Post job

Kindergarten instructional assistant education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a kindergarten instructional assistant. Kindergarten instructional assistants usually study elementary education, early childhood education, or psychology. 67% of kindergarten instructional assistants hold a bachelor's degree, and 16% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 460 real kindergarten instructional assistant resumes to see exactly what kindergarten instructional assistant education sections show.

The most common colleges for kindergarten instructional assistants are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online kindergarten instructional assistant courses to help get the education required to be a kindergarten instructional assistant.

What education do you need to become a kindergarten instructional assistant?

What degree do you need to be a kindergarten instructional assistant?

The most common degree for kindergarten instructional assistants is bachelor's degree, with 67% of kindergarten instructional assistants earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 16% and associate degree degree at 8%.
  • Bachelor's, 67%
  • Associate, 16%
  • High School Diploma, 8%
  • Master's, 7%
  • Other Degrees, 2%

What should I major in to become a kindergarten instructional assistant?

You should major in elementary education to become a kindergarten instructional assistant. 18% of kindergarten instructional assistants major in elementary education. Other common majors for a kindergarten instructional assistant include early childhood education and psychology.

Most common colleges for kindergarten instructional assistants

Kindergarten instructional assistants often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, Western Kentucky University, and University of Louisville. Here are the most common colleges for kindergarten instructional assistants in the US based on their resumes.
Kindergarten instructional assistant common collegePercentages
University of Phoenix14.29%
Western Kentucky University9.52%
University of Louisville7.94%
Western Governors University4.76%
Arkansas State University4.76%

Best majors for kindergarten instructional assistants

Best colleges for kindergarten instructional assistants

The best colleges for kindergarten instructional assistants are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Rochester.

A kindergarten instructional assistant with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for kindergarten instructional assistants. 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 kindergarten instructional assistants.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

2. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

3. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

4. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

5. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

6. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

7. University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$53,391

Enrollment

8,568

8. Rice University

Houston, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$47,350

Enrollment

3,962

9. University of Chicago

Chicago, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$58,230

Enrollment

6,600

10. Brown University

Providence, RI • Private

In-state tuition

$55,466

Enrollment

6,752

20 best online courses for kindergarten instructional assistants

Advertising disclosure

1. Advanced Instructional Strategies in the Virtual Classroom

coursera

Welcome to Advanced Instructional Strategies in the Virtual Classroom! This course will help you apply strategies to the critical areas of K-12 virtual instruction to significantly impact virtual education. We will examine the pitfalls beginning teachers run into and learn how to overcome them by focusing on the fundamentals that have the greatest impact on student learning in a blended or online environment. By the end of the course, you will be able to empower your students to be voracious...

2. Instructional Planning with Genially

coursera

Genially is “the tool that brings content to life.” Genially allows you to map out a learning journey for your students using high interest images and interactive tools. But did you know that Genially is also a wonderful tool for organizing your lessons and units. With Genially, you can plan and organize your units in one central place, simplifying your planning process with templates created with teachers in mind! Throughout this project, we will work together to build your confidence using...

3. Instructional Design for ELearning

udemy
4.3
(6,506)

Designing Successful ELearning Courses. Learn from a multi-award-winning instructional designer...

4. Instructional Design for Classroom Training

udemy
4.4
(1,602)

Design effective and engaging in-person classroom training sessions and learning experiences from scratch...

5. Foundations of Virtual Instruction

coursera

Welcome to Foundations of Virtual Instruction! This course will help you 'up' your game and develop the advanced skills and techniques that elude even some of the most experienced virtual teachers in the K-12 space. Examine pitfalls and learn how to overcome them by focusing on the fundamentals that have the most significant impact on student learning in a blended or online environment. When you complete this course, you will be able to: • Craft virtual learning experiences that align with your...

6. The Teacher and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

coursera

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...

7. The complete Instructional Designer course

udemy
4.4
(1,391)

Learn the skills to become an e Learning Instructional Designer for Corporate Learning and Development...

8. Instructional Design Pro (Part 1): No Beginners Allowed!

udemy
4.2
(1,750)

Write Golden Training Curriculum that's Easier to Learn and More Enjoyable to Teach...

9. Virtual Teacher Final Project

coursera

The Final Project will be a hands-on, comprehensive project that practitioners of virtual education can implement in their profession. For this final project, learners will draft a design plan for an online learning module utilizing materials learned from the virtual teacher series. Learners will choose the subject matter, method of delivery, tools, instructional strategies, and assessments, with the goal of creating a module of online or blended instruction that meets the needs of their...

10. Instructional Methods in Health Professions Education

coursera

This course provides those involved in educating members of the health professions an asynchronous, interdisciplinary, and interactive way to obtain, expand, and improve their teaching skills. These skills can then be applied within their own professional context, with a variety of learners, extending across many stages. After completing this course, learners will: 1. Understand educational theory as it relates to health professions education 2. Match instructional methods with desired...

11. Instructional Design Pro (Part 3): No Beginners Allowed!

udemy
4.7
(369)

Write Golden Training Curriculum that's Easier to Learn and More Enjoyable to Teach...

12. Instructional Design Pro (Part 2): No Beginners Allowed!

udemy
4.6
(632)

Write Golden Training Curriculum that's Easier to Learn and More Enjoyable to Teach...

13. Constructivism and Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education

coursera

This course is designed to help participants examine the implications of constructivism for learning and teaching in science, mathematics, and technology focused areas. Course readings, discussions, and assignments will examine constructivist views of learning, research on students' ideas and idea-based interactions, research on instructional approaches taking student ideas into account, and challenges in implementing constructivist perspectives in instruction...

14. Instructional Design for Corporate Learning and Development

udemy
4.1
(420)

Giving you the tools to design and deliver on-point, effective corporate training programs...

15. Easy Instructional Harmonium for Yoga, Kirtans, Meditations

udemy
4.5
(254)

Easy instructional harmonium for yoga classes, kirtans and personal meditations...

16. The Perfect Golf Swing - Timeless Golf Instruction

udemy
4.7
(853)

Absolutely the best golf videos ever made, period. 99% of golf instruction is utter nonsense...

17. Group Life Coaching Certification (Accredited)

udemy
4.7
(1,578)

Training for life coaches who want to grow their business through offering life coaching groups...

18. Become a Virtual Assistant

udemy
4.5
(1,223)

Live Free. Work Virtually. Virtual Assistant Training...

19. Becoming an Executive Personal Assistant

udemy
4.2
(282)

Learn how to be an effective personal assistant, and find out how to develop the skills for the role...

20. TESOL Teacher Training: Second Language Acquisition (SLA)

udemy
4.4
(445)

Putting Theory Into Practice in the ESL/EFL Classroom...

Top 10 most affordable universities for kindergarten instructional assistants

The most affordable schools for kindergarten instructional assistants are Baruch College of the City University of New York, brooklyn college of the city university of new york, and hunter college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for kindergarten instructional assistants 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 kindergarten instructional assistants.

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

2. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

3. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

4. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

5. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,587

Cost of attendance

13,043

6. Queens College of the City University of New York

Queens, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,338

Cost of attendance

14,281

7. Clayton State University

Morrow, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$5,419

Cost of attendance

17,697

8. Minot State University

Minot, ND • Private

In-state tuition

$7,064

Cost of attendance

15,576

9. Southern University at New Orleans

New Orleans, LA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,033

Cost of attendance

12,702

10. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for kindergarten instructional assistants

The hardest universities for kindergarten instructional assistants to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Rochester.

Some great schools for kindergarten instructional assistants 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 kindergarten instructional assistants 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. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

3. University of Rochester

Rochester, NY • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,422

4. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

5. University of Tulsa

Tulsa, OK • Private

Admissions rate

41%

SAT average

1,321

6. Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

47%

SAT average

1,321

7. Tufts University

Medford, MA • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,461

8. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

9. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

Admissions rate

40%

SAT average

1,376

10. Clemson University

Clemson, SC • Private

Admissions rate

47%

SAT average

1,337

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for kindergarten instructional assistants

The easiest schools for kindergarten instructional assistants to get into are Nyack College, d'youville college, and gwynedd mercy university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a kindergarten instructional assistant 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 kindergarten instructional assistants.

1. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

2. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

3. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

4. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Standish, ME • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,069

5. La Roche College

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

99%

SAT average

1,008

6. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

7. Saint Martin's University

Lacey, WA • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,111

8. Curry College

Milton, MA • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,026

9. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

10. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

Average kindergarten instructional assistant salary by education level

According to our data, kindergarten instructional assistants with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $33,942 annually. Kindergarten instructional assistants with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $33,490.
Kindergarten instructional assistant education levelKindergarten instructional assistant salary
Master's Degree$33,490
High School Diploma or Less$31,103
Bachelor's Degree$31,879
Doctorate Degree$33,942
Some College/ Associate Degree$31,344

Kindergarten instructional assistant education FAQs

Search for kindergarten instructional assistant jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse education, training, and library jobs