EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
ASSOCIATE DEGREE
Flexible Online Program
The Fall Semester Begins September 2, 2025
With your Early Childhood Education Associate Degree is the perfect degree for people who love working with children and helping them grow.
You can pursue many different career opportunities, including starting your own Early Childhood Center, and becoming a child care worker, early childhood educator, or preschool manager.
This program empowers you to work in the field while completing your degree, allowing you to earn while you learn.
Benefits of an Early Childhood Education Associate Degree:
Median national annual salary for a Childcare Center Director is $54,290*
4% projected job growth for Preschool Teachers, on par with the national average**
Learn wherever you are with flexible online courses.
Begin your journey with ECE104: Child Growth and Development, meeting EEC requirements to start working as an early childhood educator while completing your degree.
Low-cost tuition with scholarships and grants available. Most Urban College students graduate debt-free.
There are 60 credits required to complete the Early Childhood Education Associate Degree. Courses may include:
Child Growth and Development
Observing, Recording & Assessing
Guidance and Discipline
The Exceptional Child
Early Childhood Curriculum
Interested in a bachelor’s degree? Transfer agreements with other colleges allow students to continue their education. See our College Transfer Pathways page for information on how your associate degree at Urban College can transfer into several bachelor’s degree completion programs.
Looking at the numbers
When examining job growth and salary data, it’s essential to recognize that these figures can fluctuate based on various factors, including years of experience, the specific industry, location, individual skill levels, and overall economic conditions. Keep in mind that the projections provided are not definitive indicators of actual salaries or job growth.
REQUEST INFORMATION
QUICK PROGRAM FACTS
Learning Type: Online, Synchronous and Asynchronous
Length: 60 Credits
Course Languages: English, Mandarin, and Spanish
Financial Assistance Available: Yes
Scholarships Available: Yes
Application Fee: FREE
Cost: $317 per credit - See Financial Aid for more information
Meet Your Peer: Mariely Maldonado
Mariely decided to earn her Early Childhood Education Associate Degree at Urban College for two core reasons: the opportunity to take classes in Spanish while learning English, and the flexibility of the course schedule.
While starting at Urban College, Mariely was working as an assistant in the infant room of a daycare, a job she fell in love with instantly. Today, she runs her own family care business. Watch her full story here.
WHY CHOOSE URBAN COLLEGE?
Complete Your Free Application Now
You will be asked to provide the following materials:
Copy of your high school diploma, GED, or HiSET
Photo ID
Completed Online Application
We can assist and schedule times for you to meet with an advisor about your academic goals and the Financial Aid to discuss available support and make a plan.
“Urban College is not just an institution; Urban is a family, a home, a place where you feel loved, and a place that makes you feel like you belong.”
