Massachusetts Community Colleges
Early Childhood Education Programs
Early childhood education programs at community colleges in this state. Coursework for child-care, preschool, and elementary-track teachers.
6 colleges · 99 sections · 50 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
Massachusetts community colleges train the people who staff licensed daycare centers, preschools, Head Start programs, and pre-K classrooms across the state. The 99 sections at 6 MassCC institutions this term cover child development, early-literacy methods, classroom management for ages 0–5, family engagement, and the supervised practicum hours required for the state's child-care or T-K teaching credentials.
Most Massachusetts ECE associate programs are designed for working students — evening and weekend sections are standard — because the typical student is already employed at a child-care center and using the degree to move into a lead-teacher or assistant-director role. Pay is modest but the work is stable and the credentialing pathway is clearer than almost any other field.
Earnings & outcomes for Early Childhood Education graduates
Federal College Scorecard data on what graduates of this program actually earn after completion. Where a school’s cohort is too small to publish, we show the national benchmark for the same field of study.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, per-program (4-digit CIP) data. CIP 1312 — Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. School cohorts are suppressed by the federal source when fewer than ~30 completers in the reporting cohort.
Colleges offering Early Childhood Education
| College | Sections | Courses | Online | Awards/yr | 5-yr earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bunker Hill Community College | 35 | 17 | 14 | 64 | — |
| Middlesex Community College | 19 | 13 | 13 | 43 | $36,124 |
| Holyoke Community College | 18 | 12 | 9 | 31 | — |
| Berkshire Community College | 14 | 11 | 11 | 36 | — |
| Springfield Technical Community College | 8 | 7 | 4 | 72 | — |
| Greenfield Community College | 5 | 5 | 1 | 13 | — |
Early Childhood Education Availability Snapshot
How early childhood education sections are being offered across 6 colleges in Massachusetts this term (99 sections total).
Delivery format
- online48 (48%)
- in person40 (40%)
- hybrid7 (7%)
- zoom4 (4%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)17
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)11
- Evening (5 PM and after)26
- Asynchronous / TBA45
Start dates
Sections begin on 5 distinct dates. 4 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 24 distinct instructors across 6 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Berkshire Community College4 programs
Bristol Community College2 programs
Bunker Hill Community College2 programs
Cape Cod Community College5 programs
Greenfield Community College2 programs
Holyoke Community College4 programs
Massasoit Community College2 programs
MassBay Community College3 programs
Middlesex Community College3 programs
North Shore Community College8 programs
Northern Essex Community College1 program
Requirements
- BIO 101Human Biology(3 cr)not offered
- BIO 102Human Biology Laboratory(1 cr)not offered
- BIO 111Introductory Biology I(4 cr)not offered
- BIO 121Anatomy & Physiology I(4 cr)not offered
- COM 111Public Speaking(3 cr)not offered
- ECE 101Introduction to Early Childhood Education(3 cr)not offered
- ECE 111Preschool Curriculum(3 cr)not offered
- ECE 181Early Childhood Education Field Placement I(1 cr)not offered
- ECE 182Early Childhood Education Field Placement II(1 cr)not offered
- ECE 201Language & Reading Development in Early Childhood(3 cr)not offered
- ECE 202Expressive Learning Activities in Early Childhood Curriculum(3 cr)not offered
- ECE 203Math/Science for Early Childhood Curriculum(3 cr)not offered
- ECE 250Seminar in Philosophy of Early Childhood Education(3 cr)not offered
- ECE 271Early Childhood Education Practicum I(4 cr)not offered
- ECE 272Early Childhood Education Practicum II(4 cr)not offered
- EDU 102Introduction to Special Education(3 cr)not offered
- ECE 123Inclusive Practices for Young Children with Special Needs(3 cr)not offered
- ENG 101English Composition I(3 cr)not offered
- ENG 102English Composition II(3 cr)not offered
- MAT 118Mathematical Ideas I(3 cr)not offered
- MAT 119Mathematical Ideas II(3 cr)not offered
- PSY 101Introduction to Psychology(3 cr)not offered
- ECE 104Child Growth and Development(3 cr)not offered
- PSY 203Child Psychology(3 cr)not offered
- SCI 111Physical Science I(4 cr)not offered
- SCI 112Physical Science II(4 cr)not offered
Source: College catalog
Quinsigamond Community College2 programs
Roxbury Community College1 program
Springfield Technical Community College2 programs
Common Early Childhood Education courses
- EDU 100Child Care Health & Safety(7 sections)
- EDU 101Early Child Growth & Dev(7 sections)
- EDU 103Intro & Foundations of Educatn(7 sections)
- ECE 103Child Growth and Development(5 sections)
- EDU 104Foundations of Early Child Ed(5 sections)
- EDU 122Special Needs(5 sections)
- ECE 116Intro to Early Childhood Educ(4 sections)
- EDU 110Curriculum Development(4 sections)
- ECE 101Guidance/Discipline(2 sections)
- ECE 104Curriculum in ECE(2 sections)
- ECE 106Program Environments(2 sections)
- ECE 207Literacy Dev & Learning(2 sections)
Career outlook for Early Childhood Education graduates
Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for the primary career outcome of this program (2024 OEWS release). Compare Massachusetts’s typical pay to the national picture before choosing where to study.
Massachusetts's typical pay is about 25% above the typical state — a strong sign of healthy local demand.
Wage data reflects all workers in the occupation, not just recent CC graduates — entry-level pay is typically lower. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a degree to work at a daycare in Massachusetts?
- Requirements vary by role and facility type. Assistant teacher roles at licensed centers typically need a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential — a one-year certificate. Lead teacher in a public pre-K classroom usually requires an associate or bachelor's. Family child-care homes have lower minimums but the higher-paying jobs all require the AAS in early childhood.
- Can I transfer this credit to a teaching bachelor's?
- Usually yes for the general-education portion (English, math, US history) and the foundational child-development courses. Methods-and-practicum credits often need to be re-taken at the four-year level because state teacher-certification programs require specific supervised hours at their own partner schools. Compare colleges' transfer agreements below.
- What's the typical salary for an early-childhood teacher in Massachusetts?
- Preschool teachers in Massachusetts earn roughly the state's living wage — lower than public-school K–12 teachers but higher than minimum-wage daycare assistant roles. Head Start lead teachers earn more than private-center teachers thanks to federal funding. Many graduates stack on the CDA, AAS, and eventually a B.A. to keep climbing the pay scale.
- How long does the ECE associate take?
- Two years full-time, including the supervised practicum semester. Many programs are offered fully part-time and online (except for the practicum hours), letting working assistants complete it in 3–4 years while continuing to work.
Compare Early Childhood Education programs in other states
Same comparison view, different state systems. Useful if you’re considering an out-of-state community college or just want to see how Massachusetts’s early childhood education programs stack up.
Other programs in Massachusetts
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.