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Early childhood specialist education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become an early childhood specialist. Early childhood specialists usually study early childhood education, human development, or psychology. 59% of early childhood specialists hold a bachelor's degree, and 21% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 1,348 real early childhood specialist resumes to see exactly what early childhood specialist education sections show.
The most common colleges for early childhood specialists are the Arkansas State University and the Arkansas State University.
There are also many online early childhood specialist courses to help get the education required to be an early childhood specialist.
What education do you need to become an early childhood specialist?
What degree do you need to be an early childhood specialist?
- Bachelor's, 59%
- Master's, 21%
- Associate, 13%
- High School Diploma, 3%
- Other Degrees, 4%
What should I major in to become an early childhood specialist?
- Human Development, 13%
- Psychology, 13%
- Elementary Education, 11%
- Other Majors, 48%
Most common colleges for early childhood specialists
| Early childhood specialist common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Arkansas State University | 12.59% |
| Washington State University | 7.69% |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | 6.99% |
| University of Phoenix | 6.29% |
| Ashford University | 5.59% |
Best majors for early childhood specialists
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Early Childhood Education | 15.2% |
| 2 | Human Development | 12.5% |
| 3 | Psychology | 12.5% |
| 4 | Elementary Education | 10.9% |
| 5 | Education | 10.8% |
Best colleges for early childhood specialists
The best colleges for early childhood specialists are Northwestern University, Vanderbilt University, and Johns Hopkins University.
An early childhood specialist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for early childhood specialists. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become early childhood specialists.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
3. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Enrollment
31,503
4. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
5. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
6. Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT • Private
In-state tuition
$48,350
Enrollment
4,103
7. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
8. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
In-state tuition
$53,740
Enrollment
5,567
9. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
In-state tuition
$49,816
Enrollment
6,840
10. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
In-state tuition
$11,207
Enrollment
30,905
20 best online courses for early childhood specialists
Advertising disclosure
1. Introduction to Early Childhood
This course is targeted toward individuals wishing to operate a family day care center, and it covers topics including the fundamentals of early childhood development; the importance of play and Developmentally Appropriate Practice; and the significance of building strong family-educator relationships and how to achieve them. Since a Family Policy Handbook is essential for anyone operating a family day care center, this course includes the development of one of three imperative sections of the...
2. Social Policy for Social Services & Health Practitioners
In the U.S., social policy accounts for two-thirds of government spending. Knowing how policies are constructed, what values underlie them, and how they succeed or fail makes everyone more effective at work or in their civic role. This specialization includes an HONORS track in which learners will complete a professional social policy analysis.\n\nTeachers, health care workers, police, and social workers interact with policy daily, but all of us should care about the impact and effectiveness of...
3. Introduction to Early Childhood Montessori Education
Learning Montessori Philosophy and Materials by visiting classrooms across the U.S...
4. Understanding The Impact of Trauma in Early Childhood
The Biological Impact of Early Childhood Trauma on Brain Development and Social-Emotional Functioning...
5. Health, Housing, and Educational Services
Course 5 discusses policies in four areas: housing, education, healthcare, and immigration, with an optional fifth module in child protection. This course addresses issues of power, oppression, and white supremacy. -First we’ll look at housing policy, with its contrasting supports for homeowners and renters. -Then we’ll interpret the structure that provides education and examine debates about its future. -The third module will differentiate the issues in the U.S. healthcare system and develop...
6. CVS Health Call Center Customer Service
The demand for call center customer service representatives is huge, there are thousands of open job roles in the US alone. If you are someone that enjoys talking to people and solving problems and are ready for new experiences, then this program is right for you. Customer service in a call center is an exciting career where every day is a new day and a new adventure. If you're considering a career in retail customer service and you're someone who is passionate about providing exceptional...
7. INSPIRED BY REGGIO EMILIA: A New Beginning
Teaching Strategies for Early Childhood Education...
8. Educational Psychology & Special Education (Certificate)
Informational content for educators and parents to learn about teaching and understanding exceptional children...
9. Montessori Math Course (Early Childhood and Elementary)
Step by step video presentations and pdf manuals and resources that will empower you as a Montessori teacher...
10. The Power of Play and its impact on early childhood learning
Learn key techniques to help you understand why, when and how to empower and extend children's creative play...
11. Fully Accredited Heal Your Inner Child Diploma Course
Easy & Effective Techniques To Heal Events From Childhood. Using The Tools Of Hypnosis To Set Yourself Free!...
12. Managing mental health issues in the workplace
Learn how to support your own mental health and wellbeing and that of your staff...
13. IT service operations and Service Desk management
Improve Service Desk and IT support processes and service functions. Better preparation for the professional exam...
14. ServiceNow IT Service Management (CIS - ITSM) Practice Tests
Prepare for the Service Now Certified Implementation Specialist exam in IT Service Management (CIS-ITSM)...
15. Customer Service & Support For Customer Service Executives
Learn Customer Service Skills & Provide Excellent Customer Support, Customer Experience & How To Manage Upset Customers...
16. Project Charter Specialist (Accredited) Project Management
What is Project Charter? Components? Template? Example? Document Project Charter? Project Charter Specialist Earn PDUs...
17. Mental Health Ambassador Certificate
Be a leader in improving society's mental health and learn to provide mental health first aid...
18. Fully Accredited Professional Child Psychology Diploma
Learn or Specialise Your Therapy in Child Psychology with this Fully Accredited Diploma Course...
19. Certified Lean Specialist Lean Management (Accredited)
Lean Management Lean Manufacturing Lean in Service Lean Specialist Lean Certification Lean Part 1 Earn PDUs...
20. Autism Awareness Course for Parents - Autism Training
Training Helps Parents Reduce Challenging Autism Behavior Learn to Understand & Manage Autism and Autistic Children...
Top 10 most affordable universities for early childhood specialists
The most affordable schools for early childhood specialists are Hunter College of the City University of New York, california state university - long beach, and baruch college of the city university of new york.
If the best universities for early childhood specialists are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for early childhood specialists.
1. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
2. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
3. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
4. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Cost of attendance
17,645
5. Lehman College of the City University of New York
Bronx, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,210
Cost of attendance
14,359
6. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
7. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
8. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
9. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
10. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,587
Cost of attendance
13,043
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for early childhood specialists
The hardest universities for early childhood specialists to get into are Northwestern University, Vanderbilt University, and Johns Hopkins University.
Some great schools for early childhood specialists are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for early childhood specialists based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
3. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
4. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
5. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
6. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
7. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
8. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
9. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
10. University of Rochester
Rochester, NY • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,422
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for early childhood specialists
The easiest schools for early childhood specialists to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, holy names university, and gwynedd mercy university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an early childhood specialist without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for early childhood specialists.
1. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
2. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
3. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
4. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
5. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
999
6. The University of Texas Permian Basin
Odessa, TX • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,046
7. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
8. Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, CA • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,053
9. Saint Martin's University
Lacey, WA • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,111
10. Ottawa University
Ottawa, KS • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,024
Average early childhood specialist salary by education level
| Early childhood specialist education level | Early childhood specialist salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $47,741 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $31,773 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $40,376 |
| Doctorate Degree | $46,487 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $32,878 |
Early childhood specialist education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025