Early Childhood Education Degree (ECE Degree Online) | Rasmussen University Education Early Childhood Education (ECE) Degree Bachelor’s Degree, Associate’s Degree, Diploma, Certificate As an early childhood educator, you have the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of young children. Earning a non-licensure Early Childhood Educator degree online from Rasmussen University can help prepare you to pursue your passion in education. Learn how to foster social, emotional and intellectual development in children from an institution that has offered non-licensure ECE programs since 1992. You can earn your ECE Associate’s degree for an estimated $20,445 plus you have the opportunity to save almost $5,750 more through self-directed assessments. You can also choose from affordable Early Childhood Education degree online options at the Diploma and Certificate level to put your goals within reach. Our ECE degrees 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 childcare or non-public school setting or leadership role. Request Information Apply Now Self-Directed Assessments & Empowered Learning® The Certificate, Diploma, Associate's and Bachelor's degrees are available with $149 self-directed assessments, which allow you to show that you already have the skills in a particular course and don’t need to take it. Save time and money with self-directed assessments and other Knowledge Credit options The Bachelor’s degree is also available with Empowered Learning , which means you can: Access courses anytime, from almost anywhere Go faster when you can, and slower when you need to Create real-world projects that prove your new knowledge Stay connected with faculty and peers in live sessions For additional information, visit our Empowered Learning page Institutional Accreditation & Industry Credentials Rasmussen University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission ( hlcommission.org ), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Our curriculum includes a focus on preparing students to apply for their Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential from the Council for Professional Recognition. Rasmussen University is proud to be an official partner of the Council for Professional Recognition. Carry Your Credits Forward Our Early Childhood Education programs make it easy to apply your current credits toward a degree. In fact, our ECE Bachelor’s degree students transfer in an average of 93 credits—which is equal to $29,946 transfer credits—helping you save time and money on your way to furthering your impact on children’s lives. Online Courses & Transferable Skills With flexible online courses and the opportunity for real-world assessments, you’ll learn practical tips about this field and develop employer-valued transferable skills: critical thinking, digital fluency, information literacy, communication and ethics and professional responsibility. Take the Next Step—Talk to Us! School of Education Blog Early Childhood Development Milestones: What You Should Know If you’ve ever spent time with young children, you already know they are amazing learners. We compiled this resource to help you understand all of the important child development stages little ones go through and what milestones to look for along the way. "The fully online courses allowed me the flexibility to continue to work while still attending school." Ny'nisha Graduate, School of Education The Early Childhood Education programs at Rasmussen University are not accredited by the NAEYC Commission on Early Childhood Associate Degree Accreditation. Rasmussen University is not a partner of NAEYC and our programs are not sponsored or endorsed by NAEYC. Graduates of Early Childhood Education programs at Rasmussen University are not eligible for licensure as a teacher in an elementary or secondary school. A Bachelor’s degree and a state teaching license are typically required to work as a teacher in a public school and some private school settings. States, municipalities, districts or individual schools may have more stringent licensing requirements. Students must determine the licensure requirements in the state and school in which they intend to work. Childcare facilities and the states in which they are located establish qualifications for staff who work with children and often implement guidelines regarding age, education, experience and professional development. Students must determine the licensure requirements for the state and facilities in which they work. This program has not been approved by any state professional licensing body, and this program is not intended to lead to any state-issued professional license. For further information on professional licensing requirements, please contact the appropriate board or agency in your state of residence. Tuition for the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Associate’s degree is $218 per credit, for new students only. A student who withdraws and re-enrolls will be required to pay the tuition price offered at the time of their re-enrollment. Students who receive the tuition price of $218 per credit cannot use any additional Rasmussen University grants and/or scholarships. If a student needs to retake one or more courses in the degree program, the total estimated tuition and fees will exceed $20,445. Tuition and fees breakdown: $218 per credit x 90 credits = $19,620 + $825 book fees = $20,445 estimated tuition and fees. Program availability varies by campus and state; please see the Rasmussen University Catalog for details. Learn more about the financial aid cost of attendance (COA). 30 credits in self-directed assessments at $218 per credit = $6,540. Save an additional $400 on books (8 classes x $50 per class in books). Pay $149 for each of eight self-directed assessment (totaling $1,192). Savings cost breakdown: $6,540 + $400 - $1,192 = $5,748 estimated total savings. Learn more about the financial aid cost of attendance (COA). CDA and Child Development Associate are registered trademarks of the Council for Professional Recognition. The average number of transfer credits will vary by student. Tuition savings information displayed here is based on the credit transfer data of incoming students who enrolled in the Rasmussen University Early Childhood Education Bachelor's program in 2019. Completion time is dependent on transfer credits accepted and the number of courses completed each term.