College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Most Well Attended Child development Major

1,022 Ranked Colleges
32,920 Degrees Awarded
$27,400 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Child development Major

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.

More Ways to Rank Early Childhood Education Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Child development Rankings Other Ranking Categories

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.

Most Well Attended Child development Major

The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Child development Major”.

1
2
Grand Canyon University crest
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, Arizona

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

3

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%.

Full Cal State Fullerton Early Childhood Education Report

4

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

5

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

6

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

7
Liberty University crest
Liberty University
Lynchburg, Virginia

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.

Full Liberty University Early Childhood Education Report

8
NLU crest
National Louis University
Chicago, Illinois

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

9
Walden University crest
Walden University
Minneapolis, Minnesota

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

10
South Texas College crest
South Texas College
McAllen, Texas

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

11
SFSU crest
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, California

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%.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at SFSU

11
El Centro College crest
El Centro College
Dallas, Texas

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

13

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

14
WCUPA crest
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Chester, Pennsylvania

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

15

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%.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at CSUDH

15
San Jose State crest
San Jose State University
San Jose, California

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%.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at San Jose State

15
Ivy Tech Community College crest
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, Indiana

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

18

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

19
North Harris Montgomery crest
Lone Star College System
The Woodlands, Texas

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

20
SDSU crest
San Diego State University
San Diego, California

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

21
National University crest
National University
La Jolla, California

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%.

Full National University Early Childhood Education Report

22
Northwest Vista College crest
Northwest Vista College
San Antonio, Texas

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

23

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

24
UGA crest
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

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%.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at UGA

25

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

Rest of the Best 52 in Most Well Attended Child development Major

Not only did these schools make the top 52 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
27
Brooklyn College crest
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, New York
28
29
American College of Education crest
American College of Education
Indianapolis, Indiana
30
Mercy crest
Mercy College
Dobbs Ferry, New York
31
32
33
34
35
36
Georgia Military College crest
Georgia Military College
Milledgeville, Georgia
37
Pacific Oaks College crest
Pacific Oaks College
Pasadena, California
38
39
40
41
Towson crest
Towson University
Towson, Maryland
42
Odessa College crest
Odessa College
Odessa, Texas
43
Salem State crest
Salem State University
Salem, Massachusetts
43
45
Palo Alto College crest
Palo Alto College
San Antonio, Texas
46
47
48
49
Hunter crest
Hunter College
New York, New York
50
North Seattle crest
North Seattle College
Seattle, Washington
50
University of West Alabama crest
University of West Alabama
Livingston, Alabama
50

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Most Well Attended Child development Major

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

RankCollegeLocation
53University of Massachusetts - BostonBoston, MA
54California State University - StanislausTurlock, CA
55California State University - ChicoChico, CA
55Millersville University of PennsylvaniaMillersville, PA
55California Baptist UniversityRiverside, CA
58State College of Florida - Manatee - SarasotaBradenton, FL
58Collin County Community College DistrictMcKinney, TX
58Lesley UniversityCambridge, MA
61Harrisburg Area Community CollegeHarrisburg, PA
62University of DaytonDayton, OH
63California Polytechnic State University - San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo, CA
64Duquesne UniversityPittsburgh, PA
64Erikson InstituteChicago, IL
64Tyler Junior CollegeTyler, TX
67Rochester UniversityRochester Hills, MI
RankCollegeLocation
67Bryant & Stratton College - OnlineOrchard Park, NY
67Urban College of BostonBoston, MA
70Montgomery CollegeRockville, MD
70Arizona State University - TempeTempe, AZ
72Valdosta State UniversityValdosta, GA
72Cambridge CollegeBoston, MA
72Bloomsburg University of PennsylvaniaBloomsburg, PA
75The City College of New YorkNew York, NY
76Capella UniversityMinneapolis, MN
77University of Mount OliveMount Olive, NC
77Brandman UniversityIrvine, CA
77Eastern UniversitySaint Davids, PA
80Delaware County Community CollegeMedia, PA
80Auburn UniversityAuburn, AL
80The University of Texas at BrownsvilleBrownsville, TX
83Saint Augustine CollegeChicago, IL
84Pierce College-Fort SteilacoomLakewood, WA
84Edinboro University of PennsylvaniaEdinboro, PA
84University of Wisconsin - WhitewaterWhitewater, WI
84Cleveland State UniversityCleveland, OH
88Salisbury UniversitySalisbury, MD
88Indiana Wesleyan University - National & GlobalMarion, IN
88South Dakota State UniversityBrookings, SD
88Coastal Carolina UniversityConway, SC
92Central New Mexico Community CollegeAlbuquerque, NM
RankCollegeLocation
92Milwaukee Area Technical CollegeMilwaukee, WI
92Rowan UniversityGlassboro, NJ
95University of Nevada - Las VegasLas Vegas, NV
96Kutztown University of PennsylvaniaKutztown, PA
96The University of Tennessee - ChattanoogaChattanooga, TN
98Eastern Michigan UniversityYpsilanti, MI
98Western Michigan UniversityKalamazoo, MI
98Community College of VermontMontpelier, VT
101University of Maine at FarmingtonFarmington, ME
102Miami Dade CollegeMiami, FL
102Georgia College & State UniversityMilledgeville, GA
102Charter Oak State CollegeNew Britain, CT
102Shippensburg University of PennsylvaniaShippensburg, PA
106The University of Montana - WesternDillon, MT
106Texas Christian UniversityFort Worth, TX
106Anne Arundel Community CollegeArnold, MD
106Northwestern CollegeOrange City, IA
110Northeast Lakeview CollegeUniversal City, TX
110Queens CollegeQueens, NY
110Albany State UniversityAlbany, GA
113Bank Street College of EducationNew York, NY
113University of DelawareNewark, DE
115Missouri State University - SpringfieldSpringfield, MO
115Southeast Missouri State UniversityCape Girardeau, MO
115Saginaw Valley State UniversityUniversity Center, MI
RankCollegeLocation
118Yakima Valley CollegeYakima, WA
118Northeastern State UniversityTahlequah, OK
118Northern Illinois UniversityDekalb, IL
121Bridgewater State UniversityBridgewater, MA
122Concordia University, Saint PaulSaint Paul, MN
122Central Michigan UniversityMount Pleasant, MI
122William Paterson University of New JerseyWayne, NJ
122Bucks County Community CollegeNewtown, PA
122Northampton County Area Community CollegeBethlehem, PA
127Palm Beach State CollegeLake Worth, FL
127Fayetteville Technical Community CollegeFayetteville, NC
127Southern Arkansas University Main CampusMagnolia, AR
127University of Oklahoma Norman CampusNorman, OK
131Southern Regional Technical CollegeThomasville, GA
131Lehman CollegeBronx, NY
133Worcester State UniversityWorcester, MA
133Florida State College at JacksonvilleJacksonville, FL
133University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusDenver, CO
133College of CharlestonCharleston, SC
137Cedarville UniversityCedarville, OH
137University of Northern ColoradoGreeley, CO
139Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN
139Wake Technical Community CollegeRaleigh, NC
139Rasmussen University - IllinoisRockford, IL
139American International CollegeSpringfield, MA
RankCollegeLocation
139University of Pittsburgh - JohnstownJohnstown, PA
144Winthrop UniversityRock Hill, SC
144Athens Technical CollegeAthens, GA
144Rowan-Cabarrus Community CollegeSalisbury, NC
144Northeastern Illinois UniversityChicago, IL
144Slippery Rock University of PennsylvaniaSlippery Rock, PA
144Chestnut Hill CollegePhiladelphia, PA
150Frostburg State UniversityFrostburg, MD
150East Stroudsburg University of PennsylvaniaEast Stroudsburg, PA
150Teachers College at Columbia UniversityNew York, NY
153Stanly Community CollegeAlbemarle, NC
153DePaul UniversityChicago, IL
153Lake Washington Institute of TechnologyKirkland, WA
153Universidad MetropolitanaSan Juan, PR
153Piedmont CollegeDemorest, GA
153Southern Connecticut State UniversityNew Haven, CT
153Spokane Falls Community CollegeSpokane, WA
153University of Central OklahomaEdmond, OK
153Brigham Young University - IdahoRexburg, ID

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Credits

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options