2027 Best Child development Schools in the Southeast Region
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.
College Factual analyzed 45 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best child development schools.
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Best Schools for Child development in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall child development education in the Southeast Region.
Top Schools in Child development
Our analysis ranked University Of Virginia Main Campus the best school in the country for a degree in child development. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 33 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $34,533 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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Vanderbilt University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in child development, ranking #2. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 29 child development students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University 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.
Read more about the child development program at Vanderbilt University
University Of Georgia came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best child development schools. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. University Of Georgia graduates 90% of students within six years. University Of Georgia awarded about 13 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $31,392. University Of Georgia graduates carry a median of $23,466 in student loans.
See the full child development program report for University Of Georgia
A rank of #4 makes Auburn University one of the top schools for child development. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 child development students who graduated with this degree at Auburn University in the most recent data year. Child Development graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $30,502 early in their careers. Auburn University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in child development from Auburn University
A rank of #5 makes West Virginia University one of the top schools for child development. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. There were roughly 22 child development students who graduated with this degree at West Virginia University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development program make about $32,306 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,242.
Read more about the child development program at West Virginia University
Wake Technical Community College landed the #6 spot for child development this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Raleigh. Wake Technical Community College awarded about 85 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development graduates of Wake Technical Community College earn a median of $38,673 early in their careers. Wake Technical Community College graduates carry a median of $20,783 in student loans.
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Appalachian State University earned the #7 position for child development this year. Located in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public university. Appalachian State University graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 25 child development students who graduated with this degree at Appalachian State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Appalachian State University generally make around $30,062. Students borrow a median of $18,935 to complete this degree.
See the full child development program report for Appalachian State University
Northwest Arkansas Community College placed #8 among the best child development schools. Located in the city of Bentonville, Northwest Arkansas Community College is a large public university. Northwest Arkansas Community College awarded about 18 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Northwest Arkansas Community College generally make around $40,671. Typical student debt for the program is $12,479.
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Rowan Cabarrus Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best child development schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Salisbury. About 34 child development degrees were awarded at Rowan Cabarrus Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the child development program make about $34,351 in their early career. Rowan Cabarrus Community College graduates carry a median of $10,867 in student loans.
More information about a degree in child development from Rowan Cabarrus Community College
Meredith College earned the #10 position for child development this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, Meredith College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Meredith College graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 child development students who graduated with this degree at Meredith College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development degree from Meredith College earn around $40,331 in the first couple years of their career. Meredith College graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
See the full child development program report for Meredith College
Dyersburg State Community College earned the #11 position for child development this year. Set in the town of Dyersburg, Dyersburg State Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Dyersburg State Community College awarded about 47 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development program make about $41,177 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,611.
More information about a degree in child development from Dyersburg State Community College
East Tennessee State University came in at #12 for child development this year. Set in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. About 28 child development degrees were awarded at East Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the child development program make about $33,301 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,032 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in child development from East Tennessee State University
Converse College landed the #13 spot for child development this year. Set in the city of Spartanburg, Converse College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Converse College graduates 62% of students within six years. There were roughly 27 child development students who graduated with this degree at Converse College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development degree from Converse College earn around $38,940 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,715 to complete this degree.
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Stanly Community College came in at #14 for child development this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Albemarle. There were roughly 40 child development students who graduated with this degree at Stanly Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development program make about $41,920 in their early career.
See the full child development program report for Stanly Community College
Nashville State Community College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best child development schools. This large public university is located in the city of Nashville. There were roughly 34 child development students who graduated with this degree at Nashville State Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development program make about $41,456 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,745 to complete this degree.
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Gaston College landed the #16 spot for child development this year. Gaston College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Dallas. Gaston College awarded about 14 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development graduates of Gaston College earn a median of $39,937 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,915.
More information about a degree in child development from Gaston College
Alamance Community College placed #17 among the best child development schools. Alamance Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Graham. About 44 child development degrees were awarded at Alamance Community College in the most recent year. Child Development graduates of Alamance Community College earn a median of $37,585 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $6,625.
More information about a degree in child development from Alamance Community College
Davidson County Community College earned the #18 position for child development this year. Located in the rural area of Thomasville, Davidson County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 33 child development degrees were awarded at Davidson County Community College in the most recent year. Child Development graduates of Davidson County Community College earn a median of $22,448 early in their careers. Davidson County Community College graduates carry a median of $18,168 in student loans.
See the full child development program report for Davidson County Community College
Wayne Community College placed #19 among the best child development schools. Located in the city of Goldsboro, Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public university. Wayne Community College awarded about 13 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Wayne Community College generally make around $33,116. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500.
See the full child development program report for Wayne Community College
North Carolina A And T State University landed the #20 spot for child development this year. North Carolina A And T State University is a large public school located in the city of Greensboro. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 22 child development students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina A And T State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development degree from North Carolina A And T State University earn around $37,458 in the first couple years of their career. North Carolina A And T State University graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans.
See the full child development program report for North Carolina A And T State University
University Of Arkansas At Monticello placed #21 among the best child development schools. University Of Arkansas At Monticello is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Monticello. University Of Arkansas At Monticello graduates 38% of students within six years. There were roughly 17 child development students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arkansas At Monticello in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development program make about $41,278 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,611.
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Arkansas Tech University came in at #22 for child development this year. This large public university is located in the town of Russellville. Arkansas Tech University graduates 44% of students within six years. Arkansas Tech University awarded about 22 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Arkansas Tech University generally make around $45,115. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
More information about a degree in child development from Arkansas Tech University
University Of Mobile landed the #23 spot for child development this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Mobile. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. University Of Mobile awarded about 11 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development program make about $50,507 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $30,127.
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American Public University System came in at #24 for child development this year. This very large private for-profit university is located in the town of Charles Town. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. American Public University System awarded about 17 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from American Public University System generally make around $27,587. American Public University System graduates carry a median of $26,340 in student loans.
See the full child development program report for American Public University System
Roane State Community College landed the #25 spot for child development this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Harriman. About 43 child development degrees were awarded at Roane State Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the child development program make about $36,933 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,408 to complete this degree.
See the full child development program report for Roane State Community College
Rest of the Top 45 Child development Schools
These schools also placed among the best for child development this year:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 45 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.
