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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Child Care Provider/Assistant Schools in the The Plains States Region

2 Colleges in the United States
496 Child Care Provider/Assistant Degrees Awarded
$39,051 Avg Early-Career Salary

Child Care Provider/Assistant programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 41 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 the The Plains States Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall child care provider/assistant education in the The Plains States Region.

Top Schools in Child Care Provider/Assistant

1

Our analysis ranked Des Moines Area Community College the best school in the country for a degree in child care provider/assistant. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public university. There were roughly 66 child care provider/assistant students who graduated with this degree at Des Moines Area Community College in the most recent data year. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates of Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of $22,623 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,500. More information about a degree in child care provider/assistant from Des Moines Area Community College

2

A rank of #2 makes Western Iowa Tech Community College one of the top schools for child care provider/assistant. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Sioux City. Western Iowa Tech Community College awarded about 42 child care provider/assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child care provider/assistant degree from Western Iowa Tech Community College earn around $35,742 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,837. Get the full child care provider/assistant details for Western Iowa Tech Community College

3

Washburn Institute Of Technology is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in child care provider/assistant, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Topeka, Washburn Institute Of Technology is a small public university. About 19 child care provider/assistant degrees were awarded at Washburn Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Graduates of the child care provider/assistant program make about $39,749 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,362 to complete this degree. Get the full child care provider/assistant details for Washburn Institute Of Technology

4
South Central College crest
South Central College
North Mankato, MN

South Central College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in child care provider/assistant, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of North Mankato, South Central College is a mid-sized public institution. About 30 child care provider/assistant degrees were awarded at South Central College in the most recent year. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates of South Central College earn a median of $46,447 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,139 to complete this degree. See the full child care provider/assistant program report for South Central College

5

A rank of #5 makes Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar one of the top schools for child care provider/assistant. Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Calmar. Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar awarded about 22 child care provider/assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Child Care Provider/assistant graduates of Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar earn a median of $39,833 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,348 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in child care provider/assistant from Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar

6

Iowa Western Community College earned the #6 position for child care provider/assistant this year. Iowa Western Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Council Bluffs. Iowa Western Community College awarded about 36 child care provider/assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child care provider/assistant degree from Iowa Western Community College earn around $43,444 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,153. Read more about the child care provider/assistant program at Iowa Western Community College

7

Metropolitan Community College Kansas City ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best child care provider/assistant schools. This large public university is located in the city of Kansas City. About 29 child care provider/assistant degrees were awarded at Metropolitan Community College Kansas City in the most recent year. Graduates of the child care provider/assistant program make about $46,660 in their early career. Metropolitan Community College Kansas City graduates carry a median of $12,281 in student loans. More information about a degree in child care provider/assistant from Metropolitan Community College Kansas City

8

Hawkeye Community College landed the #8 spot for child care provider/assistant this year. Set in the rural area of Waterloo, Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 27 child care provider/assistant degrees were awarded at Hawkeye Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, child care provider/assistant degree recipients from Hawkeye Community College generally make around $41,902. Students borrow a median of $17,001 to complete this degree. See the full child care provider/assistant program report for Hawkeye Community College

9
Kirkwood Community College crest
Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids, IA

Kirkwood Community College landed the #9 spot for child care provider/assistant this year. Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public university. About 24 child care provider/assistant degrees were awarded at Kirkwood Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the child care provider/assistant program make about $41,681 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,779. Get the full child care provider/assistant details for Kirkwood Community College

10

Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College came in at #10 for child care provider/assistant this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Saint Paul. Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College awarded about 20 child care provider/assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child care provider/assistant degree recipients from Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College generally make around $32,055. Typical student debt for the program is $17,650. See the full child care provider/assistant program report for Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College

11

Minneapolis Community And Technical College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best child care provider/assistant schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Minneapolis. There were roughly 83 child care provider/assistant students who graduated with this degree at Minneapolis Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child care provider/assistant program make about $43,164 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,500. See the full child care provider/assistant program report for Minneapolis Community And Technical College

12

Eastern Iowa Community College District came in at #12 for child care provider/assistant this year. This large public university is located in the city of Davenport. Eastern Iowa Community College District awarded about 30 child care provider/assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child care provider/assistant program make about $41,510 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,995. See the full child care provider/assistant program report for Eastern Iowa Community College District

13

Pine Technical College landed the #13 spot for child care provider/assistant this year. Pine Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Pine City. There were roughly 25 child care provider/assistant students who graduated with this degree at Pine Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child care provider/assistant degree from Pine Technical College earn around $44,905 in the first couple years of their career. Pine Technical College graduates carry a median of $22,454 in student loans. More information about a degree in child care provider/assistant from Pine Technical College

14

Ozarks Technical Community College came in at #14 for child care provider/assistant this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public university. Ozarks Technical Community College awarded about 43 child care provider/assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child care provider/assistant degree recipients from Ozarks Technical Community College generally make around $27,003. Ozarks Technical Community College graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in child care provider/assistant from Ozarks Technical Community College

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 41 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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