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Head start teacher education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a head start teacher. Head start teachers usually study early childhood education, human development, or elementary education. 55% of head start teachers hold a bachelor's degree, and 26% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 5,950 real head start teacher resumes to see exactly what head start teacher education sections show.
The most common colleges for head start teachers are the Ashford University and the Ashford University.
There are also many online head start teacher courses to help get the education required to be a head start teacher.
There are certain head start teacher certifications that you should consider. These head start teacher certifications include Child Development Associate (CDA) and First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor.
What education do you need to become a head start teacher?
What degree do you need to be a head start teacher?
- Bachelor's, 55%
- Associate, 26%
- Master's, 11%
- High School Diploma, 4%
- Other Degrees, 4%
What should I major in to become a head start teacher?
- Human Development, 15%
- Elementary Education, 12%
- Education, 8%
- Other Majors, 37%
Most common colleges for head start teachers
| Head start teacher common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Ashford University | 19.21% |
| University of Phoenix | 10.48% |
| Grand Canyon University | 7.42% |
| Walden University | 5.46% |
| Temple University | 4.37% |
Best majors for head start teachers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Early Childhood Education | 28.2% |
| 2 | Human Development | 14.7% |
| 3 | Elementary Education | 12.0% |
| 4 | Education | 8.1% |
| 5 | Psychology | 7.6% |
Best colleges for head start teachers
The best colleges for head start teachers are Northwestern University, Vanderbilt University, and University of Pennsylvania.
A head start teacher with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for head start teachers. 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 head start teachers.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
4. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
5. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
In-state tuition
$49,816
Enrollment
6,840
6. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
7. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
8. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
9. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
10. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$15,094
Enrollment
32,974
20 best online courses for head start teachers
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Social and emotional learning, or SEL, programs have flourished in schools during the last decade. These programs vary widely but most share a concern for five individual, student competencies: self awareness; self-management; social awareness; relationship skills; and finally responsible decision making. It is important for teachers and parents to know about and understand these programs. While lots of SEL programs emphasize K-12 student social and emotional learning, only a very few programs...
2. Educating Deaf Children: Becoming an Empowered Teacher
Many Deaf children around the world still leave school functionally illiterate. In some cases, there is no allowance made for the education of Deaf children at all. This 4-week course provides you with invaluable knowledge and skills about teaching Deaf children. You will learn about the importance of Deaf culture and community, the need for a language-rich environment for the Deaf child from as young as possible, and that having access to sign language can help Deaf children academically,...
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5. Get Organized: How to be a Together Teacher
This course is designed for classroom teachers who juggle time-sensitive tasks and often-exhausting teaching schedules. With an eye toward long-term sustainability, The Together Teacher examines the purpose for planning ahead, provides tools for tracking time commitments, deadlines and tasks, and helps teachers develop a personal organization system that interacts with their day-by-day practices. All teachers, from the pen & paper list maker to the tech-savvy digital maven, will benefit from...
6. ELL Success in the Content Classroom: Teacher Toolbox Series
Plan lessons, activities and assessment with the ELL in mind, and create an engaging and welcoming environment for the ELL and their families.\n\nThis Specialization covers lesson planning and assessing with the ELL in mind as well as engaging the ELL student and their families in the school and community. In the final Capstone Project, you’ll apply the skills you learned by creating an annotated lesson plan and assessment with appropriate modifications for the ELL students. You will also...
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Practical Strategies to Address Behaviour Issues in any Classroom...
8. Mindful Parenting Diploma Happy Positive Children
Earn Your Certification in Mindful Parenting and Positive Psychology and Improve Your Family's Well-being...
9. Music Education for Teachers
In the Music Education for Teachers specialization, you will explore ways of integrating popular music into your teaching. You'll begin by learning from two highly experienced teachers, Krystal Banfield, the Vice President of Educational Outreach for Berklee College of Music, and David Alexis a Berklee Professor and long-time instructor for the Berklee City Music Program. They will take you through their process of incorporating popular music, improvisation, arranging, and music technology into...
10. THINK GLOBAL: TEACHERS TRAINING COURSE (IDP-ICE)
A group of seven European partners from Catalonia, Belgium, and Wales worked together on the Erasmus+ funded ‘Think Global’ project on global competence. The project seeks to address the following research question through development and piloting of practical classroom activities: What is global competence, and how can it be learned effectively? The Think Global project explores, through international collaboration, how global competence is defined, taught, learned, and measured in the...
11. Professional Accredited Yoga Teacher Training Diploma Course
Full Certification Diploma Course to Learn the In depth techniques of Yoga to teach to Students & Groups!...
12. Preparation for CELTA Teacher Training
Learn the skills required to succeed in your CELTA training - gain practice in lesson planning and writing assignments!!...
13. Parenting Teens with Confidence: Certified Practitioner
The Ultimate Parenting Teens Course: Accredited Certification and Practical Strategies for Navigating Adolescence...
14. TESOL Teacher Training: Second Language Acquisition (SLA)
Putting Theory Into Practice in the ESL/EFL Classroom...
15. Mindfulness Teacher Training Certificate
Become a certified mindfulness teacher with this accredited mindfulness teacher training programme...
16. Teach Children with Learning Disabilities. A Practical Guide
Insights into the neurobiology behind various learning issues – How learning is hindered & how to improve learning...
17. Autism Awareness Course for Parents - Autism Training
Training Helps Parents Reduce Challenging Autism Behavior Learn to Understand & Manage Autism and Autistic Children...
18. [Active Directory] Management using Windows PowerShell
[Power Shell] Simplified practical knowledge for automation & management of [Active Directory] using Windows Power Shell...
19. Mind Maps/ Mind Mapping for Teachers, Trainers, & Presenters
Using Mind Mapping to Plan>Rehearse >Teach brain-friendly lessons, broadcasts or webinars (Mind Maps,Memory,Mindmapping)...
20. Active Directory & Group Policy Administration for IT Techs
Active Directory & Group Policy Administration Basics for Helpdesk and Desktop / IT Support Technicians...
Top 10 most affordable universities for head start teachers
The most affordable schools for head start teachers are California State University - Long Beach, hunter college of the city university of new york, and baruch college of the city university of new york.
If the best universities for head start teachers 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 head start teachers.
1. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
2. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
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. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
9. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
10. California State University - Fresno
Fresno, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,587
Cost of attendance
16,915
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for head start teachers
The hardest universities for head start teachers to get into are Northwestern University, Vanderbilt University, and University of Pennsylvania.
Some great schools for head start teachers 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 head start teachers 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. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
4. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
5. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
6. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
7. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
8. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
9. University of Rochester
Rochester, NY • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,422
10. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
Admissions rate
23%
SAT average
1,398
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for head start teachers
The easiest schools for head start teachers 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 a head start teacher 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 head start teachers.
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. The University of Texas Permian Basin
Odessa, TX • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,046
6. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
999
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 head start teacher salary by education level
| Head start teacher education level | Head start teacher salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $47,201 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $29,808 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $39,067 |
| Doctorate Degree | $45,804 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $30,981 |
Head start teacher education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common education, training, and library questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025