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Early childhood education programs in Maryland

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

5 schools offer these early childhood education programs, and Maryland has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did. One school runs 3 of these 7 programs, so the typical figures lean heavily on its prices and results.

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 Maryland, all 7 programs ask for a high school diploma or equivalent.

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

See the 7 programs

How much do early childhood education programs cost in Maryland?

$622 to $4,164 is what most early childhood programs in Maryland cost if you pay yourself

That is the middle half of the 7 programs with a price. All of them: $540 to $4,804

In the typical program

Finished the program
38%
Working 6 months later
68%
Earned a year, estimated
about $30,500
Length
17 to 75 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 Maryland may also offer early childhood education programs. How these figures are made

Are there free early childhood education programs in Maryland?

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

All 7 early childhood programs in Maryland approved for WIOA funding

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7 programs

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

    Child Care Provider (90 clock hours)

    Howard Community College

    Columbia

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Howard Community College, ColumbiaChild care course or single class · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$29,100
    Price if you pay yourself$540

    4 students trained with WIOA funding

    Program website, Child Care Provider (90 clock hours) at Howard Community College
    More details about Child Care Provider (90 clock hours) at Howard Community College
    Finished
    35%
    Working at 6 months
    41%
    Earned in a quarter
    $7,271
    Length
    16 weeks, 5 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $245
    Students counted
    2,422
    Earned a year, estimated
    $29,100
    Price if you pay yourself
    $540
    students trained with WIOA funding
    4
    Program website, Child Care Provider (90 clock hours) at Howard Community College

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

    Early Childhood Education (60 Credit Hours)

    Baltimore City Community College

    Baltimore

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Baltimore City Community College, BaltimoreEarly childhood education (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$36,600
    Price if you pay yourself$4,804
    Program website, Early Childhood Education (60 Credit Hours) at Baltimore City Community College
    More details about Early Childhood Education (60 Credit Hours) at Baltimore City Community College
    Finished
    25%
    Working at 6 months
    75%
    Earned in a quarter
    $9,159
    Length
    60 weeks, 1 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $450
    Students counted
    207
    Earned a year, estimated
    $36,600
    Price if you pay yourself
    $4,804
    Program website, Early Childhood Education (60 Credit Hours) at Baltimore City Community College

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

    Child Care (90 Clock Hours)

    Chesapeake College

    Wye Mills

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Chesapeake College, Wye MillsChild care course or single class · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$36,100
    Price if you pay yourself$560

    3 students trained with WIOA funding

    Program website, Child Care (90 Clock Hours) at Chesapeake College
    More details about Child Care (90 Clock Hours) at Chesapeake College
    Finished
    49%
    Working at 6 months
    89%
    Earned in a quarter
    $9,036
    Length
    15 weeks, 6 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $193
    Students counted
    167
    Earned a year, estimated
    $36,100
    Price if you pay yourself
    $560
    students trained with WIOA funding
    3
    Program website, Child Care (90 Clock Hours) at Chesapeake College

  • Child care course or single classOnlineHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Child Care Training (99 Clock Hours)

    Wor-Wic Community College

    Based in Salisbury, MD

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Wor-Wic Community College, based in Salisbury, MDChild care course or single class · Accredited schoolOnline · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$27,200
    Price if you pay yourself$685
    Program website, Child Care Training (99 Clock Hours) at Wor-Wic Community College
    More details about Child Care Training (99 Clock Hours) at Wor-Wic Community College
    Finished
    41%
    Working at 6 months
    63%
    Earned in a quarter
    $6,795
    Length
    18 weeks, 6 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $170
    Students counted
    97
    Earned a year, estimated
    $27,200
    Price if you pay yourself
    $685
    Program website, Child Care Training (99 Clock Hours) at Wor-Wic Community College

  • Child care or preschool certificateIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Child Care Professional (28 Credit Hours)

    Hagerstown Community College

    Hagerstown

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Hagerstown Community College, HagerstownChild care or preschool certificate · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$32,000
    Price if you pay yourself$3,956
    Program website, Child Care Professional (28 Credit Hours) at Hagerstown Community College
    More details about Child Care Professional (28 Credit Hours) at Hagerstown Community College
    Finished
    25%
    Working at 6 months
    65%
    Earned in a quarter
    $8,000
    Length
    90 weeks, 6 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $2,039
    Students counted
    42
    Earned a year, estimated
    $32,000
    Price if you pay yourself
    $3,956
    Program website, Child Care Professional (28 Credit Hours) at Hagerstown Community College

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

    Early Childhood Education (60-63 Credit Hours)

    Wor-Wic Community College

    Salisbury

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Wor-Wic Community College, SalisburyEarly childhood education (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$29,000
    Price if you pay yourself$4,372
    Program website, Early Childhood Education (60-63 Credit Hours) at Wor-Wic Community College
    More details about Early Childhood Education (60-63 Credit Hours) at Wor-Wic Community College
    Finished
    58%
    Working at 6 months
    70%
    Earned in a quarter
    $7,250
    Length
    102 weeks, 15 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,460
    Students counted
    41
    Earned a year, estimated
    $29,000
    Price if you pay yourself
    $4,372
    Program website, Early Childhood Education (60-63 Credit Hours) at Wor-Wic Community College

  • Child care or preschool certificateIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Early Childhood Education (24 Credit Hours)

    Wor-Wic Community College

    Salisbury

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Wor-Wic Community College, SalisburyChild care or preschool certificate · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$2,062
    Program website, Early Childhood Education (24 Credit Hours) at Wor-Wic Community College
    More details about Early Childhood Education (24 Credit Hours) at Wor-Wic Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    50 weeks, 20 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $700
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $2,062
    Program website, Early Childhood Education (24 Credit Hours) at Wor-Wic Community College

How to pay for early childhood education programs in Maryland

WIOA funding can pay for early childhood education programs in Maryland

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 Maryland

programs with a price cost under $1,000
3 of 7
lowest typical price among the states with enough programs to compare
2nd of 33
other states where the typical program's graduates earned less
17 of 20
early childhood programs here, against the typical state's 8
7 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 Baltimore, Salisbury, Easton and other Maryland cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 1 program is online.

Other training in Maryland

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

Where the Maryland early childhood education program numbers come from

Which Maryland early childhood education programs are on this list?

These are the early childhood education programs Maryland 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 Maryland offers.

How the prices and results of Maryland 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 Maryland

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