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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Child Care Provider/Assistant Schools in California

7 Colleges in the United States
12,303 Child Care Provider/Assistant Degrees Awarded
$51,028 Avg Early-Career Salary

Child Care Provider/Assistant degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 108 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for child care provider/assistant students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Child Care Provider/Assistant in California

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall child care provider/assistant education in California.

Top Schools in Child Care Provider/Assistant

1

Our analysis ranked Santa Rosa Junior College the best school in the country for a degree in child care provider/assistant. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public university. Santa Rosa Junior College awarded about 117 child care provider/assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child care provider/assistant degree recipients from Santa Rosa Junior College generally make around $80,047. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete this degree. Get the full child care provider/assistant details for Santa Rosa Junior College

2
Diablo Valley College crest
Diablo Valley College
Pleasant Hill, CA

Diablo Valley College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best child care provider/assistant schools. Diablo Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill. There were roughly 182 child care provider/assistant students who graduated with this degree at Diablo Valley College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child care provider/assistant program make about $27,813 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,205. More information about a degree in child care provider/assistant from Diablo Valley College

3
Cerritos College crest
Cerritos College
Norwalk, CA

Cerritos College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best child care provider/assistant schools. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. Cerritos College awarded about 1,057 child care provider/assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child care provider/assistant program make about $29,495 in their early career. Cerritos College graduates carry a median of $11,306 in student loans. Read more about the child care provider/assistant program at Cerritos College

4
Moorpark College crest
Moorpark College
Moorpark, CA

A rank of #4 makes Moorpark College one of the top schools for child care provider/assistant. Set in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public institution. Moorpark College awarded about 141 child care provider/assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child care provider/assistant degree recipients from Moorpark College generally make around $105,599. Moorpark College graduates carry a median of $17,075 in student loans. More information about a degree in child care provider/assistant from Moorpark College

5
Cuesta College crest
Cuesta College
San Luis Obispo, CA

Students looking for a strong child care provider/assistant program will find one at Cuesta College, which ranked #5. This large public university is located in the rural area of San Luis Obispo. Cuesta College awarded about 168 child care provider/assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child care provider/assistant degree from Cuesta College earn around $64,492 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,958. More information about a degree in child care provider/assistant from Cuesta College

6
Santa Ana College crest
Santa Ana College
Santa Ana, CA

Santa Ana College placed #6 among the best child care provider/assistant schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Santa Ana. There were roughly 261 child care provider/assistant students who graduated with this degree at Santa Ana College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child care provider/assistant degree recipients from Santa Ana College generally make around $23,863. Typical student debt for the program is $6,630. Read more about the child care provider/assistant program at Santa Ana College

7
Foothill College crest
Foothill College
Los Altos Hills, CA

Foothill College earned the #7 position for child care provider/assistant this year. Foothill College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Los Altos Hills. About 78 child care provider/assistant degrees were awarded at Foothill College in the most recent year. Graduates of the child care provider/assistant program make about $94,152 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,595. Read more about the child care provider/assistant program at Foothill College

8
De Anza College crest
De Anza College
Cupertino, CA

De Anza College placed #8 among the best child care provider/assistant schools. De Anza College is a very large public school located in the city of Cupertino. There were roughly 63 child care provider/assistant students who graduated with this degree at De Anza College in the most recent data year. Students borrow a median of $7,271 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in child care provider/assistant from De Anza College

9
Orange Coast College crest
Orange Coast College
Costa Mesa, CA

Orange Coast College came in at #9 for child care provider/assistant this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Costa Mesa. There were roughly 153 child care provider/assistant students who graduated with this degree at Orange Coast College in the most recent data year. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates of Orange Coast College earn a median of $46,306 early in their careers. Orange Coast College graduates carry a median of $8,978 in student loans. Read more about the child care provider/assistant program at Orange Coast College

10

Fresno City College placed #10 among the best child care provider/assistant schools. Located in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public university. Fresno City College awarded about 245 child care provider/assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child care provider/assistant program make about $30,519 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,000. See the full child care provider/assistant program report for Fresno City College

11
Chabot College crest
Chabot College
Hayward, CA

Chabot College placed #11 among the best child care provider/assistant schools. Located in the suburb of Hayward, Chabot College is a large public university. About 172 child care provider/assistant degrees were awarded at Chabot College in the most recent year. Graduates of the child care provider/assistant program make about $85,175 in their early career. Chabot College graduates carry a median of $14,122 in student loans. More information about a degree in child care provider/assistant from Chabot College

12
Rio Hondo College crest
Rio Hondo College
Whittier, CA

Rio Hondo College landed the #12 spot for child care provider/assistant this year. Located in the rural area of Whittier, Rio Hondo College is a very large public university. About 240 child care provider/assistant degrees were awarded at Rio Hondo College in the most recent year. Graduates of the child care provider/assistant program make about $95,666 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,510. More information about a degree in child care provider/assistant from Rio Hondo College

13
Santa Barbara City College crest
Santa Barbara City College
Santa Barbara, CA

Santa Barbara City College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best child care provider/assistant schools. This large public university is located in the city of Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara City College awarded about 83 child care provider/assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child care provider/assistant degree recipients from Santa Barbara City College generally make around $68,184. Typical student debt for the program is $21,090. Get the full child care provider/assistant details for Santa Barbara City College

14

Santiago Canyon College earned the #14 position for child care provider/assistant this year. Santiago Canyon College is a large public school located in the city of Orange. About 159 child care provider/assistant degrees were awarded at Santiago Canyon College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, child care provider/assistant degree recipients from Santiago Canyon College generally make around $34,100. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500. See the full child care provider/assistant program report for Santiago Canyon College

15
Skyline College crest
Skyline College
San Bruno, CA

Skyline College placed #15 among the best child care provider/assistant schools. Located in the suburb of San Bruno, Skyline College is a large public university. About 26 child care provider/assistant degrees were awarded at Skyline College in the most recent year. See the full child care provider/assistant program report for Skyline College

16
Citrus College crest
Citrus College
Glendora, CA

Citrus College placed #16 among the best child care provider/assistant schools. Citrus College is a large public school located in the suburb of Glendora. There were roughly 80 child care provider/assistant students who graduated with this degree at Citrus College in the most recent data year. More information about a degree in child care provider/assistant from Citrus College

17
Miracosta College crest
Miracosta College
Oceanside, CA

Miracosta College placed #17 among the best child care provider/assistant schools. Located in the suburb of Oceanside, Miracosta College is a large public university. Miracosta College graduates 96% of students within six years. Miracosta College awarded about 222 child care provider/assistant degrees in the most recent data year. See the full child care provider/assistant program report for Miracosta College

18

El Camino Community College District ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best child care provider/assistant schools. Set in the suburb of Torrance, El Camino Community College District is a very large public institution. El Camino Community College District awarded about 162 child care provider/assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Read more about the child care provider/assistant program at El Camino Community College District

19
Saddleback College crest
Saddleback College
Mission Viejo, CA

Saddleback College placed #19 among the best child care provider/assistant schools. Saddleback College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Mission Viejo. There were roughly 136 child care provider/assistant students who graduated with this degree at Saddleback College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child care provider/assistant degree recipients from Saddleback College generally make around $15,890. Typical student debt for the program is $5,707. See the full child care provider/assistant program report for Saddleback College

20

San Joaquin Delta College earned the #20 position for child care provider/assistant this year. San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public school located in the city of Stockton. There were roughly 87 child care provider/assistant students who graduated with this degree at San Joaquin Delta College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child care provider/assistant degree from San Joaquin Delta College earn around $65,168 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $6,382. More information about a degree in child care provider/assistant from San Joaquin Delta College

21
College Of The Canyons crest
College Of The Canyons
Santa Clarita, CA

College Of The Canyons earned the #21 position for child care provider/assistant this year. College Of The Canyons is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. There were roughly 62 child care provider/assistant students who graduated with this degree at College Of The Canyons in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child care provider/assistant degree recipients from College Of The Canyons generally make around $51,913. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in child care provider/assistant from College Of The Canyons

22
Los Angeles Pierce College crest
Los Angeles Pierce College
Woodland Hills, CA

Los Angeles Pierce College landed the #22 spot for child care provider/assistant this year. Located in the city of Woodland Hills, Los Angeles Pierce College is a very large public university. Los Angeles Pierce College awarded about 204 child care provider/assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Typical student debt for the program is $12,477. Get the full child care provider/assistant details for Los Angeles Pierce College

23
Santa Monica College crest
Santa Monica College
Santa Monica, CA

Santa Monica College came in at #23 for child care provider/assistant this year. Set in the city of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College is a very large public institution. About 81% of students finish within six years. Santa Monica College awarded about 288 child care provider/assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Read more about the child care provider/assistant program at Santa Monica College

24
Oxnard College crest
Oxnard College
Oxnard, CA

Oxnard College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best child care provider/assistant schools. Located in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public university. Oxnard College awarded about 104 child care provider/assistant degrees in the most recent data year. See the full child care provider/assistant program report for Oxnard College

25
Ventura College crest
Ventura College
Ventura, CA

Ventura College came in at #25 for child care provider/assistant this year. Set in the city of Ventura, Ventura College is a large public institution. There were roughly 49 child care provider/assistant students who graduated with this degree at Ventura College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child care provider/assistant degree recipients from Ventura College generally make around $99,778. Typical student debt for the program is $20,250. Get the full child care provider/assistant details for Ventura College

Rest of the Top 50 Child Care Provider/Assistant Schools

These schools also placed among the best for child care provider/assistant this year:

26
Shasta College crest
Shasta College
Redding, CA
27
Mission College crest
Mission College
Santa Clara, CA
28
29
30
Merritt College crest
Merritt College
Oakland, CA
31
32
33
Palomar College crest
Palomar College
San Marcos, CA
34
Las Positas College crest
Las Positas College
Livermore, CA
35
36
Norco College crest
Norco College
Norco, CA
37
38
Reedley College crest
Reedley College
Reedley, CA
39
40
Merced College crest
Merced College
Merced, CA
41
Los Medanos College crest
Los Medanos College
Pittsburg, CA
42
Long Beach City College crest
Long Beach City College
Long Beach, CA
43
Fullerton College crest
Fullerton College
Fullerton, CA
44
45
46
West Valley College crest
West Valley College
Saratoga, CA
47
Moreno Valley College crest
Moreno Valley College
Moreno Valley, CA
48
Butte College crest
Butte College
Oroville, CA
49
American River College crest
American River College
Sacramento, CA
50
College Of The Desert crest
College Of The Desert
Palm Desert, CA

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 108 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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