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Child advocate education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a child advocate. Child advocates usually study psychology, social work, or criminal justice. 65% of child advocates hold a bachelor's degree, and 15% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 2,632 real child advocate resumes to see exactly what child advocate education sections show.
The most common colleges for child advocates are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online child advocate courses to help get the education required to be a child advocate.
What education do you need to become a child advocate?
What degree do you need to be a child advocate?
- Bachelor's, 65%
- Associate, 15%
- Master's, 12%
- High School Diploma, 3%
- Other Degrees, 5%
What should I major in to become a child advocate?
- Psychology, 23%
- Social Work, 14%
- Criminal Justice, 13%
- Sociology, 6%
- Other Majors, 44%
Most common colleges for child advocates
| Child advocate common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 10.20% |
| Florida State University | 10.20% |
| Florida International University | 8.84% |
| Florida Atlantic University | 7.48% |
| Liberty University | 6.46% |
Best majors for child advocates
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psychology | 23.2% |
| 2 | Social Work | 14.3% |
| 3 | Criminal Justice | 12.6% |
| 4 | Sociology | 6.5% |
| 5 | Business | 5.6% |
Best colleges for child advocates
The best colleges for child advocates are Northwestern University, Northeastern University, and Boston College.
A child advocate with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for child advocates. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become child advocates.
1. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Enrollment
16,205
2. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
In-state tuition
$11,207
Enrollment
30,905
3. SUNY at Albany
Albany, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$10,011
Enrollment
13,434
4. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Enrollment
31,503
5. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
6. SUNY College at Brockport
Brockport, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,412
Enrollment
7,015
7. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,808
Enrollment
13,990
8. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,522
Enrollment
13,760
9. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
10. Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,464
Enrollment
9,639
20 best online courses for child advocates
Advertising disclosure
1. Child Care as a Business
This course is targeted toward individuals wishing to run a home-based child care center. It covers topics such as the fundamentals of an in-home childcare setting as a business; the importance of financial management of a child care center; the creation of a child care contract; and an exploration of how to set tuition rates. Since a Family Policy Handbook is essential for anyone operating a family day care center, this course includes the development of one of three imperative sections of the...
2. Home-Based Child Care
This series of courses is intended to provide learners with the tools to develop and operate a home-based childcare center. Stages of child development, best practices to stimulate learning, important safety measures, and business fundamentals are introduced...
3. Fully Accredited Professional Child Psychology Diploma
Learn or Specialise Your Therapy in Child Psychology with this Fully Accredited Diploma Course...
4. Introduction to Child Psychology - ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE
Learn about child behaviour, parenting styles, relationships and socialising, cognitive development, counselling & more!...
5. Child Nutrition and Cooking
Eating patterns that begin in childhood affect health and well-being across the lifespan. The culture of eating has changed significantly in recent decades, especially in parts of the world where processed foods dominate our dietary intake. This course examines contemporary child nutrition and the impact of the individual decisions made by each family. The health risks associated with obesity in childhood are also discussed. Participants will learn what constitutes a healthy diet for children...
6. Kids with Cancer Still Need School: The Providers Role
This course will help you understand and address the challenges parents and families face regarding schooling after a cancer diagnosis. When a child is diagnosed with cancer, families can be overwhelmed learning about and managing this new and frightening reality. As they adjust to the new normal of ongoing treatment, school may be the farthest thing from their mind. However, as their oncology health care provider, you have a critical role in starting conversations about schooling. Even for...
7. Addiction & Mental Health - Chemically Speaking Two (2hrs)
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Interventions - Understand Drug & Alcohol Addiction & Mental Health. How to help people...
8. Addiction & Mental Health (Dual Diagnosis) Integrative 12hrs
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Interventions: Drug & Alcohol Addiction & Mental Health - Integrative Holistic Approach...
9. Everyday Parenting: The ABCs of Child Rearing
Everyday Parenting gives you access to a toolkit of behavior-change techniques that will make your typical day in the home easier as you develop the behaviors you would like to see in your child. The lessons provide step-by-step instructions and demonstrations to improve your course of action with both children and adolescents. Among many techniques, you will learn how even simple modifications to tone of voice and phrasing can lead to more compliance. The course will also shed light on many...
10. Social Policy for Social Services & Health Practitioners
In the U.S., social policy accounts for two-thirds of government spending. Knowing how policies are constructed, what values underlie them, and how they succeed or fail makes everyone more effective at work or in their civic role. This specialization includes an HONORS track in which learners will complete a professional social policy analysis.\n\nTeachers, health care workers, police, and social workers interact with policy daily, but all of us should care about the impact and effectiveness of...
11. Sexual Harassment Training for Managers
Learn how to create a safe, secure, and inclusive work environment...
12. Sexual Harassment Training for Employees in the Workplace
Learn about sexual harassment in the workplace and the ways to identify, report, and prevent it...
13. Crisis Communications
Crisis Communications is designed to empower professionals with the knowledge and skills to effectively navigate and respond to crisis situations through interviews...
14. Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act, India 2013
A complete guide to prevent, prohibit and redress sexual harassment at workplaces in India. Detailed overview on Sexual...
15. Heal the Inner Child - Fully Accredited Course
Become a practitioner for healing the inner child. Heal past trauma and hurt from childhood. Discover your true self...
16. Crisis Intervention Seminar
The emphasis is on the development of fundamental clinical skills in the area of crisis intervention...
17. Child Psychology (Advanced Level) - ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE
Childhood development and behaviour, psychology theories of cognition, learning, and memorising, milestones and stages...
18. Public Relations: Media Crisis Communications
Public Relations: You Can Shape and Control Your Media Messages at The Worst Possible Times...
19. Mental Health Ambassador Certificate
Be a leader in improving society's mental health and learn to provide mental health first aid...
20. Communication Skills Masterclass - Your Communication Guide
Communication Skill For Business Communication & Effective Communication In Workplace & Relationships...
Top 10 most affordable universities for child advocates
The most affordable schools for child advocates are Hunter College of the City University of New York, california state university - long beach, and california state university - fullerton.
If the best universities for child advocates are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for child advocates.
1. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
2. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
3. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Cost of attendance
17,645
4. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
5. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
6. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
7. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
8. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
9. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
10. Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$4,831
Cost of attendance
19,559
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for child advocates
The hardest universities for child advocates to get into are Northwestern University, Northeastern University, and Boston College.
Some great schools for child advocates are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for child advocates based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
3. Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA • Private
Admissions rate
28%
SAT average
1,429
4. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
5. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
6. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
7. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
8. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
9. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
10. University of Chicago
Chicago, IL • Private
Admissions rate
7%
SAT average
1,520
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for child advocates
The easiest schools for child advocates to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, notre dame de namur university, and nyack college.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a child advocate without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for child advocates.
1. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
2. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
3. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
999
4. Bluefield College
Bluefield, VA • Private
Admissions rate
95%
SAT average
980
5. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
6. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
7. Ottawa University
Ottawa, KS • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,024
8. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
9. Albertus Magnus College
New Haven, CT • Private
Admissions rate
58%
SAT average
931
10. Waynesburg University
Waynesburg, PA • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,080
Average child advocate salary by education level
| Child advocate education level | Child advocate salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $42,351 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $37,101 |
Child advocate education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common community and social services questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025