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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Early Childhood Education

1,022 Ranked Colleges
$23,200 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2021-2022, 31,937 people earned their degree in early childhood education, making the major the 34th most popular in the United States.

For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major” ranking, we looked at 1,022 colleges that offer a degree in early childhood education. That schools that top this list have a program in early childhood education in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major”.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Early Childhood Education

1
Urban College of Boston crest
Urban College of Boston
Boston, Massachusetts

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Urban College of Boston. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major list. This small school is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and it awarded 113 ’s child development degrees in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Urban College of Boston

2
The Erikson Institute crest
Erikson Institute
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Erikson Institute. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major list. Erikson Institute is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 98 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Erikson Institute

3
St. Augustine College crest
Saint Augustine College
Chicago, Illinois

Out of the 1,022 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Saint Augustine College landed the #3 spot on the list. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 88 ’s child development degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at St. Augustine College

4
RU crest
Rochester University
Rochester Hills, Michigan

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Rochester University. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major. Rochester University is a small school located in Rochester Hills, Michigan that handed out 66 ’s child development degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at RU

5
Pacific Oaks College crest
Pacific Oaks College
Pasadena, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Pacific Oaks College. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major. Pasadena, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s child development degrees to 112 students in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Pacific Oaks College Early Childhood Education Report

6
Dewey University - Carolina crest
Dewey University - Carolina
Carolina, Puerto Rico

Dewey University - Carolina landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major ranking. Located in Carolina, Puerto Rico, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 10 degrees to qualified ’s child development students in 2021-2022.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Dewey University - Carolina

7
AJU crest
American Jewish University
Los Angeles, California

With a ranking of #7, American Jewish University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s child development degrees to 64 students in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 2 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at AJU

8

Tohono O’Odham Community College landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major ranking. Tohono O’Odham Community College is located in Sells, Arizona and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Tohono O’Odham Community College

9

Bay Mills Community College landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major ranking. Bay Mills Community College is located in Brimley, Michigan and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 34 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Bay Mills Community College Early Childhood Education Report

10
Dewey University - Hato Rey crest
Dewey University - Hato Rey
Hato Rey, Puerto Rico

Dewey University - Hato Rey did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major ranking, coming in at #10. Hato Rey, Puerto Rico is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s child development degrees to 22 students in 2021-2022.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Dewey University - Hato Rey

11

The University of Montana - Western did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major ranking, coming in at #11. This small school is located in Dillon, Montana, and it awarded 86 ’s child development degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Montana Western

12
NLU crest
National Louis University
Chicago, Illinois

National Louis University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major ranking. NLU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 345 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full NLU Early Childhood Education Report

13
Bacone College crest
Bacone College
Muskogee, Oklahoma

Bacone College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major ranking. Bacone College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Muskogee, Oklahoma. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Bacone College Early Childhood Education Report

14
NWC crest
Northwestern College
Orange City, Iowa

Northwestern College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major ranking. NWC is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Orange City, Iowa. It awarded 48 ’s child development degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Northwestern College

15

University of Maine at Farmington landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major ranking. Farmington, Maine is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s child development degrees to 19 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at University of Maine at Farmington

16
Davis College crest
Davis College
Toledo, Ohio

Davis College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major ranking, coming in at #16. Located in Toledo, Ohio, this small private for-profit school handed out 5 diplomas to qualified ’s child development students in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Davis College

17
Welch crest
Welch College
Gallatin, Tennessee

Welch College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major ranking, coming in at #17. Gallatin, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s child development degrees to 3 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Welch

18

The University of Arizona Global Campus ranked #18 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major list. San Diego, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s child development degrees to 861 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at The University of Arizona Global Campus

19
CCV crest
Community College of Vermont
Montpelier, Vermont

Community College of Vermont ranked #19 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major list. Montpelier, Vermont is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s child development degrees to 69 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at CCV

20

Bank Street College of Education came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major ranking. New York, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s child development degrees to 30 students in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Bank Street College of Education Early Childhood Education Report

21
Northern New Mexico College crest
Northern New Mexico College
Espanola, New Mexico

Northern New Mexico College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major ranking. This small school is located in Espanola, New Mexico, and it awarded 11 ’s child development degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Northern New Mexico College

22
Brewton - Parker College crest
Brewton - Parker College
Mount Vernon, Georgia

With a ranking of #22, Brewton - Parker College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major list. Brewton - Parker College is a small school located in Mount Vernon, Georgia that handed out 0 ’s child development degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Brewton - Parker College Early Childhood Education Report

23
CHC crest
Chestnut Hill College
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Chestnut Hill College ranked #23 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major list. Chestnut Hill College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 38 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at CHC

24
MLC crest
Martin Luther College
New Ulm, Minnesota

Martin Luther College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major ranking, coming in at #24. Located in New Ulm, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 15 degrees to qualified ’s child development students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at MLC

25

With a ranking of #25, University of New Mexico - Valencia County Campus did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major list. This small school is located in Los Lunas, New Mexico, and it awarded 6 ’s child development degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at University of New Mexico - Valencia County Campus

Rest of the Best 50 in Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
27
28
Converse crest
Converse College
Spartanburg, SC
29
30
31
SCC crest
Stone Child College
Box Elder, MT
32
33
34
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Eastern University
Saint Davids, PA
35
35
37
Clinton College crest
Clinton College
Rock Hill, SC
38
39
Manor College crest
Manor College
Jenkintown, PA
40
41
Pine Manor crest
Pine Manor College
Chestnut Hill, MA
42
TU crest
Thomas University
Thomasville, GA
43
Emmanuel College crest
Emmanuel College
Franklin Springs, GA
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
Lesley crest
Lesley University
Cambridge, MA

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major

While not in the ’top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

RankCollegeLocation
51Notre Dame CollegeCleveland, OH
52Luna Community CollegeLas Vegas, NM
53Salish Kootenai CollegePablo, MT
54Carlow UniversityPittsburgh, PA
55Mount Vernon Nazarene UniversityMount Vernon, OH
56Southwestern Indian Polytechnic InstituteAlbuquerque, NM
57Northeast Lakeview CollegeUniversal City, TX
58Housatonic Community CollegeBridgeport, CT
59Sitting Bull CollegeFort Yates, ND
60Odessa CollegeOdessa, TX
61Muskingum UniversityNew Concord, OH
62California State University - SacramentoSacramento, CA
63California State University - Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA
64Haywood Community CollegeClyde, NC
65Dawson Community CollegeGlendive, MT
RankCollegeLocation
66Grove City CollegeGrove City, PA
67Mitchell CollegeNew London, CT
67Blackfeet Community CollegeBrowning, MT
69Palo Alto CollegeSan Antonio, TX
70Georgia Military CollegeMilledgeville, GA
71North Greenville UniversityTigerville, SC
72Rasmussen University - FloridaOcala, FL
73California State University - Dominguez HillsCarson, CA
74Carroll Community CollegeWestminster, MD
75Cazenovia CollegeCazenovia, NY
76Edinboro University of PennsylvaniaEdinboro, PA
77Salem State UniversitySalem, MA
78South Texas CollegeMcAllen, TX
79West Chester University of PennsylvaniaWest Chester, PA
80California State University - BakersfieldBakersfield, CA
81Trinity Washington UniversityWashington, DC
82Centralia CollegeCentralia, WA
83Springfield College - School of Professional and Continuing StudiesSpringfield, MA
84River Valley Community CollegeClaremont, NH
85Albany State UniversityAlbany, GA
86Bluffton UniversityBluffton, OH
87Quinebaug Valley Community CollegeDanielson, CT
88Cedarville UniversityCedarville, OH
89Millersville University of PennsylvaniaMillersville, PA
90Southwest Minnesota State UniversityMarshall, MN
RankCollegeLocation
91Eastern Nazarene CollegeQuincy, MA
92University of West AlabamaLivingston, AL
93Mercy CollegeDobbs Ferry, NY
94Bryant & Stratton College - OnlineOrchard Park, NY
95Bucks County Community CollegeNewtown, PA
96California State University - FullertonFullerton, CA
97South Carolina State UniversityOrangeburg, SC
98University of Mount UnionAlliance, OH
99Yakima Valley CollegeYakima, WA
100Gordon CollegeWenham, MA
101American International CollegeSpringfield, MA
102University of Science and Arts of OklahomaChickasha, OK
103Susquehanna UniversitySelinsgrove, PA
104University of MobileMobile, AL
105Central State UniversityWilberforce, OH
106Martin UniversityIndianapolis, IN
106Philander Smith CollegeLittle Rock, AR
108Shippensburg University of PennsylvaniaShippensburg, PA
108Defiance CollegeDefiance, OH
108Mount St. Joseph UniversityCincinnati, OH
111Lower Columbia CollegeLongview, WA
112Cheyney University of PennsylvaniaCheyney, PA
113Berkshire Community CollegePittsfield, MA
114Lander UniversityGreenwood, SC
115Francis Marion UniversityFlorence, SC
RankCollegeLocation
116Milligan UniversityMilligan, TN
117Grays Harbor CollegeAberdeen, WA
118Roxbury Community CollegeRoxbury Crossing, MA
119Columbia CollegeColumbia, SC
120Young Harris CollegeYoung Harris, GA
121Fisher CollegeBoston, MA
122Northern Maine Community CollegePresque Isle, ME
123Delaware County Community CollegeMedia, PA
124Phillips Community College of the University of ArkansasHelena, AR
125Lakes Region Community CollegeLaconia, NH
126Capital UniversityColumbus, OH
127Cankdeska Cikana Community CollegeFort Totten, ND
127Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community CollegeBaraga, MI
127Roanoke-Chowan Community CollegeAhoskie, NC
130Bluefield CollegeBluefield, VA
131Rasmussen University - IllinoisRockford, IL
132Piedmont CollegeDemorest, GA
133Lake Erie CollegePainesville, OH
134Marian UniversityFond Du Lac, WI
135Florida Gateway CollegeLake City, FL
136Walsh UniversityNorth Canton, OH
137Harford Community CollegeBel Air, MD
138Stanly Community CollegeAlbemarle, NC
139California State University - NorthridgeNorthridge, CA
140Northern Vermont UniversityJohnson, VT
RankCollegeLocation
141Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended StudiesFayette, MO
142Edgecombe Community CollegeTarboro, NC
143American College of EducationIndianapolis, IN
144Granite State CollegeConcord, NH
145Baptist Bible CollegeSpringfield, MO
146Southern Arkansas University Main CampusMagnolia, AR
147Wisconsin Lutheran CollegeMilwaukee, WI
148La Roche UniversityPittsburgh, PA
149Lebanon Valley CollegeAnnville, PA
150Mayville State UniversityMayville, ND
151Brooklyn CollegeBrooklyn, NY
152Saint Francis UniversityLoretto, PA
153Harrisburg Area Community CollegeHarrisburg, PA
154Saint Vincent CollegeLatrobe, PA

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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