2027 Best Child development Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Child development degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 7 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best child development schools.
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Best Schools for Child development in the Great Lakes 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
Olivet Nazarene University tops our 2027 ranking of the best child development schools. Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bourbonnais. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 17 child development degrees were awarded at Olivet Nazarene University in the most recent year. Graduates of the child development program make about $48,505 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,797.
Read more about the child development program at Olivet Nazarene University
Central Michigan University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in child development, ranking #2. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public institution. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 51 child development students who graduated with this degree at Central Michigan University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development program make about $35,318 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,209 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #3 makes Erikson Institute one of the top schools for child development. Set in the city of Chicago, Erikson Institute is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 68 child development degrees were awarded at Erikson Institute in the most recent year. Students who receive their child development degree from Erikson Institute earn around $52,727 in the first couple years of their career.
Read more about the child development program at Erikson Institute
Western Michigan University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in child development, landing the #4 spot this year. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 child development students who graduated with this degree at Western Michigan University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development program make about $35,209 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,539.
More information about a degree in child development from Western Michigan University
Ivy Tech Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in child development, ranking #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Indianapolis. Ivy Tech Community College awarded about 11 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $40,734 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,889.
More information about a degree in child development from Ivy Tech Community College
Schoolcraft College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best child development schools. This large public university is located in the city of Livonia. About 19 child development degrees were awarded at Schoolcraft College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Schoolcraft College generally make around $46,283. Students borrow a median of $15,677 to complete this degree.
Read more about the child development program at Schoolcraft College
Baker College Of Flint ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best child development schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Owosso. The six-year graduation rate is 30%. There were roughly 32 child development students who graduated with this degree at Baker College Of Flint in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development degree from Baker College Of Flint earn around $29,526 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $33,250 to complete this degree.
Get the full child development details for Baker College Of Flint
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 7 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.
