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Lead pre-k teacher education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a lead pre-k teacher. Lead pre-k teachers usually study early childhood education, elementary education, or human development. 58% of lead pre-k teachers hold a bachelor's degree, and 22% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 2,495 real lead pre-k teacher resumes to see exactly what lead pre-k teacher education sections show.
The most common colleges for lead pre-k teachers are the Ashford University and the Ashford University.
There are also many online lead pre-k teacher courses to help get the education required to be a lead pre-k teacher.
There are certain lead pre-k teacher certifications that you should consider. These lead pre-k teacher certifications include Child Development Associate (CDA) and First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor.
What education do you need to become a lead pre-k teacher?
What degree do you need to be a lead pre-k teacher?
- Bachelor's, 58%
- Associate, 22%
- Master's, 9%
- High School Diploma, 7%
- Other Degrees, 4%
What should I major in to become a lead pre-k teacher?
- Elementary Education, 14%
- Human Development, 11%
- Psychology, 8%
- Other Majors, 37%
Most common colleges for lead pre-k teachers
| Lead pre-k teacher common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Ashford University | 10.37% |
| University of Phoenix | 8.71% |
| Grand Canyon University | 8.71% |
| Georgia State University | 6.64% |
| Georgia Southern University | 6.64% |
Best majors for lead pre-k teachers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Early Childhood Education | 30.3% |
| 2 | Elementary Education | 13.9% |
| 3 | Human Development | 11.0% |
| 4 | Psychology | 8.4% |
| 5 | Education | 7.9% |
Best colleges for lead pre-k teachers
The best colleges for lead pre-k teachers are Northwestern University, Vanderbilt University, and University of Pennsylvania.
A lead pre-k 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 lead pre-k 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 lead pre-k 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 lead pre-k teachers
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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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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...
6. 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...
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8. TESOL Teacher Training: Second Language Acquisition (SLA)
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9. 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...
10. Virtual Teacher Final Project
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...
11. Mindfulness Teacher Training Certificate
Become a certified mindfulness teacher with this accredited mindfulness teacher training programme...
12. 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)...
13. K-12 Blended & Online Learning
This course introduces teachers and interested adults to K12 blended and online learning. Participants will design a blended or online unit and develop one module to use with K12 students...
14. Teacher Training - How to Teach Online - Remote Teaching 1Hr
Crash Course! Learn to Teach Online. Coronavirus Has Now Made Online and Remote Teaching a Necessary Teaching Skill...
15. Pre-Algebra Explained
Master Pre-Algebra with 700 Practice Questions! Prepare for High School Math: Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry...
16. Implementing Positive Behaviour Management in the Classroom
Practical Strategies to Address Behaviour Issues in any Classroom...
17. Professional Accredited Yoga Teacher Training Diploma Course
Full Certification Diploma Course to Learn the In depth techniques of Yoga to teach to Students & Groups!...
18. 20hr Intensive Chair Yoga Teacher Training- Certified
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19. Pilates Teacher Training & CPD Certification
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20. HEART CENTERED REIKI CERTIFICATION - GRAND MASTER TEACHER
Certify/ Reiki Master Teacher- Channel Reiki To Past, Present, Future, Ancestors, Situations & Karma with Reiki Symbols...
Top 10 most affordable universities for lead pre-k teachers
The most affordable schools for lead pre-k 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 lead pre-k 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 lead pre-k 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 lead pre-k teachers
The hardest universities for lead pre-k teachers to get into are Northwestern University, Vanderbilt University, and University of Pennsylvania.
Some great schools for lead pre-k 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 lead pre-k 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 lead pre-k teachers
The easiest schools for lead pre-k 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 lead pre-k 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 lead pre-k 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 lead pre-k teacher salary by education level
| Lead pre-k teacher education level | Lead pre-k teacher salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $48,304 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $30,169 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $39,798 |
| Doctorate Degree | $46,840 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $31,385 |
Lead pre-k teacher education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025