Best institutions to study Child Care Provider/Assistant
A program that prepares individuals to be primary providers of home, family, residential, or institutional-based child care services.
397 U.S. institutions graduated 23,628 Child Care Provider/Assistant students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 19.0709, a specialization of Human Development (CIP 19.07), and leads most directly to the Childcare Workers occupation (BLS SOC 39-9011).
About Child Care Provider/Assistant programs
A program that prepares individuals to be primary providers of home, family, residential, or institutional-based child care services. Includes instruction in child growth and development, nutrition, recreation, planning and supervision of play and learning activities, child abuse and neglect prevention, parent-child relationships, and applicable legal and administrative requirements.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Child Care Provider/Assistant program, part of the Human Development field, prepares individuals to become primary providers of child care services in various settings, including homes, schools, and institutions. This program is ideal for those who are passionate about nurturing and educating children, providing a solid foundation for a rewarding career in child care.
Students in this program will gain essential skills in child growth and development, nutrition, and recreation. Coursework also covers planning and supervising play and learning activities, as well as understanding legal and administrative requirements related to child care.
Credentials awarded
What Child Care Provider/Assistant graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year14,832 graduates / yr · 303 institutions63%
- Associate's degree5,473 graduates / yr · 246 institutions23%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years2,787 graduates / yr · 187 institutions12%
- Award of less than 12 weeks378 graduates / yr · 26 institutions1.6%
- Bachelor's degree68 graduates / yr · 5 institutions0.3%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years57 graduates / yr · 5 institutions0.2%
- Master's degree33 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.1%
Graduates over time
Child Care Provider/Assistant completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 16,044 |
| 2013 | 17,151 |
| 2014 | 17,086 |
| 2015 | 18,804 |
| 2016 | 18,663 |
| 2017 | 19,199 |
| 2018 | 22,073 |
| 2019 | 22,069 |
| 2020 | 20,400 |
| 2021 | 20,843 |
| 2022 | 21,070 |
| 2023 | 21,140 |
| 2024 | 22,533 |
| 2025 | 23,628 |
Top 50 institutions for Child Care Provider/Assistant, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City College of San Francisco San Francisco, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 905 | 40% | — | — |
| 2 | Cerritos College Norwalk, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 684 | 31% | — | — |
| 3 | Los Angeles Valley College Valley Glen, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 520 | 32% | — | — |
| 4 | College of the Sequoias Visalia, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 442 | 39% | — | $18,158 |
| 5 | Tallahassee State College Tallahassee, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 377 | 38% | — | — |
| 6 | Santa Monica College Santa Monica, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 336 | 36% | — | — |
| 7 | Merritt College Oakland, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 324 | 26% | — | — |
| 8 | East Los Angeles College Monterey Park, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 289 | 37% | — | $10,032 |
| 9 | Santa Ana College Santa Ana, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 277 | 31% | — | $23,863 |
| 10 | Lemoore College Lemoore, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 272 | 49% | — | $23,860 |
| 11 | Modesto Junior College Modesto, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 255 | 30% | — | $15,819 |
| 12 | College of Lake County Grayslake, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 248 | 37% | — | — |
| 13 | Colorado Mesa University Grand Junction, COPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsBachelor's | 238 | 41% | — | — |
| 14 | Fresno City College Fresno, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 236 | 24% | — | $30,519 |
| 15 | Los Angeles Mission College Sylmar, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 231 | 20% | — | — |
| 16 | Antelope Valley Community College District Lancaster, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 226 | 34% | — | — |
| 17 | Mt San Antonio College Walnut, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 223 | 45% | — | — |
| 18 | Central New Mexico Community College Albuquerque, NMPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 223 | 31% | — | $31,256 |
| 19 | Diablo Valley College Pleasant Hill, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 221 | 49% | — | — |
| 20 | MiraCosta College Oceanside, CAPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 217 | 41% | — | — |
| 21 | Coalinga College Coalinga, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 210 | 43% | — | $18,810 |
| 22 | Rio Hondo College Whittier, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 209 | 25% | — | — |
| 23 | Riverside City College Riverside, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 204 | 37% | — | — |
| 24 | Tidewater Community College Norfolk, VAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 200 | 32% | — | $21,889 |
| 25 | Chabot College Hayward, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of less than 12 weeks | 199 | 47% | — | — |
| 26 | Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, VAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 188 | 33% | — | $24,012 |
| 27 | Cuesta College San Luis Obispo, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 180 | 48% | — | — |
| 28 | Chattahoochee Technical College Marietta, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 172 | 38% | — | — |
| 29 | Moorpark College Moorpark, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of less than 12 weeks | 170 | 44% | — | — |
| 30 | Los Angeles Pierce College Woodland Hills, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 166 | 46% | — | — |
| 31 | El Camino Community College District Torrance, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 165 | 42% | — | — |
| 32 | Woodland Community College Woodland, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 164 | 43% | — | — |
| 33 | Barstow Community College Barstow, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 158 | 39% | — | — |
| 34 | Lanier Technical College Gainesville, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 158 | 34% | — | — |
| 35 | American River College Sacramento, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 155 | 37% | — | — |
| 36 | Long Beach City College Long Beach, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 155 | 30% | — | — |
| 37 | Los Angeles City College Los Angeles, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 155 | 29% | — | — |
| 38 | William Rainey Harper College Palatine, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 155 | 48% | — | — |
| 39 | Orange Coast College Costa Mesa, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 150 | 48% | — | — |
| 40 | Norco College Norco, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 144 | 42% | — | — |
| 41 | Somerset Community College Somerset, KYPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of less than 12 weeksAssociate's | 142 | 43% | — | $15,587 |
| 42 | Los Medanos College Pittsburg, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 139 | 41% | — | — |
| 43 | J Sargeant Reynolds Community College Richmond, VAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 136 | 32% | — | — |
| 44 | City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College Chicago, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 133 | 32% | — | $37,381 |
| 45 | San Joaquin Delta College Stockton, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 132 | 35% | — | — |
| 46 | Atlanta Technical College Atlanta, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 131 | 49% | — | — |
| 47 | Columbus Technical College Columbus, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of less than 12 weeks | 131 | 27% | — | — |
| 48 | Southwestern Illinois College Belleville, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of less than 12 weeks | 130 | 36% | — | — |
| 49 | Bakersfield College Bakersfield, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 129 | 21% | — | — |
| 50 | Reedley College Reedley, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 129 | 42% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Human Development field (CIP 19.07) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 38 states & territories
Where Child Care Provider/Assistant graduates come from. Each state links to all Human Development programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 39-9011, Childcare Workers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Child Care Provider/Assistant program typically pursue careers as childcare workers. While the job outlook shows a slight decline of 2.9%, there are approximately 160,200 annual openings in this field, with a median wage of $32,050. A high school diploma or equivalent is generally the typical education required.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 19.0709
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Childcare Workersprimary SOC 39-9011 | $34,980 | -2.9% Decline | ~160,200 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Child Care Provider/Assistant programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Maintain a safe play environment.
- Observe and monitor children's play activities.
- Communicate with children's parents or guardians about daily activities, behaviors, and related issues.
- Support children's emotional and social development, encouraging understanding of others and positive self-concepts.
- Care for children in institutional setting, such as group homes, nursery schools, private businesses, or schools for people with disabilities.
- Sanitize toys and play equipment.
Tools and technology used
Other Human Development specializations
The 10 other 6-digit CIP codes under Human Development (CIP 19.07).
- Human Development and Family StudiesCIP 19.07019,267 graduates / yr172 institutions
- Child DevelopmentCIP 19.07064,749 graduates / yr224 institutions
- Child Care and Support Services ManagementCIP 19.07084,048 graduates / yr236 institutions
- Family and Community ServicesCIP 19.07071,706 graduates / yr67 institutions
- Family SystemsCIP 19.0704903 graduates / yr18 institutions
- Early Childhood and Family StudiesCIP 19.0711489 graduates / yr22 institutions
- Human Development, Family Studies, and Related ServicesCIP 19.0799424 graduates / yr29 institutions
- Adult Development and AgingCIP 19.0702220 graduates / yr34 institutions
- Parent Education ServicesCIP 19.0712partial data157 graduates / yr3 institutions
- Developmental Services WorkerCIP 19.071078 graduates / yr11 institutions
Common questions
What credentials can I earn from this program?+
You can earn an Award of at least 12 weeks, an Associate's degree, or other short-term awards.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in monitoring, critical thinking, active listening, and communication.
What types of jobs can I get after graduation?+
You can work as a childcare worker in various settings, including homes and schools.
What is the job outlook for childcare workers?+
The job outlook shows a decline of 2.9%, but there are still many annual openings available.
What is the CIP code for Child Care Provider/Assistant?+
Child Care Provider/Assistant is CIP 19.0709 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Human Development (CIP 19.07). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to be primary providers of home, family, residential, or institutional-based child care services. Includes instruction in child growth and development, nutrition, recreation, planning and supervision of play and learning activities, child abuse and neglect prevention, parent-child relationships, and applicable legal and administrative requirements.
How many institutions offer Child Care Provider/Assistant programs?+
397 U.S. institutions reported Child Care Provider/Assistant graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 38 states & territories, awarding 23,628 credentials in the year. That is 51.7% of all Human Development graduates.
How much do Child Care Provider/Assistant graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Childcare Workers occupation, which Child Care Provider/Assistant most directly leads to, pays a median of $34,980 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Human Development field report median earnings of $23,863 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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