2026 Best Child development Schools in California
Child development programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 28 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for child development students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Child development in California
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
No school ranked higher than Santa Clara University this year for child development. Set in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 17 child development students who graduated with this degree at Santa Clara University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development degree from Santa Clara University earn around $79,380 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,144.
See the full child development program report for Santa Clara University
California State University Long Beach came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best child development schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Long Beach. California State University Long Beach graduates 69% of students within six years. California State University Long Beach awarded about 105 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $30,205 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full child development details for California State University Long Beach
California State University San Bernardino is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in child development, ranking #3. California State University San Bernardino is a very large public school located in the city of San Bernardino. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 186 child development degrees were awarded at California State University San Bernardino in the most recent year. Child Development graduates of California State University San Bernardino earn a median of $42,421 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,149 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in child development from California State University San Bernardino
Point Loma Nazarene University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best child development schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. Point Loma Nazarene University graduates 77% of students within six years. 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.
Get the full child development details for Point Loma Nazarene University
Students looking for a strong child development program will find one at California State University Fresno, which ranked #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Fresno. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. California State University Fresno awarded about 78 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $49,502. Typical student debt for the program is $15,598.
More information about a degree in child development from California State University Fresno
University Of La Verne placed #6 among the best child development schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of La Verne. University Of La Verne graduates 63% of students within six years. There were roughly 55 child development students who graduated with this degree at University Of La Verne in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development program make about $35,364 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
Get the full child development details for University Of La Verne
Humboldt State University landed the #7 spot for child development this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Arcata. About 49% of students finish within six years. About 28 child development degrees were awarded at Humboldt State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the child development program make about $34,928 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,129.
More information about a degree in child development from Humboldt State University
Whittier College came in at #8 for child development this year. Located in the suburb of Whittier, Whittier College is a small private not-for-profit university. Whittier College graduates 60% of students within six years. About 14 child development degrees were awarded at Whittier College in the most recent year. Child Development graduates of Whittier College earn a median of $33,411 early in their careers. Whittier College graduates carry a median of $25,750 in student loans.
Get the full child development details for Whittier College
Fresno Pacific University earned the #9 position for child development this year. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 68 child development degrees were awarded at Fresno Pacific University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Fresno Pacific University generally make around $32,957. Typical student debt for the program is $24,549.
See the full child development program report for Fresno Pacific University
Ashford University came in at #10 for child development this year. Ashford University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. Roughly 10% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 79 child development degrees were awarded at Ashford University in the most recent year. Graduates of the child development program make about $36,944 in their early career. Ashford University graduates carry a median of $36,000 in student loans.
Get the full child development details for Ashford University
More Child development Rankings
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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 · 28 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.
