St. Catherine University

About

St. Catherine University, located in St. Paul, Minnesota, is a dynamic university for women and men, with a college for women at its heart. Also known by its nickname, St. Kate’s, the University currently enrolls roughly 3,900 students and offers degrees at the associate, baccalaureate, master's and doctoral levels.

The Education Department at St. Kate's offers programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The Early Childhood department offers an associate's degree, bachelor's degree leading to your initial Minnesota Early Childhood Education teaching license, and a certificate program for a Montessori credential. The Master's of Library and Information Science department offers a graduate program leading to your initial Minnesota School Library Media Specialist teaching license.

College or University
Saint Paul

Institution Links

Recognitions and Achievements

Top Performer in Social Mobility: Recognized by U.S. News & World Report for helping students improve their economic standing.
Best Value School: Named among the best value institutions by U.S. News & World Report.
FamilyU Seal Recipient: Honored by Generation Hope for outstanding support of student parents.

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St. Catherine University

Programs

Bachelor’s & certification

BS in Early Childhood Education + Teaching License

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48 months
Program Duration
In-person, Online
Program Format
Pre-Test Required
No

Relevant Links

Early Childhood Admissions Program

Program Info

If you’re passionate about working with young children and want to become a licensed teacher, St. Kate’s Early Childhood Education program is designed for you. Through the bachelor’s degree program, you'll be prepared to apply for a Minnesota Early Childhood Education license (birth–grade 3) — the first step toward making a lasting impact in the lives of young learners.

This flexible program is part of the College for Adults, designed specifically for working adults. Most courses are held online, with some in-person sessions during the summer, so you can balance school with work and other responsibilities. As you work toward licensure, you’ll develop into a socially aware and innovative educator, learning to teach through a lens of Montessori philosophy and anti-bias, anti-racist practices. You'll gain hands-on experience, engage in meaningful coursework and build the leadership skills needed to advocate for equity and justice in early childhood education.

In addition to the licensure track, St. Kate’s also offers:

An associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education
A pre-primary endorsement for licensed kindergarten–grade 6 teachers in Minnesota
A certificate program leading to an American Montessori Society credential

No matter which path you choose, you’ll leave St. Kate’s with the tools, confidence and commitment to be a change-maker in today’s dynamic classrooms.
Students of all genders are welcome.

Upcoming Deadlines

Deadlines
Program Start

Rolling Deadline
Fall
Dec. 15, 2026
Spring
Rolling Deadline
Summer

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Ways to Lower Your Costs

Students at St. Catherine University have reduced the cost of their program using these methods. Check with St. Catherine University to see if you can, too!

Amount

Description

10% tuition reduction

Corporate Partnership Program

The corporate partnership program gives you a 10 percent tuition reduction if you’re employed by one of St. Kate's partners. Learn more.

Varies

Grants, Stipends, Scholarships

The Jeri Grant Miller Scholarship provides a $500 award to use for any expenses related to your education at St. Kate's. Learn more.

Minnesota T.E.A.C.H. Scholarships for Minnesota's early childhood and school-age care professionals may cover most expenses including tuition, textbooks, travel stipends and paid release time. Learn more.

Varies

Loan Forgiveness

The Minnesota Teacher Shortage Loan Repayment Program helps teachers from underrepresented backgrounds, those working in rural districts or teachers in shortage areas like Early Childhood Education repay their student loans.