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Early childhood education programs in North Dakota

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

3 schools offer these early childhood education programs, and North Dakota 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 North Dakota, all 4 programs ask for a high school diploma or equivalent.

By kind, the 4 programs here are early childhood education (associate degree, 3 programs) and child care or preschool certificate (1 program).

See the 4 programs

How much do early childhood education programs cost in North Dakota?

Two-year degrees (3 programs)
$8,275 to $12,760all 3 with a price
Other early childhood education programs (1 program)
$4,138the one 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
1 program reports 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
Not enough data
4 programs report 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 North Dakota may also offer early childhood education programs. How these figures are made

Are there free early childhood education programs in North Dakota?

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

All 4 early childhood programs in North Dakota approved for WIOA funding

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What you need to enroll
Kind of program
School
How it's taught
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4 programs

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

    Early Childhood Education - AS Degree

    Lake Region State College

    Devils Lake

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Lake Region State College, Devils LakeEarly childhood education (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$20,500
    Price if you pay yourself$8,275
    More details about Early Childhood Education - AS Degree at Lake Region State College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    75%
    Earned in a quarter
    $5,131
    Length
    80 weeks, 15 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    44
    Earned a year, estimated
    $20,500
    Price if you pay yourself
    $8,275

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

    Early Childhood Education

    Sitting Bull College

    Fort Yates

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Sitting Bull College, Fort YatesEarly childhood education (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$39,100
    Price if you pay yourself$10,220
    More details about Early Childhood Education at Sitting Bull College
    Finished
    50%
    Working at 6 months
    55%
    Earned in a quarter
    $9,774
    Length
    80 weeks, 15 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    37
    Earned a year, estimated
    $39,100
    Price if you pay yourself
    $10,220

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

    Early Childhood Associate

    Mayville State University

    Mayville

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Mayville State University, MayvilleEarly childhood education (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$12,760
    More details about Early Childhood Associate at Mayville State University
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    80 weeks, 15 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    26
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $12,760

  • Child care or preschool certificateHybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Early Childhood Education - Certificate

    Lake Region State College

    Devils Lake

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Lake Region State College, Devils LakeChild care or preschool certificate · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$4,138
    More details about Early Childhood Education - Certificate at Lake Region State College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    32 weeks, 15 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $4,138

How to pay for early childhood education programs in North Dakota

WIOA funding can pay for early childhood education programs in North Dakota

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.

Other training in North Dakota

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

Where the North Dakota early childhood education program numbers come from

Which North Dakota early childhood education programs are on this list?

These are the early childhood education programs North Dakota 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 North Dakota offers.

How the prices and results of North Dakota 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 North Dakota

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