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by our College Data Analytics Team
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Most Well Attended Child development Major” ranking.
In 2020-2021, 32,920 people earned their degree in early childhood education, making the major the 34th most popular in the United States.
This year’s “Most Well Attended Child development Major” ranking analyzed 1,022 colleges that offered a degree in early childhood education. To top this list, a school must have a successful early childhood education program that graduates more students in the field than other colleges that offer the same major.
For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Most Well Attended Child development Major” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Child development Major”.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Grand Canyon University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Child development Major list. Grand Canyon University is a private for-profit institution located in Phoenix, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 767 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% 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 Grand Canyon University
Out of the 1,022 schools in the Most Well Attended Child development Major that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fullerton landed the #3 spot on the list. Cal State Fullerton is a large public school situated in Fullerton, California. It awarded 511 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Sacramento. The school came in at #4 for the Most Well Attended Child development Major. California State University - Sacramento is a large school located in Sacramento, California that handed out 479 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Early Childhood Education at California State University - Sacramento
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Northridge. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Child development Major list. CSUN is a public institution located in Northridge, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 400 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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
California State University - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Child development Major ranking, coming in at #6. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 384 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 - Los Angeles
With a ranking of #7, Liberty University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Child development Major list. Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lynchburg, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 339 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
National Louis University ranked #8 on this year’s Most Well Attended Child development Major list. NLU is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 315 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.
Read full report on Early Childhood Education at National Louis University
Walden University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Child development Major ranking. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 316 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Walden University
South Texas College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Child development Major ranking, coming in at #10. This large school is located in McAllen, Texas, and it awarded 270 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Early Childhood Education at South Texas College
San Francisco State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Child development Major ranking. This large school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 262 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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%.
El Centro College landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Child development Major ranking. Dallas, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s child development degrees to 252 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Early Childhood Education at El Centro College
Florida International University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Child development Major ranking. FIU is a large public school situated in Miami, Florida. It awarded 240 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Early Childhood Education at Florida International University
West Chester University of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Child development Major ranking, coming in at #14. WCUPA is a fairly large public school situated in West Chester, Pennsylvania. It awarded 233 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Read full report on Early Childhood Education at West Chester University of Pennsylvania
California State University - Dominguez Hills did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Child development Major ranking, coming in at #15. CSUDH is a public institution located in Carson, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 226 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% 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%.
San Jose State University ranked #15 on this year’s Most Well Attended Child development Major list. San Jose State University is a large school located in San Jose, California that handed out 226 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. 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%.
Ivy Tech Community College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Child development Major ranking, coming in at #15. Ivy Tech Community College is a public institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 601 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Ivy Tech Community College Early Childhood Education Report
Rasmussen University - Florida ranked #18 on this year’s Most Well Attended Child development Major list. Rasmussen University - Florida is located in Ocala, Florida and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 641 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.
Full Rasmussen University - Florida Early Childhood Education Report
With a ranking of #19, Lone Star College System did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Child development Major list. This large school is located in The Woodlands, Texas, and it awarded 199 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Early Childhood Education at North Harris Montgomery
San Diego State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Child development Major ranking. San Diego State University is a large public school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 209 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, 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 89%.
Read more about Early Childhood Education at San Diego State University
National University ranked #21 on this year’s Most Well Attended Child development Major list. National University is a private not-for-profit institution located in La Jolla, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 186 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Northwest Vista College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Child development Major ranking. Located in San Antonio, Texas, this fairly large public school handed out 173 degrees to qualified ’s child development students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Northwest Vista College
With a ranking of #23, University of Phoenix - Arizona did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Child development Major list. University of Phoenix - Arizona is located in Tempe, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 172 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.
Read full report on Early Childhood Education at University of Phoenix - Arizona
University of Georgia came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Child development Major ranking. Athens, Georgia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s child development degrees to 170 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% 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%.
Ohio University - Athens Campus landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Child development Major ranking. Athens, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s child development degrees to 151 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Early Childhood Education at OHIO Athens
Not only did these schools make the top 52 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
While not in the ’top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 53 | University of Massachusetts - Boston | Boston, MA |
| 54 | California State University - Stanislaus | Turlock, CA |
| 55 | California State University - Chico | Chico, CA |
| 55 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania | Millersville, PA |
| 55 | California Baptist University | Riverside, CA |
| 58 | State College of Florida - Manatee - Sarasota | Bradenton, FL |
| 58 | Collin County Community College District | McKinney, TX |
| 58 | Lesley University | Cambridge, MA |
| 61 | Harrisburg Area Community College | Harrisburg, PA |
| 62 | University of Dayton | Dayton, OH |
| 63 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo, CA |
| 64 | Duquesne University | Pittsburgh, PA |
| 64 | Erikson Institute | Chicago, IL |
| 64 | Tyler Junior College | Tyler, TX |
| 67 | Rochester University | Rochester Hills, MI |
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 139 | University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown | Johnstown, PA |
| 144 | Winthrop University | Rock Hill, SC |
| 144 | Athens Technical College | Athens, GA |
| 144 | Rowan-Cabarrus Community College | Salisbury, NC |
| 144 | Northeastern Illinois University | Chicago, IL |
| 144 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | Slippery Rock, PA |
| 144 | Chestnut Hill College | Philadelphia, PA |
| 150 | Frostburg State University | Frostburg, MD |
| 150 | East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | East Stroudsburg, PA |
| 150 | Teachers College at Columbia University | New York, NY |
| 153 | Stanly Community College | Albemarle, NC |
| 153 | DePaul University | Chicago, IL |
| 153 | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Kirkland, WA |
| 153 | Universidad Metropolitana | San Juan, PR |
| 153 | Piedmont College | Demorest, GA |
| 153 | Southern Connecticut State University | New Haven, CT |
| 153 | Spokane Falls Community College | Spokane, WA |
| 153 | University of Central Oklahoma | Edmond, OK |
| 153 | Brigham Young University - Idaho | Rexburg, ID |
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
