2026 Best Child development Schools in the Far Western Region
Child development programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 40 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best child development schools.
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Best Schools for Child development in the Far Western Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the child development degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Child development
Santa Clara University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in child development. Located in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit university. Santa Clara University graduates 88% of students within six years. About 17 child development degrees were awarded at Santa Clara University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Santa Clara University generally make around $79,380. Santa Clara University graduates carry a median of $20,144 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong child development program will find one at California State University Long Beach, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 105 child development degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Graduates of the child development program make about $30,205 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
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California State University San Bernardino is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in child development, ranking #3. Set in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. About 186 child development degrees were awarded at California State University San Bernardino in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from California State University San Bernardino generally make around $42,421. Typical student debt for the program is $15,149.
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Point Loma Nazarene University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best child development schools. Point Loma Nazarene University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. There were roughly 64 child development students who graduated with this degree at Point Loma Nazarene University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Point Loma Nazarene University generally make around $27,037. Students borrow a median of $16,300 to complete this degree.
Read more about the child development program at Point Loma Nazarene University
California State University Fresno is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in child development, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. California State University Fresno awarded about 78 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of $49,502 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,598 to complete this degree.
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University Of La Verne landed the #6 spot for child development this year. University Of La Verne is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of La Verne. University Of La Verne graduates 63% of students within six years. About 55 child development degrees were awarded at University Of La Verne in the most recent year. Graduates of the child development program make about $35,364 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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Portland State University placed #7 among the best child development schools. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. Portland State University awarded about 18 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development program make about $44,751 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,334.
More information about a degree in child development from Portland State University
Humboldt State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best child development schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Arcata. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 28 child development students who graduated with this degree at Humboldt State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development program make about $34,928 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,129 to complete this degree.
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Western Oregon University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best child development schools. Western Oregon University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Monmouth. About 47% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 child development students who graduated with this degree at Western Oregon University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development program make about $39,436 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,166 to complete this degree.
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Eastern Washington University landed the #10 spot for child development this year. Located in the town of Cheney, Eastern Washington University is a large public university. About 44% of students finish within six years. Eastern Washington University awarded about 48 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development graduates of Eastern Washington University earn a median of $28,589 early in their careers. Eastern Washington University graduates carry a median of $19,936 in student loans.
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Whatcom Community College placed #11 among the best child development schools. Set in the city of Bellingham, Whatcom Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Whatcom Community College awarded about 25 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development graduates of Whatcom Community College earn a median of $51,466 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,588 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in child development from Whatcom Community College
Whittier College placed #12 among the best child development schools. Set in the suburb of Whittier, Whittier College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 60% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 child development students who graduated with this degree at Whittier College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development degree from Whittier College earn around $33,411 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,750 to complete this degree.
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University Of Alaska Fairbanks landed the #13 spot for child development this year. University Of Alaska Fairbanks is a large public school located in the city of Fairbanks. University Of Alaska Fairbanks graduates 39% of students within six years. University Of Alaska Fairbanks awarded about 12 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development program make about $50,963 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,439 to complete this degree.
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Skagit Valley College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best child development schools. Located in the city of Mount Vernon, Skagit Valley College is a moderately-sized public university. Skagit Valley College awarded about 29 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development program make about $44,860 in their early career. Skagit Valley College graduates carry a median of $14,056 in student loans.
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Fresno Pacific University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best child development schools. Fresno Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fresno. Fresno Pacific University graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 68 child development students who graduated with this degree at Fresno Pacific University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development degree from Fresno Pacific University earn around $32,957 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,549 to complete this degree.
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Lane Community College earned the #16 position for child development this year. Lane Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Eugene. About 23 child development degrees were awarded at Lane Community College in the most recent year. Child Development graduates of Lane Community College earn a median of $60,759 early in their careers. Lane Community College graduates carry a median of $18,373 in student loans.
More information about a degree in child development from Lane Community College
Ashford University came in at #17 for child development this year. Located in the city of San Diego, Ashford University is a very large private for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 10%. Ashford University awarded about 79 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development degree from Ashford University earn around $36,944 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $36,000.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 40 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
