The UW-Whitewater Early Child Care and Education (ECCE) program is a non-license early childhood degree, designed for working professionals who have earned at least one credential already and want to stack credential based credits toward a degree. This degree is best suited for those who want to work in child care, preschool, head start or for one of the many organizations focused on supporting young children and families.
Ranked by U.S. News & World Report, 2022
No requirements to come to campus
attend school full-time or part-time
The Online Bachelor’s in Early Child Care and Education requirements have been designed to prepare you for success as a student in the program and your subsequent career.
The ECCE program requires 120 credits. All students are required to complete a minimum of 30 credits through UW-Whitewater; 18 of these must be credits toward the major and 15 must be taken at the end of their program. Students have a great deal of decision-making power related to their degree, so there is not a single list of courses that need to be completed.
There are several application paths an online bachelor's student might take including as transfer, reentry, or second-degree seeking applicants.
Transfer applicants
Transfer applicants are students that have attended another college or university (including having earned an associate’s degree) but have never attended UW-Whitewater.
Reentry applicants
Reentry applicants are students that have previously attended UW-Whitewater.
Second-Degree seeking applicants
Second-Degree seeking applicants are students who have already earned a bachelor's degree and would like to pursue another. If you would like to earn another bachelor’s degree, you can apply to UW-Whitewater’s online bachelor's program as a special student with full credentials. To complete your degree, you would only need to fulfill the requirements for the major you choose.
Unofficial Transcript Review
Transfer, Reentry, and Second-Degree Seeking students, can request an unofficial transcript review. An unofficial review will give you an idea of which of your credits might transfer and how those transfer credits might apply to the online bachelor's program. To request a review, fill out the request more information form.
You can also determine potential transfer credit by using Transferology. Transferology is a fast and free way to determine how credits may transfer from one institution to another.
Admission for the Online Degree
The online program at UW-Whitewater is a superior value at $395 USD per credit for the 2023-24 academic year. This tuition rate applies to Wisconsin residents, out-of-state, and international students.
Textbook rental is included in the cost of tuition for undergraduate students through the University Bookstore's Textbook Rental. Once enrolled in courses, students should verify what materials are needed with their instructors and contact Textbook Rental to have textbooks mailed.
UW-Whitewater students may apply for financial aid in the form of grants, loans, scholarships, or employment. All of these make up a "Financial Aid Package" and may be offered individually or in various combinations. Since funds are limited, priority for aid is based on financial need and how promptly applications are filed.
If you are eligible to receive education benefits under the various Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) and the State of Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) programs, please email the Veterans Benefits Office and a team member will get in touch with you.
To receive the most accurate cost information, complete the Request Information form and a program representative will get in touch with you.