New Jersey 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.
5 colleges · 75 sections · 28 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
New Jersey community colleges train the people who staff licensed daycare centers, preschools, Head Start programs, and pre-K classrooms across the state. The 75 sections at 5 NJ County Colleges 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 New Jersey 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bergen Community College | 26 | 9 | 16 | — | — |
| Hudson County Community College | 18 | 8 | 9 | — | — |
| Essex County College | 12 | 6 | — | 85 | $33,841 |
| UCNJ Union College | 12 | 4 | 5 | — | — |
| Rowan College at Burlington County | 7 | 5 | 3 | — | — |
Early Childhood Education Availability Snapshot
How early childhood education sections are being offered across 5 colleges in New Jersey this term (75 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person37 (49%)
- online17 (23%)
- zoom16 (21%)
- hybrid5 (7%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)15
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)12
- Evening (5 PM and after)14
- Asynchronous / TBA34
Start dates
Sections begin on 7 distinct dates. 8 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 25 distinct instructors across 5 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Bergen Community College1 program
First Semester
- ELEC XXXornot offered
Subtotal: 15 Credits
15 creditsSee catalog for course list
Subtotal: 15 Credits
15 creditsSee catalog for course list
Subtotal: 15 Credits
15 creditsSee catalog for course list
Fourth Semester
- ELEC XXXornot offered
Subtotal: 15 Credits
15 creditsSee catalog for course list
Source: College catalog
Common Early Childhood Education courses
- EDU 101Introduction to Education(17 sections)
- EDU 102Inclus & Exceptional Child(5 sections)
- ECE 201Intro to Early Childhood Educ(4 sections)
- ECE 214Guiding Young Child's Behavior(4 sections)
- EDU 120Fdns of Early Childhood Edu(4 sections)
- EDU 205Educational Psychology(4 sections)
- EDU 220Educational Technology(4 sections)
- ECE 215Emerging Literacy(3 sections)
- EDU 200The Exceptional Child(3 sections)
- EDU 110Fdns of Multicultural Ed(2 sections)
- EDU 112Hist Fnds American Edu(2 sections)
- EDU 135Disability As a Diversity(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 New Jersey’s typical pay to the national picture before choosing where to study.
New Jersey's typical pay is about 29% 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 New Jersey?
- 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 New Jersey?
- Preschool teachers in New Jersey 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 New Jersey’s early childhood education programs stack up.
Other programs in New Jersey
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.