Childcare specialist education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a childcare specialist. Childcare specialists usually study psychology, social work, or business. 52% of childcare specialists hold a bachelor's degree, and 20% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 1,136 real childcare specialist resumes to see exactly what childcare specialist education sections show.

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

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

What education do you need to become a childcare specialist?

What degree do you need to be a childcare specialist?

The most common degree for childcare specialists is bachelor's degree, with 52% of childcare specialists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 20% and associate degree degree at 13%.

Bachelor's, 52%

Associate, 20%

High School Diploma, 13%

Master's, 7%

Other Degrees, 8%

What should I major in to become a childcare specialist?

You should major in psychology to become a childcare specialist. 17% of childcare specialists major in psychology. Other common majors for a childcare specialist include social work and business.

Psychology, 17%

Social Work, 8%

Business, 7%

Early Childhood Education, 7%

Other Majors, 61%

Most common colleges for childcare specialists

Childcare specialists often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, Missouri Valley College, and University of Texas at Austin. Here are the most common colleges for childcare specialists in the US based on their resumes.

Childcare specialist common college	Percentages
University of Phoenix	11.93%
Missouri Valley College	7.34%
University of Texas at Austin	7.34%
Ball State University	7.34%
Arizona State University	6.42%

Show more common childcare specialist colleges

Best majors for childcare specialists

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Psychology	16.6%
2	Social Work	8.4%
3	Business	7.2%
4	Early Childhood Education	7.2%
5	Human Development	6.0%

Show more common childcare specialist majors

Best colleges for childcare specialists

The best colleges for childcare specialists are Northwestern University, Vanderbilt University, and Johns Hopkins University.

A childcare specialist 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 specialists. 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 specialists.

1. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Enrollment

31,503

2. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,808

Enrollment

13,990

3. University of California - Davis

Davis, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$14,402

Enrollment

30,698

4. Clemson University

Clemson, SC • Private

In-state tuition

$15,374

Enrollment

19,564

5. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

6. Howard University

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$26,756

Enrollment

6,166

7. San Jose State University

San Jose, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,796

Enrollment

27,125

8. Fairfield University

Fairfield, CT • Private

In-state tuition

$48,350

Enrollment

4,103

9. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

10. University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • Private

In-state tuition

$17,653

Enrollment

16,405

20 best online courses for childcare specialists

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Top 10 most affordable universities for childcare specialists

The most affordable schools for childcare specialists are Hunter College of the City University of New York, california state university - long beach, and university of florida.

If the best universities for childcare specialists 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 specialists.

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. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

4. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

5. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

6. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

7. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

8. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

9. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

10. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for childcare specialists

The hardest universities for childcare specialists to get into are Northwestern University, Vanderbilt University, and Johns Hopkins University.

Some great schools for childcare specialists 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 specialists 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

SAT average

1,508

2. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

3. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

4. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,516

5. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,512

6. University of Rochester

Rochester, NY • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,422

7. University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • Private

Admissions rate

26%

SAT average

1,427

8. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

9. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

10. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

Admissions rate

23%

SAT average

1,434

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

The easiest schools for childcare specialists to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, bluefield college, and d'youville college.

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

1. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

2. Bluefield College

Bluefield, VA • Private

Admissions rate

95%

SAT average

980

3. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

4. The University of Texas Permian Basin

Odessa, TX • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,046

5. La Roche College

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

99%

SAT average

1,008

6. Pennsylvania State University - Worthington Scranton

Dunmore, PA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

1,056

7. Ottawa University

Ottawa, KS • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,024

8. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

9. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

10. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

Average childcare specialist salary by education level

Childcare specialists with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $42,032 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, childcare specialists earn a median annual income of $39,348 compared to $37,624 for childcare specialists with an Associate degree.

Childcare specialist education level	Childcare specialist salary
Master's Degree	$42,032
High School Diploma or Less	$36,090
Bachelor's Degree	$39,348
Some College/ Associate Degree	$37,624

Childcare specialist education FAQs

What is the best college for Childcare Specialists?

Have more questions? See all answers to common personal care and attendants questions.

Search for childcare specialist jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

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.

Updated January 8, 2025

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