by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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 Bachelor’s” ranking - to help you make that decision.
In 2020-2021, 4,641 people earned their degree in child development, making the major the 239th most popular in the United States.
At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,702 child development graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,682 and $26,217 respectively.
This year’s “Most Well Attended Child Development Major for a Bachelor’s” ranking looked at 83 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in child development. To top this list, a school must have a successful child development program that graduates more students in the field than other colleges that offer the same major.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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 for a Bachelor’s” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
The colleges and universities below are the best for bachelor’s degree child development students.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Fresno Pacific University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Child Development Major for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Fresno, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 167 degrees to qualified bachelors’s child development students in 2020-2021.
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%.
Out of the 83 schools in the Most Well Attended Child Development Major for a Bachelor’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Central Michigan University landed the #3 spot on the list. Central Michigan University is a public institution located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 105 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas Woman’s University. The school came in at #4 for the Most Well Attended Child Development Major for a Bachelor’s. Denton, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s child development degrees to 98 students in 2020-2021.
Out of the 83 schools in the Most Well Attended Child Development Major for a Bachelor’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Point Loma Nazarene University landed the #5 spot on the list. Point Loma Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 83 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 Child Development at Point Loma Nazarene University
Post University ranked #6 on this year’s Most Well Attended Child Development Major for a Bachelor’s list. Post University is a private for-profit institution located in Waterbury, Connecticut. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 77 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.
East Tennessee State University ranked #7 on this year’s Most Well Attended Child Development Major for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Johnson City, Tennessee, this fairly large public school awarded 52 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s child development students in 2020-2021.
University of Virginia - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Child Development Major for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Charlottesville, Virginia, this large public school awarded 50 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s child development students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Bowie State University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Child Development Major for a Bachelor’s ranking. Bowie State University is located in Bowie, Maryland and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 49 bachelors’s child development degrees to qualified students.
Eastern Washington University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Child Development Major for a Bachelor’s ranking. Eastern Washington University is a fairly large school located in Cheney, Washington that handed out 48 bachelors’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Child Development at Eastern Washington University
With a ranking of #11, Brigham Young University - Idaho did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Child Development Major for a Bachelor’s list. Rexburg, Idaho is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s child development degrees to 43 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #12, Western Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Child Development Major for a Bachelor’s list. Western Michigan University is a fairly large school located in Kalamazoo, Michigan that handed out 41 bachelors’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #13, Concordia University, Saint Paul did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Child Development Major for a Bachelor’s list. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s child development degrees to 40 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%.
Read more about Child Development at Concordia University, Saint Paul
West Virginia University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Child Development Major for a Bachelor’s ranking. Located in Morgantown, West Virginia, this large public school awarded 38 degrees to qualified bachelors’s child development students in 2020-2021.
Appalachian State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Child Development Major for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #14. Appalachian State is a large public school situated in Boone, North Carolina. It awarded 38 bachelors’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.
University of La Verne ranked #16 on this year’s Most Well Attended Child Development Major for a Bachelor’s list. This medium-sized school is located in La Verne, California, and it awarded 37 bachelors’s child development degrees 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%.
California State University - San Bernardino did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Child Development Major for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #16. San Bernardino, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s child development degrees to 37 students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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%.
University of Central Missouri ranked #18 on this year’s Most Well Attended Child Development Major for a Bachelor’s list. University of Central Missouri is a fairly large public school situated in Warrensburg, Missouri. It awarded 36 bachelors’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.
Full University of Central Missouri Child Development Report
With a ranking of #19, Tufts University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Child Development Major for a Bachelor’s list. Tufts University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Medford, Massachusetts. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 34 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% 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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Converse College ranked #20 on this year’s Most Well Attended Child Development Major for a Bachelor’s list. Converse College is located in Spartanburg, South Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 27 bachelors’s child development degrees to qualified students.
Western Oregon University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Child Development Major for a Bachelor’s ranking. Western Oregon University is located in Monmouth, Oregon and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 25 bachelors’s child development degrees to qualified students.
Read full report on Child Development at Western Oregon State College
Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Child Development Major for a Bachelor’s ranking. Indiana, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s child development degrees to 25 students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Child Development at Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus
Baker College landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Child Development Major for a Bachelor’s ranking. Baker College is located in Owosso, Michigan and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 25 bachelors’s child development degrees to qualified students.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Michigan State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Child Development Major for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #24. Michigan State is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 23 bachelors’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Vanderbilt University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Child Development Major for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #25. Vanderbilt University is located in Nashville, Tennessee and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 bachelors’s child development degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Santa Clara University ranked #25 on this year’s Most Well Attended Child Development Major for a Bachelor’s list. SCU is a medium-sized school located in Santa Clara, California that handed out 21 bachelors’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Texas Tech University ranked #25 on this year’s Most Well Attended Child Development Major for a Bachelor’s list. Texas Tech is a large public school situated in Lubbock, Texas. It awarded 21 bachelors’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
