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Early childhood education programs in Arizona

6 early childhood programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

5 schools offer these early childhood education programs, and Arizona has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Childcare workers look after children's needs and help their early development. What they need varies by state and employer, from no formal education to a certificate in early childhood education; most often states ask for the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, which takes coursework, experience and a period of being observed working with children.1 The CDA takes a high school diploma or GED, 120 hours of early childhood education, 480 hours of work with the age group you choose within three years, a portfolio and the CDA exam.2

In Arizona, 3 of the 6 programs take students without a high school diploma, 2 ask for a diploma or equivalent and 1 asks for earlier courses first.

By kind, the 6 programs here are early childhood education (associate degree, 3 programs), child care or preschool certificate (2 programs) and CDA (Child Development Associate) course (1 program).

See the 6 programs

How much do early childhood education programs cost in Arizona?

Two-year degrees (3 programs)
$5,820 to $8,200all 3 with a price
Other early childhood education programs (3 programs)
$828 to $2,903all 3 with a price

What you pay yourself for the whole program, as the schools report it.

In the typical program

Finished the program
Not enough data
4 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
4 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
4 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Length
Not enough data
1 program reports it; a typical figure needs 5

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Arizona may also offer early childhood education programs. How these figures are made

Are there free early childhood education programs in Arizona?

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 6 early childhood programs in Arizona approved for WIOA funding

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Kind of program
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6 programs

  • Child care or preschool certificateHybridPrerequisite courses

    Preschool Education Certificate - (CERT.PRSCE)

    Arizona Western College

    Yuma

    Accredited school

    Prerequisite courses

    Arizona Western College, YumaChild care or preschool certificate · Accredited schoolHybrid · Prerequisite courses

    Earned a year, estimated$26,500
    Price if you pay yourself$2,903
    Program website, Preschool Education Certificate - (CERT.PRSCE) at Arizona Western College
    More details about Preschool Education Certificate - (CERT.PRSCE) at Arizona Western College
    Finished
    42%
    Working at 6 months
    71%
    Earned in a quarter
    $6,620
    Length
    48 weeks, 16 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $243
    Students counted
    151
    Earned a year, estimated
    $26,500
    Price if you pay yourself
    $2,903
    Program website, Preschool Education Certificate - (CERT.PRSCE) at Arizona Western College

  • Early childhood education (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Early Childhood Studies - AAS

    Northland Pioneer College

    Holbrook

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Northland Pioneer College, HolbrookEarly childhood education (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$5,820
    Program website, Early Childhood Studies - AAS at Northland Pioneer College
    More details about Early Childhood Studies - AAS at Northland Pioneer College
    Finished
    22%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    Not reported
    Cost of supplies
    $640
    Students counted
    75
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $5,820
    Program website, Early Childhood Studies - AAS at Northland Pioneer College

  • Early childhood education (associate degree)In personNo diploma needed

    Early Childhood Care and Education - AA degree

    Cochise College

    Sierra Vista

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Cochise College, Sierra VistaEarly childhood education (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$32,300
    Price if you pay yourself$7,896
    School website, Early Childhood Care and Education - AA degree at Cochise College
    More details about Early Childhood Care and Education - AA degree at Cochise College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    100%
    Earned in a quarter
    $8,077
    Length
    Not reported
    Cost of supplies
    $2,186
    Students counted
    42
    Earned a year, estimated
    $32,300
    Price if you pay yourself
    $7,896
    School website, Early Childhood Care and Education - AA degree at Cochise College

  • Early childhood education (associate degree)HybridNo diploma needed

    Early Childhood Education AAS

    Yavapai College

    Prescott

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Yavapai College, PrescottEarly childhood education (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$38,700
    Price if you pay yourself$8,200
    Program website, Early Childhood Education AAS at Yavapai College
    More details about Early Childhood Education AAS at Yavapai College
    Finished
    28%
    Working at 6 months
    100%
    Earned in a quarter
    $9,686
    Length
    Not reported
    Cost of supplies
    $2,320
    Students counted
    41
    Earned a year, estimated
    $38,700
    Price if you pay yourself
    $8,200
    Program website, Early Childhood Education AAS at Yavapai College

  • Child care or preschool certificateHybridNo diploma needed

    Early Childhood Education - Basic Certificate

    Yavapai College

    Prescott

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Yavapai College, PrescottChild care or preschool certificate · Accredited schoolHybrid · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$25,500
    Price if you pay yourself$2,370
    Program website, Early Childhood Education - Basic Certificate at Yavapai College
    More details about Early Childhood Education - Basic Certificate at Yavapai College
    Finished
    41%
    Working at 6 months
    100%
    Earned in a quarter
    $6,363
    Length
    Not reported
    Cost of supplies
    $750
    Students counted
    38
    Earned a year, estimated
    $25,500
    Price if you pay yourself
    $2,370
    Program website, Early Childhood Education - Basic Certificate at Yavapai College

  • CDA (Child Development Associate) courseOnlineHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Child Development Associate

    Mohave Community College

    Based in Kingman, AZ

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Mohave Community College, based in Kingman, AZCDA (Child Development Associate) course · Accredited schoolOnline · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$828
    Program website, Child Development Associate at Mohave Community College
    More details about Child Development Associate at Mohave Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    Not reported
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $828
    Program website, Child Development Associate at Mohave Community College

How to pay for early childhood education programs in Arizona

WIOA funding can pay for early childhood education programs in Arizona

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for early childhood education programs

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.78

GI Bill for early childhood education programs

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.9

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Quick facts: Early childhood education programs in Arizona

lowest typical price among the states with enough programs to compare
15th of 33
early childhood programs here, against the typical state's 8
6 vs 8

State comparisons use the same figures as the early childhood education programs by state table: the middle program of each state, and only states with three or more schools for prices. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).

Early childhood education programs in Prescott Valley, Yuma, Show Low and other Arizona cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 1 program is online.

Other training in Arizona

How early childhood education programs compare with the rest of education and social services: Child care and social services training in Arizona

Where the Arizona early childhood education program numbers come from

Which Arizona early childhood education programs are on this list?

These are the early childhood education programs Arizona approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).10 The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Arizona offers.

How the prices and results of Arizona early childhood education programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about early childhood education programs in Arizona

Show the 10 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Childcare Workers
  2. Council for Professional Recognition: CDA Credentialing Process Overview (February 2026)
  3. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  4. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  5. Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
  6. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  7. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
  8. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Don't Miss Out on Federal Pell Grants
  9. US Department of Veterans Affairs: GI Bill benefits for non-college degree programs
  10. US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List