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Childcare administrator education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a childcare administrator. Childcare administrators usually study early childhood education, business, or elementary education. 42% of childcare administrators hold a bachelor's degree, and 29% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 119 real childcare administrator resumes to see exactly what childcare administrator education sections show.

The most common colleges for childcare administrators are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online childcare administrator courses to help get the education required to be a childcare administrator.

What education do you need to become a childcare administrator?

What degree do you need to be a childcare administrator?

The most common degree for childcare administrators is bachelor's degree, with 42% of childcare administrators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 29% and associate degree degree at 13%.
  • Bachelor's, 42%
  • Associate, 29%
  • High School Diploma, 13%
  • Master's, 7%
  • Other Degrees, 9%

What should I major in to become a childcare administrator?

You should major in early childhood education to become a childcare administrator. 19% of childcare administrators major in early childhood education. Other common majors for a childcare administrator include business and elementary education.

Most common colleges for childcare administrators

Childcare administrators often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, Louisiana State University and A&M; College, and Red Rocks Community College. Here are the most common colleges for childcare administrators in the US based on their resumes.
Childcare administrator common collegePercentages
University of Phoenix11.54%
Louisiana State University and A&M College7.69%
Red Rocks Community College7.69%
Ohio State University7.69%
Ashford University7.69%

Best majors for childcare administrators

Best colleges for childcare administrators

The best colleges for childcare administrators are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.

A childcare administrator with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for childcare administrators. 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 childcare administrators.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

3. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

4. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

5. SUNY Stony Brook

Stony Brook, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,625

Enrollment

17,407

6. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

7. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

8. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

9. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

10. Howard University

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$26,756

Enrollment

6,166

20 best online courses for childcare administrators

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Top 10 most affordable universities for childcare administrators

The most affordable schools for childcare administrators are Baruch College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and california state university - bakersfield.

If the best universities for childcare administrators 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 childcare administrators.

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

2. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

3. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

4. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

5. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

6. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

7. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

8. Lehman College of the City University of New York

Bronx, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,210

Cost of attendance

14,359

9. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

10. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,587

Cost of attendance

13,043

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for childcare administrators

The hardest universities for childcare administrators to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.

Some great schools for childcare administrators 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 childcare administrators 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. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

3. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

4. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

5. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

6. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

7. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

8. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

9. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

10. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for childcare administrators

The easiest schools for childcare administrators to get into are D'Youville College, gwynedd mercy university, and mount saint mary's university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a childcare administrator 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 childcare administrators.

1. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

2. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

3. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

4. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

5. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

6. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

7. Ottawa University

Ottawa, KS • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,024

8. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

9. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

10. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Standish, ME • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,069

Average childcare administrator salary by education level

Childcare administrators with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $41,649 annually. With a Master's degree, childcare administrators earn a median annual income of $37,577 compared to $32,450 for childcare administrators with an Bachelor's degree.
Childcare administrator education levelChildcare administrator salary
Master's Degree$37,577
Bachelor's Degree$32,450
Doctorate Degree$41,649

Childcare administrator education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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