Best Online Early Childhood Education Programs in Emporia, KS (2026)

Emporia, Kansas has 5 accredited schools offering early childhood education programs. Emporia has a population of about 24,098. Median household income is $52,787 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 25.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Kansas, the top-earning early childhood education-related role is Preschool and Childcare Center Director at a median $56,970 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Early Childhood Education Schools to Emporia

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer early childhood education programs near Emporia, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Emporia city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Emporia. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Rasmussen University-Kansas

Topeka, KS 49.0 miles from Emporia BOC Score 49.0
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 40%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $39,080
Avg net price $23,980/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 34

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

University of Kansas

Lawrence, KS 63.8 miles from Emporia BOC Score 72.0
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 66%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $61,945
Avg net price $18,059/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 86%
  • Programs offered: 67

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Wichita State University

Wichita, KS 77.5 miles from Emporia BOC Score 51.5
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 53%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $51,532
Avg net price $13,194/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 68%
  • Programs offered: 72

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Newman University

Wichita, KS 84.7 miles from Emporia BOC Score 57.6
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 65%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,041
Avg net price $19,971/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 70%
  • Programs offered: 23

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Southwestern College

Winfield, KS 90.4 miles from Emporia BOC Score 36.5
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 47%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,646
Avg net price $29,824/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 54%
  • Programs offered: 33

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Ottawa University-Online

Overland Park, KS 91.6 miles from Emporia BOC Score 60.9
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Graduation rate 51%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,552
Tuition
In‑state$13,296
Out‑of‑state$13,296
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 100%
  • Programs offered: 26

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Kansas schools on the Kansas early childhood education page.


Early Childhood Education Wages Near Emporia

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Kansas, statewide)
Preschool Teacher$47,750
Kindergarten Teacher$56,670
Preschool and Childcare Center Director$56,970
Teaching Assistant$29,490

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.


Emporia at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population24,098Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$52,787Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+25.8%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Emporia-Area Cities With Early Childhood Education Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited early childhood education schools are near Emporia, KS?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering early childhood education programs near Emporia. The closest is Rasmussen University-Kansas in Topeka, KS (49.0 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Southwestern College (90.4 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying early childhood education roles in Kansas?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying early childhood education-related roles in Kansas are: Preschool and Childcare Center Director ($56,970), Kindergarten Teacher ($56,670), Preschool Teacher ($47,750). Wages for Emporia workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Topeka instead of Emporia?

Topeka, KS is 51.3 miles from Emporia and has its own set of local early childhood education programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Emporia an affordable place to study early childhood education?

Emporia’s median household income of $52,787 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Emporia while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Kansas public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.


Learn More About Early Childhood Education Programs

Other Programs Available in Emporia

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Emporia:

Data verified: July 30, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.