In a lot of cases, a higher education can mean a higher salary or even a better job. That's why we found out the best colleges for preschool teachers. We based this list on these metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of students working, ratio of working vs. non-working students 10 years after admission, average cost of attendance and median debt for graduates.
Best Colleges And Majors For Preschool Teachers
Best Colleges For Preschool Teachers
1. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
2. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-State Tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
3. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-State Tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
4. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,886
Enrollment
34,637
5. Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT • Private
In-State Tuition
$48,350
Enrollment
4,103
6. Ohio State University
Columbus, OH • Private
In-State Tuition
$10,726
Enrollment
45,769
7. Minnesota State University - Mankato
Mankato, MN • Private
In-State Tuition
$8,184
Enrollment
11,675
8. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
In-State Tuition
$49,816
Enrollment
6,840
9. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,620
Enrollment
31,441
10. California State University - Sacramento
Sacramento, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,310
Enrollment
28,439
Preschool Teacher Education Requirements
There are several education requirements to become a preschool teacher. Preschool teachers usually study early childhood education, elementary education or human development. 52% of preschool teachers hold a bachelor's degree and 23% hold a associate degree. We found these by analyzing 47,404 preschool teacher resumes to investigate the topic of preschool teacher education more precisely.
The most common colleges for students to pursue their goal of becoming a preschool teacher are University of Phoenix and Ashford University.
For those who would rather stay in your pajamas during the day, we prepared some online courses that can help in preschool teacher education paths.
We prepared a list of a preschool teacher certifications that you should consider. The necessary certifications that preschool teachers must have to succeed are Child Development Associate (CDA) and First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor.
What Education Do You Need To Become a Preschool Teacher?
What degree do you need to be a Preschool Teacher?
The most common degree for preschool teachers is bachelor's degree 52% of preschool teachers earn that degree. A close second is associate degree with 23% and rounding it off is high school diploma with 13%.
- Bachelors, 52%
- Associate, 23%
- High School Diploma, 13%
- Masters, 7%
- Other Degrees, 5%
What Should I Major in to Become a Preschool Teacher?
Most preschool teachers, 21% to be exact, major in early childhood education. Some other common majors for a preschool teacher include elementary education and human development majors.
- Elementary Education, 13%
- Human Development, 11%
- Psychology, 10%
- Other Majors, 45%
Most Common Colleges For Preschool Teachers
Here are the most common colleges for a preschool teacher career in the US based on their resumes. Advocates often get their degree in University of Phoenix, Ashford University, and Ohio State University .
| Preschool Teacher Common College | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 17.01% |
| Ashford University | 7.70% |
| Ohio State University | 6.18% |
| California State University - San Bernardino | 6.13% |
| Liberty University | 5.92% |
Best Majors For Preschool Teachers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Early Childhood Education | 20.5% |
| 2 | Elementary Education | 12.6% |
| 3 | Human Development | 10.7% |
| 4 | Psychology | 10.2% |
| 5 | Education | 7.5% |
20 Best Online Courses for Preschool Teachers
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Top 10 Affordable Universities For Preschool Teachers
If those top 10 were a bit out of your price range, you might want to check these schools instead. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price and mean earnings after 6 years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for preschool teachers.
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. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,886
Cost of Attendance
17,645
4. Queens College of the City University of New York
Queens, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,338
Cost of Attendance
14,281
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. City College of New York of the City University of New York, The
New York, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,140
Cost of Attendance
14,430
10. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,381
Cost of Attendance
21,034
Top 10 Hardest Universities To Get Into For Preschool Teachers
Some people like a challenge. Well, we challenge you to get into one of these schools. It's not going to be easy. We know this based on these institutions' admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted and mean earnings of students 6 years after admission.
1. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions Rate
10%
SAT Average
1,514
2. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
22%
SAT Average
1,420
3. University of Rochester
Rochester, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
29%
SAT Average
1,422
4. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
13%
SAT Average
1,445
5. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,508
6. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
40%
SAT Average
1,376
7. Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
47%
SAT Average
1,321
8. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions Rate
11%
SAT Average
1,513
9. Fordham University
Bronx, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
46%
SAT Average
1,354
10. American University
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions Rate
32%
SAT Average
1,320
Top 10 Easier To Apply Universities For Preschool Teachers
Why make getting a job harder on yourself than it has to be? With these colleges, you're sure to be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores and average salary of students 6 years after graduation in order to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into.
1. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
100%
SAT Average
1,072
2. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
70%
SAT Average
849
3. The University of Texas Permian Basin
Odessa, TX • Private
Admissions Rate
91%
SAT Average
1,046
4. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
84%
SAT Average
1,031
5. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions Rate
81%
SAT Average
999
6. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
98%
SAT Average
999
7. College of Mount Saint Vincent
Bronx, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
78%
SAT Average
1,021
8. Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
85%
SAT Average
1,053
9. College of New Rochelle, The
New Rochelle, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
83%
SAT Average
982
10. La Roche College
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
99%
SAT Average
1,008
Average Preschool Teacher Salary by Education Level
Preschool teachers with a Masters degree earn more than those without, at $45,369 annually. With a Doctorate degree, preschool teachers earn a median annual income of $44,151 compared to $38,224 for preschool teachers with an Bachelors degree.
| Preschool Teacher Education Level | Preschool Teacher Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $29,915 |
| Master's Degree | $45,369 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $38,224 |
| Doctorate Degree | $44,151 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $30,980 |