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Early childhood education programs in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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

6 schools offer these early childhood education programs with classes in the Milwaukee-Waukesha area, and every one is approved 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 Milwaukee, 4 of the 12 programs take students without a high school diploma and 8 ask for a diploma or equivalent.

By kind, the 12 programs here are child care course or single class (7 programs), child care or preschool certificate (3 programs) and early childhood education (associate degree, 2 programs).

See the 12 programs

All 51 early childhood programs in Wisconsin, including online programs

How much do early childhood education programs cost in Milwaukee?

$278 to $4,347 is what most early childhood programs in Milwaukee cost if you pay yourself

That is the middle half of the 11 programs with a price. All of them: $100 to $10,919

In the typical program

Finished the program
51%
Working 6 months later
69%
Earned a year, estimated
about $26,600
Length
21 to 48 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 Milwaukee may also offer early childhood education programs. How these figures are made

Are there free early childhood education programs in Milwaukee?

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

All 12 early childhood programs in Milwaukee approved for WIOA funding

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12 programs

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

    Early Childhood Education Associate Degree

    Milwaukee Area Technical College

    Milwaukee

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Milwaukee Area Technical College, MilwaukeeEarly childhood education (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$27,700
    Price if you pay yourself$10,919
    Program website, Early Childhood Education Associate Degree at Milwaukee Area Technical College
    More details about Early Childhood Education Associate Degree at Milwaukee Area Technical College
    Finished
    32%
    Working at 6 months
    72%
    Earned in a quarter
    $6,930
    Length
    64 weeks, 12 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $2,000
    Students counted
    1,373
    Earned a year, estimated
    $27,700
    Price if you pay yourself
    $10,919
    Program website, Early Childhood Education Associate Degree at Milwaukee Area Technical College

  • Child care or preschool certificateHybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Childcare Services Technical Diploma

    Milwaukee Area Technical College

    Milwaukee

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Milwaukee Area Technical College, MilwaukeeChild care or preschool certificate · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$24,000
    Price if you pay yourself$4,694
    Program website, Childcare Services Technical Diploma at Milwaukee Area Technical College
    More details about Childcare Services Technical Diploma at Milwaukee Area Technical College
    Finished
    46%
    Working at 6 months
    70%
    Earned in a quarter
    $5,999
    Length
    32 weeks, 12 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,800
    Students counted
    365
    Earned a year, estimated
    $24,000
    Price if you pay yourself
    $4,694
    Program website, Childcare Services Technical Diploma at Milwaukee Area Technical College

  • Early childhood education (associate degree)HybridNo diploma needed

    Early Childhood Education

    Waukesha County Technical College

    Pewaukee

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Waukesha County Technical College, PewaukeeEarly childhood education (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$27,300
    Price if you pay yourself$8,810
    Program website, Early Childhood Education at Waukesha County Technical College
    More details about Early Childhood Education at Waukesha County Technical College
    Finished
    43%
    Working at 6 months
    74%
    Earned in a quarter
    $6,818
    Length
    64 weeks, 30 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    307
    Earned a year, estimated
    $27,300
    Price if you pay yourself
    $8,810
    Program website, Early Childhood Education at Waukesha County Technical College

  • Child care or preschool certificateHybridNo diploma needed

    Early Childhood Ed Preschool

    Waukesha County Technical College

    Pewaukee

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Waukesha County Technical College, PewaukeeChild care or preschool certificate · Accredited schoolHybrid · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$22,800
    Price if you pay yourself$2,643
    Program website, Early Childhood Ed Preschool at Waukesha County Technical College
    More details about Early Childhood Ed Preschool at Waukesha County Technical College
    Finished
    80%
    Working at 6 months
    57%
    Earned in a quarter
    $5,704
    Length
    32 weeks, 30 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    171
    Earned a year, estimated
    $22,800
    Price if you pay yourself
    $2,643
    Program website, Early Childhood Ed Preschool at Waukesha County Technical College

  • Child care or preschool certificateHybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Preschool Certificate

    Milwaukee Area Technical College

    Milwaukee

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Milwaukee Area Technical College, MilwaukeeChild care or preschool certificate · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$32,000
    Price if you pay yourself$3,047
    Program website, Preschool Certificate at Milwaukee Area Technical College
    More details about Preschool Certificate at Milwaukee Area Technical College
    Finished
    100%
    Working at 6 months
    68%
    Earned in a quarter
    $7,989
    Length
    32 weeks, 12 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    119
    Earned a year, estimated
    $32,000
    Price if you pay yourself
    $3,047
    Program website, Preschool Certificate at Milwaukee Area Technical College

  • Child care course or single classHybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Child Care Teacher

    Miracles Training Center

    Milwaukee

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Miracles Training Center, MilwaukeeChild care course or single classHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$16,800
    Price if you pay yourself$2,000
    More details about Child Care Teacher at Miracles Training Center
    Finished
    94%
    Working at 6 months
    57%
    Earned in a quarter
    $4,208
    Length
    3 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $950
    Students counted
    100
    Earned a year, estimated
    $16,800
    Price if you pay yourself
    $2,000

  • Child care course or single classIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Introduction to the Child Care Profession

    4C-For Children Inc.

    Milwaukee

    High school diploma or equivalent

    4C-For Children Inc., MilwaukeeChild care course or single classIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$25,800
    Price if you pay yourself$155
    Program website, Introduction to the Child Care Profession at 4C-For Children Inc.
    More details about Introduction to the Child Care Profession at 4C-For Children Inc.
    Finished
    50%
    Working at 6 months
    61%
    Earned in a quarter
    $6,462
    Length
    Not reported
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    85
    Earned a year, estimated
    $25,800
    Price if you pay yourself
    $155
    Program website, Introduction to the Child Care Profession at 4C-For Children Inc.

  • Child care course or single classHybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Fundamentals of Infant & Toddler Care

    4C-For Children Inc.

    Milwaukee

    High school diploma or equivalent

    4C-For Children Inc., MilwaukeeChild care course or single classHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$54,700
    Price if you pay yourself$100
    Program website, Fundamentals of Infant & Toddler Care at 4C-For Children Inc.
    More details about Fundamentals of Infant & Toddler Care at 4C-For Children Inc.
    Finished
    64%
    Working at 6 months
    61%
    Earned in a quarter
    $13,663
    Length
    Not reported
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    66
    Earned a year, estimated
    $54,700
    Price if you pay yourself
    $100
    Program website, Fundamentals of Infant & Toddler Care at 4C-For Children Inc.

  • Child care course or single classIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Fundamentals of Family Child Care

    4C-For Children Inc.

    Milwaukee

    High school diploma or equivalent

    4C-For Children Inc., MilwaukeeChild care course or single classIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$30,800
    Price if you pay yourselfLeft out
    Program website, Fundamentals of Family Child Care at 4C-For Children Inc.
    More details about Fundamentals of Family Child Care at 4C-For Children Inc.
    Finished
    53%
    Working at 6 months
    81%
    Earned in a quarter
    $7,692
    Length
    Not reported
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    57
    Earned a year, estimated
    $30,800
    Price if you pay yourself
    Left out
    Program website, Fundamentals of Family Child Care at 4C-For Children Inc.

  • Child care course or single classIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Skills and Strategies for the Child Care Teacher

    4C-For Children Inc.

    Milwaukee

    High school diploma or equivalent

    4C-For Children Inc., MilwaukeeChild care course or single classIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$25,800
    Price if you pay yourself$155
    Program website, Skills and Strategies for the Child Care Teacher at 4C-For Children Inc.
    More details about Skills and Strategies for the Child Care Teacher at 4C-For Children Inc.
    Finished
    33%
    Working at 6 months
    78%
    Earned in a quarter
    $6,462
    Length
    Not reported
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    54
    Earned a year, estimated
    $25,800
    Price if you pay yourself
    $155
    Program website, Skills and Strategies for the Child Care Teacher at 4C-For Children Inc.

  • Child care course or single classHybridNo diploma needed

    Continuing Education Courses for Childcare Providers

    Jacq of All Trades, LLC

    Mequon

    No diploma needed

    Jacq of All Trades, LLC, MequonChild care course or single classHybrid · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$400
    More details about Continuing Education Courses for Childcare Providers at Jacq of All Trades, LLC
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    10 weeks, 5 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $50
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $400

  • Child care course or single classHybridNo diploma needed

    Entry Level Child Care Teachers

    Child Care Matters Network Inc

    Wauwatosa

    No diploma needed

    Child Care Matters Network Inc, WauwatosaChild care course or single classHybrid · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$4,000
    Program website, Entry Level Child Care Teachers at Child Care Matters Network Inc
    More details about Entry Level Child Care Teachers at Child Care Matters Network Inc
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    Not reported
    Cost of supplies
    $1,050
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $4,000
    Program website, Entry Level Child Care Teachers at Child Care Matters Network Inc

How to pay for early childhood education programs in Milwaukee

WIOA funding can pay for early childhood education programs in Milwaukee

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 Milwaukee

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

Where the Milwaukee early childhood education program numbers come from

Which Milwaukee early childhood education programs are on this list?

These are the early childhood education programs with classes in the Milwaukee-Waukesha area that are 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. Online programs are left out here; they are on the Wisconsin page. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what the area offers.

How the prices and results of Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee

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