2026 Best Child development Master’s Degree Schools
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.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 279 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for child development students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Child development in the United States
See the highest-ranked child development schools offering a master’s degree below.
Top Schools in Child development
No school ranked higher than Vanderbilt University this year for child development. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. Vanderbilt University awarded about 30 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development program make about $77,997 in their early career. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans.
More information about a degree in child development from Vanderbilt University
A rank of #2 makes Texas Tech University one of the top schools for child development. Texas Tech University is a very large public school located in the city of Lubbock. About 69% of students finish within six years. Texas Tech University awarded about 26 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development degree from Texas Tech University earn around $39,096 in the first couple years of their career. Texas Tech University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
More information about a degree in child development from Texas Tech University
Tufts University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in child development, landing the #3 spot this year. Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. About 94% of students finish within six years. Tufts University awarded about 35 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development graduates of Tufts University earn a median of $45,105 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,170 to complete this degree.
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Towson University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best child development schools. Towson University is a very large public school located in the city of Towson. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 18 child development students who graduated with this degree at Towson University in the most recent data year. Child Development graduates of Towson University earn a median of $50,370 early in their careers. Towson University graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
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A rank of #5 makes University Of La Verne one of the top schools for child development. Set in the suburb of La Verne, University Of La Verne is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. University Of La Verne awarded about 33 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development degree from University Of La Verne earn around $35,364 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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Auburn University placed #6 among the best child development schools. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. About 13 child development degrees were awarded at Auburn University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $30,502. Auburn University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Kansas State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best child development schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Manhattan. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. Kansas State University awarded about 22 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $51,067 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #8 for child development this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbia. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. University Of Missouri Columbia awarded about 31 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $47,426. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in child development from University Of Missouri Columbia
Eastern Washington University came in at #9 for child development this year. Set in the town of Cheney, Eastern Washington University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. There were roughly 14 child development students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Washington University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Eastern Washington University generally make around $28,589. Typical student debt for the program is $19,936.
More information about a degree in child development from Eastern Washington University
Texas Womans University landed the #10 spot for child development this year. Set in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public institution. About 49% of students finish within six years. About 73 child development degrees were awarded at Texas Womans University in the most recent year. Graduates of the child development program make about $43,090 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,170 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in child development from Texas Womans University
Missouri State University Springfield placed #11 among the best child development schools. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. About 58% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 27 child development students who graduated with this degree at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent data year. Child Development graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $32,769 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the child development program at Missouri State University Springfield
Erikson Institute placed #12 among the best child development schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. There were roughly 24 child development students who graduated with this degree at Erikson Institute in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development degree from Erikson Institute earn around $47,889 in the first couple years of their career.
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Concordia University Saint Paul placed #13 among the best child development schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Paul. Concordia University Saint Paul graduates 45% of students within six years. There were roughly 30 child development students who graduated with this degree at Concordia University Saint Paul in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Concordia University Saint Paul generally make around $45,027. Concordia University Saint Paul graduates carry a median of $30,583 in student loans.
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Other Child development Degree Levels
Explore the best child development schools at other degree levels:
View All Child development Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 279 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.
