by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 23 U.S. colleges awarded 497 degrees and certificates in Early Childhood and Family Studies. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 77% of graduates. College Factual ranks 10 schools in its 2027 Best Early Childhood and Family Studies Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $33,342 one year after completing, rising to $46,113 after four years.
A major in Early Childhood and Family Studies covers A Program Of Study That Focuses On The Development And Learning Of Children From Birth To Six Years Old Within The Context Of The Family. Includes Instruction In Child Abuse And Neglect, Child And Infant Growth And Development, Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Language And Literacy, Early Childhood Math And Science, Early Childhood Special Education, Family Literacy, Family Sociology, Family And Marriage Relations, Assessment And Measurement, Psychology, And Psychopathology.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, early childhood and family studies is a widely-pursued major, with 497 degrees awarded annually. 23 colleges award early childhood and family studies degrees, an average of 22 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 114.
By level, the 497 awards include 44 associate degrees, 384 bachelor’s degrees and 69 master’s degrees.
Women earned 95% of early childhood and family studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (470 of 497). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (203) and Hispanic or Latino (171), and international students earned 4.
College Factual ranks 10 schools in its 2027 Best Early Childhood and Family Studies Schools ranking, including 8 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks early childhood and family studies schools within 3 states. In all, 23 colleges offer early childhood and family studies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Early Childhood and Family Studies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common early childhood and family studies credential is the bachelor’s degree: 384 of the 497 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to early childhood and family studies call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Social Perceptiveness, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an early childhood and family studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 44 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 384 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 69 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to early childhood and family studies, at 36.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 36.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 15.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 14.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 9.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.1% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 5.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 4.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.9% |
| Some college courses | 3.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.9% |
Source: O*NET Online.
7 occupations are related to Early Childhood and Family Studies, with an average median salary of $64,511; the strongest outlook belongs to Farm and Home Management Educators, at 14.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Community Educator, 4-H Club Agent, Farm Advisor and Agriculture Consultant.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to early childhood and family studies, at 1,304,119.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Farm and Home Management Educators | 1,304,119 | 14.0% |
| Childcare Workers | 438,372 | 10.8% |
| Nannies | 287,752 | 6.8% |
| Clinical Neuropsychologists | 216,013 | 8.9% |
| Neuropsychologists | 186,493 | 6.5% |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | 38,623 | 13.1% |
| Psychologists, All Other | 30,286 | 4.1% |
Early Childhood and Family Studies graduates earn a median $33,342 one year after completing their program, $46,113 after four years and $44,419 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $33,342 |
| 4 years | $46,113 |
| 5 years | $44,419 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to early childhood and family studies is Neuropsychologists, with a median salary of $83,690.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Neuropsychologists | $83,690 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $75,358 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $73,521 |
| Clinical Neuropsychologists | $57,643 |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | $55,950 |
| Nannies | $55,232 |
| Childcare Workers | $50,186 |
Early Childhood and Family Studies has 10 similar majors in the Family, Consumer & Human Sciences field, which together award 45,401 degrees a year; the largest are Child Care Provider/Assistant (23,628), Human Development and Family Studies, General (9,399) and Child Development (4,807). Browse all Family, Consumer & Human Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Child Care Provider/Assistant | 23,628 |
| Human Development and Family Studies, General | 9,399 |
| Child Development | 4,807 |
| Child Care and Support Services Management | 4,048 |
| Family and Community Services | 1,725 |
| Family Systems | 911 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services, Other | 428 |
| Adult Development and Aging | 220 |
| Parent Education Services | 157 |
| Developmental Services Worker | 78 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
