Early childhood education programs in Montana

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

4 schools offer these early childhood education programs, and Montana 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 Montana, all 4 programs take students without a high school diploma.

By kind, the 4 programs here are early childhood education (associate degree, 2 programs), child care or preschool certificate (1 program) and early childhood apprenticeship (1 program).

See the 4 programs

How much do early childhood education programs cost in Montana?

Two-year degrees (2 programs): $17,730the one with a price
Other early childhood education programs (2 programs): $3,650the 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 reported; None of the 4 programs report it
Working 6 months later: Not reported; None of the 4 programs report it
Earned a year, estimated: Not reported; None of the 4 programs report it
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 Montana may also offer early childhood education programs. How these figures are made

Are there free early childhood education programs in Montana?

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.⁵
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 cost $17,730.Other early childhood education programs here cost $3,650.

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

All 4 early childhood programs in Montana approved for WIOA funding

4 programs

Child care or preschool certificateHybridNo diploma needed
Early Childhood Educator
Early Education Career Institute
Columbia, SC
No diploma needed
Early Education Career Institute, Columbia, SCChild care or preschool certificateHybrid · No diploma needed
Classes are outside Montana; Montana approved the program for its funding.
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$3,650
Program website, Early Childhood Educator at Early Education Career Institute
More details about Early Childhood Educator at Early Education Career Institute
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
120 weeks, 50 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$3,650
Program website, Early Childhood Educator at Early Education Career Institute
Early childhood education (associate degree)HybridNo diploma needed
AAS Early Childhood Education
Dawson Community College
Glendive
Accredited school
No diploma needed
Dawson Community College, GlendiveEarly childhood education (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$17,730
Program website, AAS Early Childhood Education at Dawson Community College
More details about AAS Early Childhood Education at Dawson Community College
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
60 weeks, 50 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$17,730
Program website, AAS Early Childhood Education at Dawson Community College
Early childhood apprenticeshipHybridNo diploma needed
Early Childhood Education and Teaching.
University Of Montana - Western
Dillon
Accredited school
No diploma needed
University Of Montana - Western, DillonEarly childhood apprenticeship · Accredited schoolHybrid · No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourselfLeft out
Program website, Early Childhood Education and Teaching. at University Of Montana - Western
More details about Early Childhood Education and Teaching. at University Of Montana - Western
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
120 weeks, 50 hours a week
Cost of supplies
Not reported
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
Left out
Program website, Early Childhood Education and Teaching. at University Of Montana - Western
Early childhood education (associate degree)In personNo diploma needed
Early Childhood Education, AAS
Fvcc - Flathead
Kalispell
Accredited school
No diploma needed
Fvcc - Flathead, KalispellEarly childhood education (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourselfNot reported
Program website, Early Childhood Education, AAS at Fvcc - Flathead
More details about Early Childhood Education, AAS at Fvcc - Flathead
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
60 weeks, 50 hours a week
Cost of supplies
Not reported
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
Not reported
Program website, Early Childhood Education, AAS at Fvcc - Flathead

How to pay for early childhood education programs in Montana

WIOA funding can pay for early childhood education programs in Montana

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.

Early childhood education programs in Columbia, Kalispell and other Montana cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 2 in smaller cities and towns.

Other training in Montana

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

Where the Montana early childhood education program numbers come from

Which Montana early childhood education programs are on this list?

These are the early childhood education programs Montana 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 Montana offers.

How the prices and results of Montana 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 Montana

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