by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 397 U.S. colleges awarded 23,628 degrees and certificates in Child Care Provider/Assistant. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 63% of graduates. College Factual ranks 304 schools in its 2027 Best Child Care Provider/Assistant Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $33,342 one year after completing, rising to $46,113 after four years.
A degree in Child Care Provider/Assistant explores Child Care Provider/assistant. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Be Primary Providers Of Home, Family, Residential, Or Institutional-Based Child Care Services. Includes Instruction In Child Growth And Development, Nutrition, Recreation, Planning And Supervision Of Play And Learning Activities, Child Abuse And Neglect Prevention, Parent-Child Relationships, And Applicable Legal And Administrative Requirements.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, child care provider/assistant is a widely-pursued major, with 23,628 degrees awarded annually. 397 colleges award child care provider/assistant degrees, an average of 60 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 905.
By level, the 23,628 awards include 2,844 certificates, 5,473 associate degrees, 68 bachelor’s degrees and 14,865 master’s degrees.
Women earned 96% of child care provider/assistant degrees and certificates in the latest year (22,612 of 23,628). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are Hispanic or Latino (9,586) and White (6,910), and international students earned 223.
College Factual ranks 304 schools in its 2027 Best Child Care Provider/Assistant Schools ranking, including 183 for associate degrees, 4 for bachelor’s degrees and 1 for master’s degrees. It also ranks child care provider/assistant schools within 13 states. In all, 397 colleges offer child care provider/assistant programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Child Care Provider/Assistant Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common child care provider/assistant credential is the master’s degree: 14,865 of the 23,628 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to child care provider/assistant call most for Monitoring, Service Orientation and Social Perceptiveness, and for knowledge of Customer and Personal Service, English Language and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Oral Expression and Problem Sensitivity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a child care provider/assistant degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 2,844 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 5,473 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 68 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 14,865 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to child care provider/assistant, at 47.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 47.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 16.8% |
| Some college courses | 12.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 10.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 6.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 6.6% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Child Care Provider/Assistant, with an average median salary of $52,709; the strongest outlook belongs to Childcare Workers, at 10.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Baby Sitter, Child Care Aide, Child Care Professional and Childcare Assistant.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to child care provider/assistant, at 438,372.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Childcare Workers | 438,372 | 10.8% |
| Nannies | 287,752 | 6.8% |
Child Care Provider/Assistant graduates earn a median $33,342 one year after completing their program, $46,113 after four years and $44,419 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $33,342 |
| 4 years | $46,113 |
| 5 years | $44,419 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to child care provider/assistant is Nannies, with a median salary of $55,232.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Nannies | $55,232 |
| Childcare Workers | $50,186 |
Child Care Provider/Assistant has 10 similar majors in the Family, Consumer & Human Sciences field, which together award 22,270 degrees a year; the largest are Human Development and Family Studies, General (9,399), Child Development (4,807) and Child Care and Support Services Management (4,048). Browse all Family, Consumer & Human Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Human Development and Family Studies, General | 9,399 |
| Child Development | 4,807 |
| Child Care and Support Services Management | 4,048 |
| Family and Community Services | 1,725 |
| Family Systems | 911 |
| Early Childhood and Family Studies | 497 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services, Other | 428 |
| Adult Development and Aging | 220 |
| Parent Education Services | 157 |
| Developmental Services Worker | 78 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
