by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, child advocacy and policy was the 649th most popular major nationwide with 485 degrees awarded. This is approximately the same as the 486 graduates the prior year.
Our 2023 Best Child Advocacy & Policy Schools ranking analyzes 5 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for child advocacy and policy students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of child advocacy programs later in this article.
When studying Child Advocacy, you’ll learn that 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 will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs. Required skills include talking to others to convey information effectively and being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
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. Once you obtain your degree, additional child advocacy certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
Child Advocacy degree levels vary. Child Advocacy & Policy programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest child advocacy degree you can get. The type of child advocacy degree you choose will determine how long it takes to get your diploma.
| 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 bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to child advocacy, with approximately 59.5% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to child advocacy tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 59.2% |
| Master’s Degree | 25.0% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 7.0% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 4.4% |
| High School Diploma | 3.9% |
About 88.4% of workers in careers related to child advocacy obtain at least bachelor's degrees. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in child advocacy and policy careers have.
The education level required is different depending on the child advocacy career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your child advocacy degree? Child Advocacy & Policy careers are expected to grow 15.4% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to child advocacy and policy.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | 362,600 | 14.2% |
| Social and Community Service Managers | 173,800 | 18.0% |
As you might expect, salaries for child advocacy graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for child advocacy and policy graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers child advocacy grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Social and Community Service Managers | $71,670 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $49,760 |
With over 43 different child advocacy 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 advocacy school rankings to help you with this.
One of 2 majors within the Social Work area of study, Child Advocacy & Policy has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Social Work | 57,401 |
| Other Social Work | 440 |
Image Credit: By Army Medicine under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
