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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Child development Schools in North Carolina

2 Colleges in the United States
562 Child development Degrees Awarded
$38,382 Avg Early-Career Salary

Child development is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their child development programs.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 41 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for child development students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Child development in North Carolina

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the child development degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Child development

1

No school ranked higher than Appalachian State University this year for child development. This very large public university is located in the town of Boone. Appalachian State University graduates 74% of students within six years. Appalachian State University awarded about 36 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development graduates of Appalachian State University earn a median of $30,062 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,935. See the full child development program report for Appalachian State University

2

Students looking for a strong child development program will find one at East Carolina University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. East Carolina University graduates 63% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 child development students who graduated with this degree at East Carolina University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $29,607. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Get the full child development details for East Carolina University

3

A rank of #3 makes Rowan Cabarrus Community College one of the top schools for child development. Set in the suburb of Salisbury, Rowan Cabarrus Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 35 child development students who graduated with this degree at Rowan Cabarrus Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Rowan Cabarrus Community College generally make around $34,351. Rowan Cabarrus Community College graduates carry a median of $10,867 in student loans. Get the full child development details for Rowan Cabarrus Community College

4
Meredith College crest
Meredith College
Raleigh, NC

Meredith College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best child development schools. Meredith College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Raleigh. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 23 child development degrees were awarded at Meredith College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Meredith College generally make around $40,537. Meredith College graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Get the full child development details for Meredith College

5

Fayetteville Technical Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in child development, ranking #5. Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. There were roughly 134 child development students who graduated with this degree at Fayetteville Technical Community College in the most recent data year. Child Development graduates of Fayetteville Technical Community College earn a median of $40,584 early in their careers. Fayetteville Technical Community College graduates carry a median of $16,909 in student loans. See the full child development program report for Fayetteville Technical Community College

6

Stanly Community College earned the #6 position for child development this year. Located in the town of Albemarle, Stanly Community College is a mid-sized public university. Stanly Community College awarded about 34 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development degree from Stanly Community College earn around $41,920 in the first couple years of their career. See the full child development program report for Stanly Community College

7

Wake Technical Community College placed #7 among the best child development schools. Set in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a very large public institution. Wake Technical Community College awarded about 83 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development degree from Wake Technical Community College earn around $38,673 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,783. More information about a degree in child development from Wake Technical Community College

8

Johnston Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best child development schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Smithfield. Johnston Community College awarded about 23 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Johnston Community College generally make around $37,472. Students borrow a median of $9,490 to complete this degree. See the full child development program report for Johnston Community College

9

Wayne Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best child development schools. Set in the city of Goldsboro, Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Wayne Community College awarded about 10 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Wayne Community College generally make around $33,116. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500. Read more about the child development program at Wayne Community College

10

North Carolina A And T State University earned the #10 position for child development this year. This large public university is located in the city of Greensboro. North Carolina A And T State University graduates 57% of students within six years. About 28 child development degrees were awarded at North Carolina A And T State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from North Carolina A And T State University generally make around $37,458. Typical student debt for the program is $31,000. See the full child development program report for North Carolina A And T State University

11

Alamance Community College earned the #11 position for child development this year. Alamance Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Graham. Alamance Community College awarded about 18 child development degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Alamance Community College generally make around $37,585. Alamance Community College graduates carry a median of $6,625 in student loans. Read more about the child development program at Alamance Community College

12

Randolph Community College came in at #12 for child development this year. Set in the town of Asheboro, Randolph Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 23 child development degrees were awarded at Randolph Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their child development degree from Randolph Community College earn around $32,198 in the first couple years of their career. Read more about the child development program at Randolph Community College

13

Isothermal Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best child development schools. Isothermal Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Spindale. There were roughly 13 child development students who graduated with this degree at Isothermal Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development degree from Isothermal Community College earn around $47,389 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $6,625 to complete this degree. Get the full child development details for Isothermal Community College

14

Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best child development schools. Set in the suburb of Flat Rock, Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 18 child development students who graduated with this degree at Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development degree from Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock earn around $42,443 in the first couple years of their career. Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock graduates carry a median of $16,252 in student loans. More information about a degree in child development from Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock

15

Richmond Community College landed the #15 spot for child development this year. Richmond Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Hamlet. About 11 child development degrees were awarded at Richmond Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Richmond Community College generally make around $46,757. Students borrow a median of $8,407 to complete this degree. Get the full child development details for Richmond Community College

16

Craven Community College came in at #16 for child development this year. Craven Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of New Bern. About 12 child development degrees were awarded at Craven Community College in the most recent year. Child Development graduates of Craven Community College earn a median of $30,235 early in their careers. Craven Community College graduates carry a median of $8,924 in student loans. More information about a degree in child development from Craven Community College

17

Vance Granville Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best child development schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Henderson. About 15 child development degrees were awarded at Vance Granville Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Vance Granville Community College generally make around $43,272. Students borrow a median of $14,833 to complete this degree. See the full child development program report for Vance Granville Community College

18

Haywood Community College earned the #18 position for child development this year. Located in the rural area of Clyde, Haywood Community College is a small public university. There were roughly 12 child development students who graduated with this degree at Haywood Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development program make about $35,767 in their early career. Read more about the child development program at Haywood Community College

19

Robeson Community College placed #19 among the best child development schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Lumberton. There were roughly 13 child development students who graduated with this degree at Robeson Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development program make about $52,951 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,949 to complete this degree. See the full child development program report for Robeson Community College

20

James Sprunt Community College came in at #20 for child development this year. This small public university is located in the rural area of Kenansville. There were roughly 11 child development students who graduated with this degree at James Sprunt Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development program make about $35,264 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,278 to complete this degree. Read more about the child development program at James Sprunt Community College

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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 · 41 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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