Maryland has been ranked as the third-best state in the nation for early education, according to WalletHub’s 2026 report comparing early education systems across all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The study comes as only 12 states and the District of Columbia currently offer universal pre-K education. WalletHub evaluated states using 12 metrics related to access, affordability, and quality, including the availability of state pre-K programs, funding levels, and the number of quality benchmarks met.
Maryland ranked highly in several key categories, including:
- 3rd overall for early education
- 1st for monthly child care co-payment fees as a percentage of family income
- 4th for income requirements for state pre-K eligibility
- 15th for total reported spending per child enrolled in preschool
- 14th for total state Head Start program spending per child enrolled in preschool
- 23rd for the share of 3- and 4-year-olds enrolled in pre-K, pre-K special education, and Head Start
The rankings highlight Maryland’s strong performance in affordability and access to state-funded pre-K programs, while also showing room for improvement in preschool enrollment rates. For the full report, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-the-best-and-worst-early-education-systems/62668
