Early childhood education programs in Tennessee

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

13 schools offer these early childhood education programs, and Tennessee 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 Tennessee, 3 of the 19 programs take students without a high school diploma, 15 ask for a diploma or equivalent and 1 asks for earlier courses first.

By kind, the 19 programs here are early childhood education (associate degree, 10 programs), child care or preschool certificate (7 programs), early childhood education program (level not stated, 1 program) and CDA (Child Development Associate) course (1 program).

See the 19 programs

How much do early childhood education programs cost in Tennessee?

Two-year degrees (10 programs): $9,506 to $10,479most of them, usually 60 to 64 weeks long
Other early childhood education programs (8 programs): $4,338 to $4,684most of them, usually 15 to 32 weeks long

What you pay yourself for the whole program, as the schools report it. "Most" is the middle half of the programs with a price.

In the typical program

Finished the program: 56%
Working 6 months later: 71%
Earned a year, estimated: about $23,400
Length: 30 to 60 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 Tennessee may also offer early childhood education programs. How these figures are made

Are there free early childhood education programs in Tennessee?

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.³⁴⁵For a degree, the job center first looks at grants such as a federal Pell Grant; WIOA pays toward what they don't cover.⁵In program year 2024 it paid toward the training of at least 3 people at 1 of the 19 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. Two-year degrees here mostly cost $9,506 to $10,479.Other early childhood education programs here mostly cost $4,338 to $4,684.

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

How to pay for early childhood education programs in Tennessee

WIOA funding can pay for early childhood education programs in Tennessee

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 Tennessee

programs with a price cost under $5,000: 7 of 18
lowest typical price among the states with enough programs to compare: 31st of 33
other states where the typical program's graduates earned less: 4 of 20
early childhood programs here, against the typical state's 8: 19 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 Nashville, Knoxville, Tullahoma and other Tennessee cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 2 more programs are in 2 other areas and 1 online.

Other training in Tennessee

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

Where the Tennessee early childhood education program numbers come from

Which Tennessee early childhood education programs are on this list?

These are the early childhood education programs Tennessee 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 Tennessee offers.

How the prices and results of Tennessee 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 Tennessee

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Early childhood education programs in Tennessee

How much do early childhood education programs cost in Tennessee?

Are there free early childhood education programs in Tennessee?

All 19 early childhood programs in Tennessee approved for WIOA funding