ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Child Care Provider/Assistant Schools in Iowa

1 Colleges in the United States
247 Child Care Provider/Assistant Degrees Awarded
$38,105 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 12 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:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/child-care-provider-assistant/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/child-care-provider-assistant/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/child-care-provider-assistant/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/child-care-provider-assistant/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/child-care-provider-assistant/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/child-care-provider-assistant/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/child-care-provider-assistant/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 7
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 19.07), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "BSW - Social Work (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "BSW - Social Work (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: Checking offer "DSW - Social Work (I Have a Masters)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "DSW - Social Work (I Have a Masters)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: Checking offer "MSW - Social Work (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "MSW - Social Work (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: Checking offer "PhD - Social Work (I Have a Masters)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "PhD - Social Work (I Have a Masters)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Social Work & Social Sciences Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Social Work & Social Sciences Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Social Work & Social Sciences Doctorate Programs (I Have a Masters)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Social Work & Social Sciences Doctorate Programs (I Have a Masters)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Social Work & Social Sciences Masters Programs (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Social Work & Social Sciences Masters Programs (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 0
DEBUG: No relevant offers, showing generic ESYOH widget

Best Schools for Child Care Provider/Assistant in Iowa

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

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. Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ankeny. About 66 child care provider/assistant degrees were awarded at Des Moines Area Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their child care provider/assistant degree from Des Moines Area Community College earn around $22,623 in the first couple years of their career. 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

Western Iowa Tech Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in child care provider/assistant, ranking #2. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public school 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. Graduates of the child care provider/assistant program make about $35,742 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $8,837 to complete this degree. See the full child care provider/assistant program report for Western Iowa Tech Community College

3

Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in child care provider/assistant, landing the #3 spot this year. 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. Graduates of the child care provider/assistant program make about $39,833 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,348. Get the full child care provider/assistant details for Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar

4

Iowa Western Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best child care provider/assistant schools. Iowa Western Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Council Bluffs. About 36 child care provider/assistant degrees were awarded at Iowa Western Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, child care provider/assistant degree recipients from Iowa Western Community College generally make around $43,444. Students borrow a median of $15,153 to complete this degree. See the full child care provider/assistant program report for Iowa Western Community College

5

Hawkeye Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in child care provider/assistant, ranking #5. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Waterloo. About 27 child care provider/assistant degrees were awarded at Hawkeye Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their child care provider/assistant degree from Hawkeye Community College earn around $41,902 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,001 to complete this degree. See the full child care provider/assistant program report for Hawkeye Community College

6
Kirkwood Community College crest
Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids, IA

Kirkwood Community College landed the #6 spot for child care provider/assistant this year. This large public university is located in the city of Cedar Rapids. There were roughly 24 child care provider/assistant students who graduated with this degree at Kirkwood Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child care provider/assistant degree from Kirkwood Community College earn around $41,681 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,779 to complete this degree. Read more about the child care provider/assistant program at Kirkwood Community College

7

Eastern Iowa Community College District earned the #7 position for child care provider/assistant this year. Located in the city of Davenport, Eastern Iowa Community College District is a large public university. 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. Students borrow a median of $15,995 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in child care provider/assistant from Eastern Iowa Community College District

ADBLOCK #173
View All Child Care Provider/Assistant Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 12 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options