If you’d like to make a difference in children’s lives, a child development degree can prepare you for a worthwhile career. Professionals with these degrees guide children of all ages through physical, psychological, and social milestones appropriate for their level of development.
The average cost of an associate degree in child development is $3,885. A bachelor’s degree in child development is about $17,709 annually, while a master’s degree is $20,513.
Many graduates of child development degree programs become preschool teachers, who earn a median annual wage of $37,130, or elementary school teachers, who earn an average of $63,680. With a graduate degree, preschool and childcare directors make about $54,290 a year, while elementary, middle school, and high school teachers earn $103,460.
How to Choose a Child Development Degree Program
Choose your area of study
A child development degree program covers many of the same subjects as an early childhood education program. However, child development focuses on development in children of all ages, while ECE degrees focus primarily on education for young children.
After deciding to pursue a child development degree, select a program that aligns with your career goals. General child development degrees include:
- AS/AA in Child Development
- BS/BA in Child Development, Early Childhood Education, or Human Development
- MS/MA in Child Development or Human Development
Programs with a family context emphasis include:
- AS in Family and Consumer Sciences
- BS in Family and Consumer Sciences, Child Development and Family Studies, or Child and Family Development
- BA in Family and Consumer Sciences
- MS in Child and Family Development
For age-specific concentrations, such as early childhood or adolescence, consider these degrees:
- BA in Human Development (Early Childhood Development concentration)
- BS in Child and Adolescent Development
- BS in Child Development (Adolescent Studies concentration)
Research schools and programs
Earn your child development degree from a school and program accredited by agencies approved by the Department of Education. Schools accredited by institutional agencies, such as the Higher Learning Commission, have met national academic standards for students. Child development programs accredited by programmatic agencies like the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation or the National Association for the Education of Young Children assure a graduate’s future employers that they are prepared to meet the rigors of the professional educational world.
Prepare for tests and applications
For undergraduate child development programs, take and pass entrance tests like the SAT and ACT. Most graduate child development programs require applicants to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or similar entrance tests that demonstrate their mastery of general knowledge and subject matter.
Other standard application requirements include:
- Sealed transcripts that show you’ve taken necessary prerequisites
- A statement of purpose detailing your desire to be an educator and your teaching philosophy
- Letters of recommendation from previous professors or employers
- Records of your experience in the classroom, both observational and teaching (mainly for a master’s degree)
Speak to an admissions counselor for specific program requirements, information on deadlines, and tips to strengthen your application.
Select your program
Determine the schools and programs that best suit your needs, and tour each campus. Then, talk to program representatives, professors, and alumni to decide whether that program is a good fit for you.
Learn more about your school’s education department and its philosophy. If you need room and board or require a more flexible, part-time schedule, choose a program that can help you with these needs.
Determine how you’ll pay for your degree
Start planning to pay for your child development program by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It will tell you how much federal financial assistance you qualify for so you can decide whether the program is a financial fit for you. If you require more aid, look into scholarships, grants, and programs like employer tuition assistance for those already in the workforce. Contact your school’s financial aid office if you have more questions.
Best 50 Accredited Child Development Degree Programs
Discover More Options
How we rank schools
This list covers associate and bachelor’s degree programs in child development. Graduates are prepared for roles as child life specialists, social workers, and early childhood education consultants. Degrees offered include Bachelor of Science in education, Bachelor of Applied Science in child development, Bachelor of Arts in human development, and Bachelor of Science in child development and family studies.
All of the schools on this list are regionally accredited, and many of these options also have programmatic accreditation from industry groups like the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), and the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).
We evaluated each program on the basis of flexibility, faculty, course strength, cost, and reputation. Then, we calculated the Intelligent Score for each program on a scale from 0 to 100. For a more extensive explanation, check out our ranking methodology.
What Can You Expect From a Child Development Degree Program?
A child development degree program combines classroom instruction with in-person classroom time, including student teaching and internships in the later part of your program. Some child development degree programs allow you to earn teaching credentials alongside your bachelor’s or master’s degree, while others prepare you to enter other postgraduate credential programs.
Potential courses you’ll take in a child development degree program
- Child Growth and Development. Students learn about the foundational milestones in a child’s physical, emotional, cognitive, and language development. They apply these milestones to various stages in a child’s life and the elements that can positively and negatively affect child development.
- Family and Community. A family and community class explores how a child’s background and family affect their development. Different family models, community contexts, and educator/family relationships are major topics in this course.
- Child and Adolescent Psychology. Future educators study how children and adolescents change during different stages of life through a psychological lens. They discuss exceptional circumstances that may impact a child and the expected psychological response to those issues.
- Crisis Intervention. Students use case studies and empirical research to explore counseling best practices when it comes to child development. They work with social workers and counselors to consider the best responses to crises in a child’s life that may result in long-term trauma.
Child Development Degree Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply to a child development degree program?
Your school’s child development program website will list the information needed to apply to their program. Deadlines, application materials, and FAQs will guide you in the right direction as you prepare to apply. If you have additional questions, consult your school’s admissions website or an admissions counselor.
How much does a child development degree cost?
An associate degree in child development costs an average of $3,885 per year, while a bachelor’s degree costs $17,709. Graduate degrees, including a master’s degree in child development, are an average of $20,513 annually. Additional expenses, such as housing, educational materials, transportation, and local cost of living, may increase the total amount.
How long does it take to earn a child development degree?
It takes students around two years to complete an associate degree in child development and around four years to finish a bachelor’s degree. Master’s degrees can take one to two years after you’ve earned a four-year bachelor’s degree.
Some schools may offer part-time programs, including night classes and reduced course loads, which result in longer completion times. Accelerated graduation programs require students to take more courses at once, allowing them to complete their degree in less time.