NEW JERSEY — New Jersey has the fourth-best early education system in the nation, according to a new study released by personal finance website WalletHub.
The 2026 report compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia across 12 metrics measuring access to and quality of early childhood education. The rankings considered factors including the share of school districts offering state-funded prekindergarten, enrollment in preschool programs, state spending and child care affordability.
New Jersey ranked No. 4 overall, bolstered by top marks in several categories.
According to the study, New Jersey ranked:
- 1st in total reported spending per child enrolled in preschool.
- 1st in monthly child care co-payment fees as a percentage of family income.
- 4th in the share of 3- and 4-year-olds enrolled in prekindergarten, pre-K special education and Head Start programs.
- 6th in total state Head Start spending per child enrolled in preschool.
- 27th in income requirements for state prekindergarten eligibility.
WalletHub released the rankings as only 12 states and the District of Columbia currently offer universal prekindergarten education.
The study evaluated each state’s early education system using measures that included access to prekindergarten, quality benchmarks and public investment in early childhood education.
The full report is available on WalletHub’s website.
