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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Early Childhood Education in California

34 Ranked Colleges
$26,500 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major in California

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major in California” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Early Childhood Education is the 34th most popular major in the country with 31,937 degrees awarded in 2021-2022.

Across California, there were 4,861 early childhood education graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major in California” ranking, we looked at 34 colleges that offer a degree in early childhood education. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their early childhood education program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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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 in California” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major in California

The colleges and universities below are the best for california child development students.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Early Childhood Education in California

1
Pacific Oaks College crest
Pacific Oaks College
Pasadena, California

Out of the 34 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Pacific Oaks College landed the #1 spot on the list. Pacific Oaks College is located in Pasadena, California and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 112 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Pacific Oaks College Early Childhood Education Report

2
AJU crest
American Jewish University
Los Angeles, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend American Jewish University. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major in California. American Jewish University is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 64 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.

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%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 2 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full AJU Early Childhood Education Report

3

Out of the 34 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Arizona Global Campus landed the #3 spot on the list. The University of Arizona Global Campus is located in San Diego, California and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 861 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UAGC Early Childhood Education Report

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Humphreys University - Stockton and Modesto Campuses. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major in California. Humphreys University - Stockton and Modesto Campuses is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Stockton, California. It awarded 16 ’s child development degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 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 2.1% 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%.

Full Humphreys University Early Childhood Education Report

5

Out of the 34 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Sacramento landed the #5 spot on the list. This large school is located in Sacramento, California, and it awarded 443 ’s child development degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at California State University - Sacramento

6

With a ranking of #6, California State University - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major in California list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school handed out 402 degrees to qualified ’s child development students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full California State University - Los Angeles Early Childhood Education Report

7

California State University - Dominguez Hills did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major in California ranking, coming in at #7. California State University - Dominguez Hills is located in Carson, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 243 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at CSUDH

8

California State University - Bakersfield ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major in California list. California State University - Bakersfield is a medium-sized public school situated in Bakersfield, California. It awarded 151 ’s child development degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full CSUB Early Childhood Education Report

9

California State University - Fullerton ranked #9 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major in California list. California State University - Fullerton is a public institution located in Fullerton, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 530 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% 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 Cal State Fullerton Early Childhood Education Report

10

California State University - Northridge came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major in California ranking. Located in Northridge, California, this large public school awarded 405 diplomas to qualified ’s child development students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at California State University - Northridge

11
SFSU crest
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major in California ranking, coming in at #11. This large school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 284 ’s child development degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at San Francisco State University

12

California State University - San Marcos landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major in California ranking. This fairly large school is located in San Marcos, California, and it awarded 118 ’s child development degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at CSUSM

13

California State University - Stanislaus ranked #13 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major in California list. Turlock, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s child development degrees to 93 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Stan State Early Childhood Education Report

14
National University crest
National University
San Diego, California

National University ranked #14 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major in California list. National University is located in San Diego, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 136 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at National University

15
Cal Baptist crest
California Baptist University
Riverside, California

California Baptist University ranked #15 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major in California list. California Baptist University is located in Riverside, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 84 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.

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%.

Full Cal Baptist Early Childhood Education Report

16
San Jose State crest
San Jose State University
San Jose, California

San Jose State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major in California ranking. San Jose, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s child development degrees to 219 students in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. 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%.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at San Jose State

17
SDSU crest
San Diego State University
San Diego, California

San Diego State University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major in California ranking. Located in San Diego, California, this large public school handed out 175 diplomas to qualified ’s child development students in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at SDSU

18
Brandman crest
Brandman University
Irvine, California

Brandman University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major in California ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Irvine, California, and it awarded 68 ’s child development degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% 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 Brandman

19
PUC crest
Pacific Union College
Angwin, California

Pacific Union College landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major in California ranking. Angwin, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s child development degrees to 0 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full PUC Early Childhood Education Report

20

California State University - Chico did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major in California ranking, coming in at #20. Chico State is a fairly large public school situated in Chico, California. It awarded 90 ’s child development degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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 Chico State Early Childhood Education Report

21

With a ranking of #21, California State University - Fresno did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major in California list. This large school is located in Fresno, California, and it awarded 41 ’s child development degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at California State University - Fresno

22
Bethesda crest
Bethesda University
Anaheim, California

Bethesda University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major in California ranking, coming in at #22. This small school is located in Anaheim, California, and it awarded 4 ’s child development degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Bethesda University

23

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major in California ranking. San Luis Obispo, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s child development degrees to 57 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

24

With a ranking of #24, Vanguard University of Southern California did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child development Major in California list. Vanguard University of Southern California is located in Costa Mesa, California and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 4 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.

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%.

Full Vanguard University of Southern California Early Childhood Education Report

25

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References

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