Early childhood education programs in Connecticut

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

3 schools offer these early childhood education programs, and Connecticut 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 Connecticut, all 5 programs ask for a high school diploma or equivalent.

By kind, the 5 programs here are early childhood education (associate degree, 2 programs), child care or preschool certificate (2 programs) and CDA (Child Development Associate) course (1 program).

See the 5 programs

How much do early childhood education programs cost in Connecticut?

$3,570 to $5,946 is what most early childhood programs in Connecticut cost if you pay yourself

That is the middle half of the 5 programs with a price. All of them: $1,752 to $7,968

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; 2 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Earned a year, estimated: Not enough data; 2 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Length: 52 to 104 weeks

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

Are there free early childhood education programs in Connecticut?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.³⁴⁵In program year 2024 it paid toward the training of at least 4 people at 1 of the 5 programs here.
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁶ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.⁵
Or pay yourself. Most early childhood education programs in Connecticut cost $3,570 to $5,946. Prices on this page run from $1,752 to $7,968.

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

All 5 early childhood programs in Connecticut approved for WIOA funding

5 programs

Early childhood education (associate degree)HybridHigh school diploma or equivalent
Early Childhood Education, Associate in Science
CT State Community College
New Britain
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
CT State Community College, New BritainEarly childhood education (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$1,752
Program website, Early Childhood Education, Associate in Science at CT State Community College
More details about Early Childhood Education, Associate in Science at CT State Community College
Finished
68%
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
104 weeks, 11 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$2,232
Students counted
801
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$1,752
Program website, Early Childhood Education, Associate in Science at CT State Community College
Early childhood education (associate degree)HybridHigh school diploma or equivalent
Early Childhood Education, Associate in Science
Asnuntuck Community College
Enfield
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Asnuntuck Community College, EnfieldEarly childhood education (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$31,000
Price if you pay yourself$7,968
School website, Early Childhood Education, Associate in Science at Asnuntuck Community College
More details about Early Childhood Education, Associate in Science at Asnuntuck Community College
Finished
87%
Working at 6 months
87%
Earned in a quarter
$7,754
Length
104 weeks, 11 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$4,143
Students counted
249
Earned a year, estimated
$31,000
Price if you pay yourself
$7,968
School website, Early Childhood Education, Associate in Science at Asnuntuck Community College
Child care or preschool certificateHybridHigh school diploma or equivalent
Early Childhood Education Certificate
CT State Community College
New Britain
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
CT State Community College, New BritainChild care or preschool certificate · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$5,946
Program website, Early Childhood Education Certificate at CT State Community College
More details about Early Childhood Education Certificate at CT State Community College
Finished
77%
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
52 weeks, 10 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$1,030
Students counted
174
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$5,946
Program website, Early Childhood Education Certificate at CT State Community College
Child care or preschool certificateHybridHigh school diploma or equivalent
Early Childhood Education Certificate
Asnuntuck Community College
Enfield
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Asnuntuck Community College, EnfieldChild care or preschool certificate · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$20,700
Price if you pay yourself$3,984
4 students trained with WIOA funding
School website, Early Childhood Education Certificate at Asnuntuck Community College
More details about Early Childhood Education Certificate at Asnuntuck Community College
Finished
95%
Working at 6 months
83%
Earned in a quarter
$5,178
Length
52 weeks, 10 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$2,232
Students counted
88
Earned a year, estimated
$20,700
Price if you pay yourself
$3,984
students trained with WIOA funding
4
School website, Early Childhood Education Certificate at Asnuntuck Community College
CDA (Child Development Associate) courseOnlineHigh school diploma or equivalent
Asociado de Desarrollo Infantil - Base central (De Espaol a Ingls) Child Development Associate - Central Base (Spanish to English)
Mitchell College
Based in New London, CT
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Mitchell College, based in New London, CTCDA (Child Development Associate) course · Accredited schoolOnline · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$3,570
More details about Asociado de Desarrollo Infantil - Base central (De Espaol a Ingls) Child Development Associate - Central Base (Spanish to English) at Mitchell College
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
11 weeks, 25 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$3,570

How to pay for early childhood education programs in Connecticut

WIOA funding can pay for early childhood education programs in Connecticut

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 Connecticut

lowest typical price among the states with enough programs to compare: 10th of 33
early childhood programs here, against the typical state's 8: 5 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).

Other training in Connecticut

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

Where the Connecticut early childhood education program numbers come from

Which Connecticut early childhood education programs are on this list?

These are the early childhood education programs Connecticut 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 Connecticut offers.

How the prices and results of Connecticut 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 Connecticut

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