early childhood education teacher

Education Programs

Let our affordable Education programs help you make a lasting impression on children’s lives. Right now, you can earn your Associate’s degree for under $19K! 1

Request Information About Our Education Programs

Choose Your Online Education Program

Online courses in our affordable Early Childhood Education (ECE) programs provide the education and transferable skills, or soft skills, you need to help you get the career you want. Utilize your natural abilities to provide a positive environment for young children and their families. You can earn your ECE Associate’s degree for under $19,000, plus the opportunity to save almost $5,200 more with self-directed assessments. 2 You can also earn your ECE Diploma or Certificate at a reduced price.34 Wherever you are in your career—with or without your CDA®5 credential—we have an ECE program for you.

Not Sure Which Early Childhood Education Program Is Right for You?

Attend an ECE Information Session

Experience our ECE programs firsthand by attending an information session. You'll get the chance to learn about our national best practices, hear from the department chair and get your questions answered by an admissions counselor.

Register Today

Another good place to start is to ask yourself how you want your ECE courses to make a positive impact on children’s lives. All of our ECE degree program options prepare students to work with children from birth to preschool.

Our ECE programs do not prepare students for licensed teaching positions in any public-school setting, but students will have the opportunity to help shape the futures of young children from birth to age six in a non-public school setting or leadership role.

Bachelor’s Degree

If you’re interested in a leadership role, our ECE Bachelor’s degree program will help you learn advanced practices and gain essential experience. You’ll have the choice to specialize in either ECE Leadership or Child Development in order to help grow young minds and lead the families and organizations that support them.

Diploma and Associate’s Degree Specializations

At the ECE Diploma and Associate’s degree levels, you have the choice of two specializations. Choose the Child Development specialization to pursue your interest in the foundations of child growth and developmentally appropriate practices. Alternatively, choose the Special Needs specialization to follow your calling and learn how to support children with exceptional needs in a group child care setting.

Diploma or Certificate

An ECE Certificate or Diploma is an ideal choice for someone looking to take an initial step into this fulfilling field. Prospective students who hold a current CDA Credential may be eligible to waive or transfer up to 12 credits into this Early Childhood Education program.

Still have questions?

Take the Next Step—Talk to Us!

There are some errors in the form. Please correct the errors and submit again.

Request More Information

Request More Information About Our Education Programs

Fill out the form to receive information about:

  • Program Details and Applying for Classes
  • How Affordable Your Degree Can Be
  • Financial Aid and FAFSA (for those who qualify)
  • Customized Support Services
  • Detailed Program Plans

Step 1 of 3

What's Your Name?

Step 2 of 3

Contact Information

Step 3 of 3

Program Preferences
Do you have potential transfer credits?

By clicking "Submit," I authorize Rasmussen University to contact me by email, phone or text message at the number provided. There is no obligation to enroll.


This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

9 Signs You Would Excel as an Early Childhood Teacher

Maybe you grew up playing “school” with your siblings or friends. Maybe you’ve been told you’re good with kids and you would enjoy teaching.

You’ve wondered whether a career in education might be a good fit for you, but you’re not sure.

Read More

Teacher standing at table with a row of children working on an art project.

Empowered Learning™ and Knowledge Credit™

Online Empowered Learning allows you to learn by doing and manage your pace while staying connected with faculty and peers. Learn more about how Empowered Learning helps you take control of your education.

Save time and money with Knowledge Credit through transfer credits, credit for prior learning and self-directed assessments. These $149 assessments allow you to prove that you already have the knowledge for a particular course and don't need to take it. Students have saved more than $5.2 million through self-directed assessments.6 Find out more about your Knowledge Credit options.

About Us

An Early Childhood Education degree from Rasmussen University helps prepare you to make a positive and profound difference in the lives of young children and their families. Our curriculum was developed based on the national best practice standards established by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).7 Since 1992, our curriculum has prepared students to impact the lives of children, gaining the knowledge and skills needed for success as an educator. In each credential, you’ll learn to promote the healthy development of a child’s physical, social, emotional, intellectual and language development.

"The fully online courses allowed me the flexibility to continue to work while still attending school."

Ny'nisha
Graduate, School of Education

logo-accreditation-acen logo-accreditation-ccne chart-credential-laddering-associates-bachelors-masters 0 Credits90 Credits180 Credits48 CreditsStart HereHIGH SCHOOL GRADSStart HereTRANSFER STUDENTSStart HereSECOND DEGREE PURSUERSEnd HereASSOCIATE'S DEGREEStart HereMASTER'S DEGREEPURSUERSEnd HereBACHELOR'S DEGREEEnd HereMASTER'S DEGREE chart-credential-laddering-associates-bachelors 0 CreditsStart HereHIGH SCHOOL GRADSStart HereTRANSFER STUDENTS90 CreditsStart HereSECOND DEGREE PURSUERSEnd HereASSOCIATE'S DEGREE180 CreditsEnd HereBACHELOR'S DEGREE chart-credential-laddering-msn chart-credential-laddering-nursing-programs chart-credential-laddering-nursing DNPMSNRN to BSNLPN to RN BridgeAccelerated BSNProfessional Nursing ADNPractical Nursing DiplomaPre-LicensurePost-Licensure icon-colored-outline-bank icon-colored-outline-certificate icon-colored-outline-circle-dollar-sign icon-colored-outline-folder-search icon-colored-outline-hand-heart icon-colored-outline-head-blocks icon-colored-outline-head-cog icon-colored-outline-head-heart icon-colored-outline-health-plus-leaves icon-colored-outline-hospital icon-colored-outline-lifelong-learning icon-colored-outline-light-bulb-analytics icon-colored-outline-location-pin icon-colored-outline-maginify-glass icon-colored-outline-magnifying-glass icon-colored-outline-monitor-healthcare icon-colored-outline-monitor-paper-search icon-colored-outline-nurse-rays icon-colored-outline-padlock-shield icon-colored-outline-person-presenter-screen icon-colored-outline-scales icon-colored-advance icon-colored-arrows-cross-curve icon-colored-briefcase-star icon-colored-build icon-colored-bulb-analytics icon-colored-certificate icon-colored-continual-development icon-colored-duo-chatbox icon-colored-folder-mortarboard icon-colored-forward-ribbon icon-colored-gears-clock icon-colored-globe-pen icon-colored-growth icon-colored-hand-bubble icon-colored-hand-stars icon-colored-hands-gear icon-colored-head-blocks icon-colored-head-cog icon-colored-health-plus-leaves icon-colored-hospital-building icon-colored-laptop-cbe-skyscraper icon-colored-laptop-checkmark icon-colored-laptop-webpage icon-colored-location-map icon-colored-location-pin icon-colored-monitor-paper-scan icon-colored-mortarboard-dollar icon-colored-national icon-colored-people-chat-bubbles icon-colored-person-cheer-star icon-colored-person-laptop-checkboxes icon-colored-person-screen-instructor icon-colored-person-whiteboard icon-colored-phone-chatbox icon-colored-police-light icon-colored-prep icon-colored-presenter icon-colored-regional icon-colored-save-time icon-colored-shirt-hat icon-colored-skyscraper icon-colored-state icon-colored-student-centered icon-colored-support icon-colored-world-experience icon-triangle-arrow-up-plant icon-triangle-calendar-pencil icon-triangle-clock-rotating-arrows icon-triangle-display-gears icon-triangle-hand-right-speech-bubble icon-triangle-laptop-coding-brackets icon-triangle-mortarboard icon-triangle-paper-ribbon icon-triangle-person-cheer-star icon-triangle-person-juggle icon-triangle-triple-people-chat-bubble ras-logo-flame ras-logo-horizontal ras-logo-stacked icon-modality-campus icon-modality-field icon-modality-online icon-modality-residential icon-social-facebook-square-colored icon-social-facebook-square icon-social-facebook icon-social-google-plus-square icon-social-google-plus icon-social-instagram icon-social-linkedin-square-colored icon-social-linkedin-square icon-social-linkedin icon-social-pinterest-p icon-social-twitter-square icon-social-twitter icon-social-youtube-play-colored icon-social-youtube-play icon-arrow icon-bank icon-camera icon-filter icon-general-chart icon-general-connect icon-general-degree icon-general-discuss icon-general-email icon-general-find icon-general-hat icon-general-heart icon-general-laptop-building icon-general-laptop icon-general-leader icon-general-map icon-general-money icon-general-paperwork icon-general-people icon-general-phone icon-general-speak-out icon-head-heart icon-info-circle icon-mail-forward icon-mglass icon-play-solid icon-quote-mark-left icon-quote-mark-right icon-scales icon-share-square-o icon-simple-chat icon-simple-desktop icon-simple-find icon-simple-hamburger icon-simple-phone icon-spinner icon-tag icon-testimonial-quotes icon-util-checkbox-white icon-util-checkbox icon-util-checked-white icon-util-checked icon-util-chevron-down icon-util-chevron-left icon-util-chevron-right icon-util-chevron-up icon-util-circle-arrow-down icon-util-circle-dot icon-util-language-switch icon-util-loading icon-util-open-window-button icon-util-open-window-link icon-util-pdf-button icon-util-pdf-link icon-util-refresh icon-util-x rebrand-arrows