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2023 Most Popular Master’s Degree Colleges for Early Childhood Education

233 Ranked Colleges
3,712 Degrees Awarded
$28,200 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Child development Major for a Master's

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Most Well Attended Child development Major for a Master’s” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Early Childhood Education is the 34th most popular major in the country with 32,920 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 3,712 early childhood education graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,425 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Child development Major for a Master’s” ranking looked at 233 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in early childhood education. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular early childhood education programs in the United States.

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 picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Most Well Attended Child development Major for a Master’s” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Most Well Attended Child development Major for a Master’s

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree child development students.

1
Grand Canyon University crest
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, Arizona

Out of the 233 schools in the Most Well Attended Child development Major for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Grand Canyon University landed the #1 spot on the list. This large school is located in Phoenix, Arizona, and it awarded 587 masters’s child development 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

2
Walden University crest
Walden University
Minneapolis, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Walden University. The school came in at #2 for the Most Well Attended Child development Major for a Master’s. Walden University is a private for-profit institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 237 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% 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 Walden University

3
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National Louis University
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend National Louis University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Child development Major for a Master’s list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s child development degrees to 176 students in 2020-2021.

Full National Louis University Early Childhood Education Report

4
American College of Education crest
American College of Education
Indianapolis, Indiana

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend American College of Education. The school came in at #4 for the Most Well Attended Child development Major for a Master’s. American College of Education is a medium-sized private for-profit school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 140 masters’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at American College of Education

5
Mercy crest
Mercy College
Dobbs Ferry, New York

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Mercy College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Child development Major for a Master’s list. Mercy is located in Dobbs Ferry, New York and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 88 masters’s child development degrees to qualified students.

Full Mercy College Early Childhood Education Report

6
University of West Alabama crest
University of West Alabama
Livingston, Alabama

University of West Alabama did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Child development Major for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #6. University of West Alabama is located in Livingston, Alabama and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 80 masters’s child development degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at University of West Alabama

7
Hunter crest
Hunter College
New York, New York

Hunter College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Child development Major for a Master’s ranking. Located in New York, New York, this large public school awarded 78 diplomas to qualified masters’s child development students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 Hunter College

8
The Erikson Institute crest
Erikson Institute
Chicago, Illinois

Erikson Institute did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Child development Major for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #8. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 69 masters’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full The Erikson Institute Early Childhood Education Report

9
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Valdosta State University
Valdosta, Georgia

With a ranking of #9, Valdosta State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Child development Major for a Master’s list. Valdosta State University is a public institution located in Valdosta, Georgia. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 65 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full VSU Early Childhood Education Report

10
Capella University crest
Capella University
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Capella University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Child development Major for a Master’s ranking. Capella University is a private for-profit institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 63 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Capella University

11
Brooklyn College crest
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, New York

Brooklyn College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Child development Major for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #11. Brooklyn College is located in Brooklyn, New York and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 62 masters’s child development degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Brooklyn College

12
Pacific Oaks College crest
Pacific Oaks College
Pasadena, California

Pacific Oaks College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Child development Major for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #12. This small school is located in Pasadena, California, and it awarded 55 masters’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Pacific Oaks College Early Childhood Education Report

13
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Queens College
Queens, New York

Queens College ranked #13 on this year’s Most Well Attended Child development Major for a Master’s list. Queens College is a fairly large public school situated in Queens, New York. It awarded 50 masters’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Queens College

13
Lesley crest
Lesley University
Cambridge, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #13, Lesley University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Child development Major for a Master’s list. Lesley University is a small school located in Cambridge, Massachusetts that handed out 50 masters’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Lesley

15

Bank Street College of Education ranked #15 on this year’s Most Well Attended Child development Major for a Master’s list. Bank Street College of Education is located in New York, New York and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 49 masters’s child development degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Bank Street College of Education Early Childhood Education Report

16
Liberty University crest
Liberty University
Lynchburg, Virginia

Liberty University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Child development Major for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #16. Liberty University is located in Lynchburg, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 44 masters’s child development degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at Liberty University

16
UGA crest
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

University of Georgia did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Child development Major for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #16. UGA is a large public school situated in Athens, Georgia. It awarded 44 masters’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. 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 full report on Early Childhood Education at UGA

18
Lehman crest
Lehman College
Bronx, New York

Lehman College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Child development Major for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #18. Lehman College is located in Bronx, New York and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 43 masters’s child development degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Lehman College

19

Concordia University, Saint Paul came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Child development Major for a Master’s ranking. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 42 diplomas to qualified masters’s child development students in 2020-2021.

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 Concordia University, Saint Paul Early Childhood Education Report

19

University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus ranked #19 on this year’s Most Well Attended Child development Major for a Master’s list. This large school is located in Denver, Colorado, and it awarded 42 masters’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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%.

Read full report on Early Childhood Education at CU Anschutz

21
AIC crest
American International College
Springfield, Massachusetts

American International College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Child development Major for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #21. American International College is a small school located in Springfield, Massachusetts that handed out 40 masters’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at American International College

22
Piedmont College crest
Piedmont College
Demorest, Georgia

With a ranking of #22, Piedmont College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Child development Major for a Master’s list. This small school is located in Demorest, Georgia, and it awarded 37 masters’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at Piedmont College

22
National University crest
National University
La Jolla, California

National University ranked #22 on this year’s Most Well Attended Child development Major for a Master’s list. National University is located in La Jolla, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 37 masters’s child development degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full National University Early Childhood Education Report

24

The City College of New York landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Child development Major for a Master’s ranking. The City College of New York is a fairly large public school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 36 masters’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Early Childhood Education at CCNY

25

With a ranking of #25, Teachers College at Columbia University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Child development Major for a Master’s list. Teachers College is a private not-for-profit institution located in New York, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 33 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Teachers College Early Childhood Education Report

25

With a ranking of #25, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Child development Major for a Master’s list. UIC is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 33 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 UIC

Rest of the Best 36 in Most Well Attended Child development Major for a Master’s

Not only did these schools make the top 36 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

27
Cambridge College crest
Cambridge College
Boston, Massachusetts
27
29
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Northwestern College
Orange City, Iowa
30
Pace University crest
Pace University - New York
New York, New York
31
UHart crest
University of Hartford
West Hartford, Connecticut
31
SDSU crest
San Diego State University
San Diego, California
31
Towson crest
Towson University
Towson, Maryland
31
35
NAU crest
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, Arizona
35
Salem State crest
Salem State University
Salem, Massachusetts
35

Notes and References

References

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Footnotes

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