2027 Best Child development Schools in the The Plains States Region
Child development degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their child development programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 7 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 the The Plains States 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
No school ranked higher than University Of Missouri Columbia this year for child development. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates 75% of students within six years. About 22 child development degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent year. Graduates of the child development program make about $40,221 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
See the full child development program report for University Of Missouri Columbia
Kansas State University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best child development schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Manhattan. About 71% of students finish within six years. About 17 child development degrees were awarded at Kansas State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $42,654. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
More information about a degree in child development from Kansas State University
Saint Louis Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best child development schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Bridgeton. Saint Louis Community College awarded about 26 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development program make about $26,593 in their early career. Saint Louis Community College graduates carry a median of $11,424 in student loans.
More information about a degree in child development from Saint Louis Community College
Missouri State University Springfield is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in child development, ranking #4. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. Missouri State University Springfield awarded about 14 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development degree from Missouri State University Springfield earn around $32,769 in the first couple years of their career. Missouri State University Springfield graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in child development from Missouri State University Springfield
A rank of #5 makes Southeast Community College Area one of the top schools for child development. Set in the city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College Area is a large public institution. Southeast Community College Area awarded about 19 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development program make about $29,534 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,165 to complete this degree.
See the full child development program report for Southeast Community College Area
University Of Central Missouri came in at #6 for child development this year. Located in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public university. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 37 child development students who graduated with this degree at University Of Central Missouri in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development program make about $36,267 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,500.
More information about a degree in child development from University Of Central Missouri
Concordia University Saint Paul placed #7 among the best child development schools. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. Concordia University Saint Paul awarded about 23 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Concordia University Saint Paul generally make around $42,810. Typical student debt for the program is $30,583.
More information about a degree in child development from Concordia University Saint Paul
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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.
