by our College Data Analytics TeamChild Development was the 239th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 4,641 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 9.3% increase in child development degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 4,209.
This year's Best Child Development Schools ranking compares 46 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of child development programs later in this article.
Child Development majors are found most commonly in careers in which giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times is important. Talking to others to convey information effectively and understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents are all required skills for careers related to this major.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Specific child development careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are various different levels of child development degrees. You can spend many years getting as high as a in child development to something that takes less time like a . The time it takes to complete a child development degree varies depending on the program.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A master's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to child development, with approximately 58.6% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for child development workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 58.6% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 24.1% |
| Doctoral Degree | 6.9% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 6.9% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 3.5% |
72.4% of child development workers have at least a master's. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in child development have received.
The education level required is different depending on the child development career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your child development degree? Child Development careers are expected to grow 7.7% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to child development.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Farm and Home Management Advisors | 11,200 | 7.7% |
As you might expect, salaries for child development graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for child development graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers child development grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Farm and Home Management Advisors | $52,700 |
With over 369 different child development degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased child development school rankings to help you with this.
Child Development is one of 9 different types of Human Development & Family Studies programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Child Care Provider/Assistant | 20,843 |
| General Human Development & Family Studies | 9,497 |
| Child Care & Support Services Management | 3,917 |
| Family & Community Services | 1,401 |
| Other Human Development, Family Studies, & Related Services | 676 |
