesaw State University 1000 Chastain Rd, Kennesaw, Georgia 30144	$5,328	46%
#7 University of West Alabama Station One, Livingston, Alabama 35470	$6,678	35%
#8 University of Colorado, Denver 1380 Lawrence Street, Lawrence Street Center, Suite 1400, Denver, Colorado 80217	$6,786	52%
#9 Liberty University 1971 University Blvd, Lynchburg, Virginia 24515	$7,935	47%
#10 University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point 2100 Main St, Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54481	$8,066	60%
#11 University of Alabama Administration Bldg Suite 1070, Birmingham, Alabama 35294	$8,100	63%
#12 East Tennessee State University 1276 Gilbreath Drive, Johnson City, Tennessee 37614	$8,640	50%
#13 Northern Arizona University 1900 S Knoles Dr, Babbitt Administrative Center, Room 200, Flagstaff, Arizona 86011	$10,309	57%
#14 University of North Dakota 264 Centennial Drive, Stop 8193, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58202	$11,060	61%
#15 University at Albany 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12222	$11,310	63%
#16 National Louis University 122 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, Illinois 60603	$11,646	22%
#17 University of Toledo 2801 W Bancroft, Toledo, Ohio 43606	$14,398	50%
#18 Portland State University 724 SW Harrison, Portland, Oregon 97201	$14,652	48%
#19 Capella University 225 South 6th Street, 9th Floor, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402	$14,767	NA
#20 Mercer University 1501 Mercer University Drive, Macon, Georgia 31207	$14,964	66%

Source – Integrated Post Secondary Education Data System & University Data
*Tuition rates are for in-state and per year. Program specific rates may apply.
**NA – data not available

Early childhood careers can be very demanding and quite a challenge. Delving deeper into developmentally relevant teaching techniques, methodology, and skills can be rewarding and enriching. A Master’s in Early Childhood Education emphasizes theoretical, practical, and research aspects of child development and trains students to professionally educate children from birth to age 8 (Grade 2 or 3). It is also common for students of the program to learn how toddlers and young children acquire language skills and how they develop emotionally, cognitively, and socially. Most programs will include study, training, and sometimes a practicum or capstone project as well.

To put it in a nutshell, a Master’s in Early Childhood Education will give students a deeper understanding of child development and learning and the experience and practical skills they will need to succeed in positions both within and outside the classroom.

Masters in Early Childhood Education Degree Types

A Master’s in Early Childhood Education has three known types of Degrees – an M.Ed. or Master of Education in Early Childhood Education, an MA or Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education, and an MS or Master of Science in Early Childhood Education.

Specializations in Masters in Early Childhood Education Programs

A Master’s in Early Childhood Education online program concentrates on the larger Masters in Education program. While the degree may be adequate to pursue exciting careers, specializations are always recommended to be better employed and paid. Here are a few specialization options in addition to an online Child Development Master’s Degree one could consider:

• Children, Families, and Societies
• The Early Childhood Learning Environment
• Early Childhood Education Practicum
• Teaching Diversity in Early Childhood Education
• Infant and Child Development
• Early Childhood Reading and Literacy Instruction
• Administration Management and Leadership

Curriculum and Skills Gained in Masters in Early Childhood Education Programs

The curriculum for Early Childhood Studies university courses is pretty much the same across the different types of degrees. They essentially seek to help students better understand a child’s developmental stages and how teaching methods should adapt accordingly. Frequently, programs include courses that teach students how to stoke a child’s curiosity, foster learning, and improve outcomes. Topics such as continuous assessment and progress mapping are also prevalent.

In general, students will have regular courses coupled with special education courses, methods courses, and a practicum/internship or capstone, or both. All this, of course, depends on the college and program in question, and students must therefore read the Program Guidelines or Prospectus carefully to understand the subjects/courses on offer and whether they suit their requirements or not. Some of the courses that one can expect in a Master’s in Early Childhood Education program are:

• Observing and Recording the Behavior of Young Children
• Psychological Foundations of Learning
• Curriculum Development
• Social and Emotional Learning
• Create and Motor Learning
• Early Childhood Development, Learning, and Motivation
• Literacy Development
• Issues in Family Science
• Parent Education
• Foundations of Early Childhood
• Child, Family, Community, and Philosophy of Early Childhood Education
• Integrated Curriculum in Early Childhood
• Multicultural Education
• Individualized Coaching and Field Experiences
• Career Coaching for Educators
• Early Childhood Assessment
• Early Childhood Special Education
• Developmental Disabilities
• Strategies and Materials for Teaching Emergent Literacy & Social Studies

Note: Some MS Programs will also require a Master’s Thesis to be submitted.

Apart from developing creative, organization, communication, and interpersonal skills, graduates of a Master’s in Early Childhood Education will have the ability to:

• understand the various stages of child development and how children learn and grow;
• develop and implement techniques to observe, document, and assess learning;
• identify each child’s unique strengths, weaknesses, qualities, and learning needs;
• develop assessment tools for formative and summative evaluation of  student’s progress;
• collaborate responsibly and ethically with parents, caregivers, and educators;
• encourage children to question, investigate, understand, acquire skills and create their own knowledge;
• support linguistically and culturally diverse learners;
• support learners with disabilities with the assistance of, or in collaboration with, other professionals;
• develop curriculum that teaches core concepts and tools of inquiry that suit students’ interests and developmental levels;
• create learning environments that nurture the learning, development, and self-esteem of all children;
• research and devise new approaches, techniques, and methodologies that engage and interest students; and
• interpret and apply educational research related to early childhood, child development, and teaching and learning strategies.

Accreditation for Masters in Early Childhood Education Programs

Accredited online schools for Early Childhood Education will have programs endorsed and recognized by State and Federal Education Authorities. Even so, prospective candidates should always check with their State’s Education Department to see whether the chosen Master’s Program qualifies graduates for teacher licensure or not, as norms and compliance requirements vary from state to state.

One of the accreditation bodies is the NAEYC Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs, which grants the NAEYC Higher Education Accreditation to an ECE program at the associate, baccalaureate, and master’s degree levels that prepare students to work in the field of early childhood. Another reputed one is the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) that accredits ECE programs for quality in educator preparation.

Read the Guide on Accreditation to better understand why accreditation is important when choosing an Early Childhood Education Master’s program.

Timeline for graduation from Masters in Early Childhood Education Online Programs

More than a handful of colleges use the credit hour system and require a student to have 36 to 48 credit hours to graduate from a Master’s in Early Childhood Education online program. However, in certain cases, colleges allow the transfer of credit hours from accredited programs taken up in another university, which will bring down the course duration. All things considered, the average time it takes to complete an Early Childhood Education Master’s Degree is about two years. Typical in-takes at colleges are in the Spring and Fall but vary by college and program.

There is also an option to enroll for a Bachelor’s and Master’s Dual-Degree Program, which generally requires a total of about 150+ credit hours and is designed to be completed in 5 years (includes two summers).

Masters in Early Childhood Education Online Programs Admission Requirements

The first basic requirement for a Master’s in Early Childhood Education is a Bachelor’s Degree. Quite naturally, and depending on the program opted for, students may need a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.), Bachelor of Science (BS), or Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree, preferably in a stream related to education. Other admission requirements are quite standard: Academic Transcripts, Letters of Recommendation, and a Personal Statement or Statement of Purpose. Some colleges may additionally require a Teaching Certificate and some teaching experience as well, along with a Resume.

As for scores, a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 is usually necessary. While standardized test scores of GRE or GMAT are usually not asked for, GRE scores may be required for students who do not meet the minimum GPA.

The Education Industry is always in need of professionals in the field of teaching and training at various levels of education. Roles such as administration and management are also equally in demand, as are counselors and education technology experts. A Master’s in Early Childhood Education online degree will bring with it a wide range of career paths and options, some of which include but are not limited to:

• Instructional Technologist
• Counselor
• Child and Family Advocate
• Child Development Instructor
• Special Education Teacher
• Home or Private Tutor, Online Tutor
• Child Care Administrator
• Director or Owner of a Childcare Centre
• Preschool or School Director, or Administrator
• Teacher Trainer
• Professional Development Facilitator
• Lecturer in Early Childhood Education
• Program Administrator for Early Childhood Programs
• Curriculum Designer and Developer
• Public Policy Coordinator
• Researcher
• Teacher, Lecturer, Professor, Principal
• Education Consultant
• Education Technology Specialist

When it comes to salary, the primary role of an individual and the chosen career path defines how much the salary could be. For example, Payscale reports that Preschool Teachers (but not Special Education) can earn about $33,000 on average, while an Executive Director of a Preschool can take home about $72,000 on average. Early Childhood Educators can expect an average annual pay of $37,000, and Program Coordinators for Non-Profit Organizations, about $47,000 on average. Similarly, Special Education Teachers can expect a median annual salary of $49,338.

Certifications considerably boost the value and credibility of a Master’s Degree and open out innumerable career options to choose from. A Graduate Certificate helps in finding a more specific job within the larger scope of Early Childhood Education and often translates to better pay and career prospects. For example, ECE students could consider certification programs such as the Bilingual/ESL Education Certificate, Dual Language Principal Leadership Certificate, or Special Education, LBS1 Endorsement Certificate. These are just a few from a wide range of certification courses.

An important point to note is that students should always ensure that a Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education online program is accredited by an industry-recognized body. One such accreditation authority is the Middle States Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, which accredits several programs related to Early Childhood Education.

Apart from a graduate certificate in Early Childhood Education online that is accredited by a recognized agency/body, Certification or Licensure is required to work in most education sectors or education-related sectors, some of which include:

• Elementary School Educators and Administrators.
• Child Development Professionals.
• Educators in Childcare Subsidy Funded Programs.
• Anyone directly involved in serving young children through Early Childhood Programs.
• Other related Professionals like Home Visitors, Early Intervention Specialists, Counselors, and Family Service workers.

As licensure requirements vary by state, graduates should check with their local Department of Education to understand guidelines and regulations applicable to their particular state.

To share experiences and deal with real-life situations, students of a Master’s in Early Childhood Education online program and professionals in the field should network and involve themselves in ECE communities. Furthermore, tapping into a variety of resources will always help in increasing knowledge and advancing careers. Some of the resources that can benefit ECE students and working professionals are:

1. Association of American Educators (AAE)
   AAE is the largest national professional educators’ organization, offering a modern approach to teacher representation and promoting professionalism, collaboration, and excellence among educators. The site has numerous useful resources and publications.
2. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
   ASCD is a huge repository for educators and those connected with the field of education, complete with books, videos, webinars, communities, conferences, and a whole lot more.
3. National Education Association
   NEA helps individuals achieve professional excellence and strengthens public education through collective action, advocacy, and policy change.
4. Early Childhood Education Zone
   The Early Childhood Education Zone has guides, blogs, articles, and much more for toddlers, preschoolers, elementary students, and families and teachers.
5. NYC Department of Education
   The NYC Department of Education’s Info Hub has everything from remote learning curricular resources to instructional guidance, templates, family childcare curriculum, and more.