Best institutions to study Early Childhood and Family Studies
A program of study that focuses on the development and learning of children from birth to six years old within the context of the family.
22 U.S. institutions graduated 489 Early Childhood and Family Studies students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 19.0711, a specialization of Human Development (CIP 19.07), and leads most directly to the Childcare Workers occupation (BLS SOC 39-9011).
About Early Childhood and Family Studies programs
A program of study that focuses on the development and learning of children from birth to six years old within the context of the family. Includes instruction in child abuse and neglect, child and infant growth and development, early childhood education, early childhood language and literacy, early childhood math and science, early childhood special education, family literacy, family sociology, family and marriage relations, assessment and measurement, psychology, and psychopathology.
See also: 13.1210 - Early Childhood Education and Teaching., 42.2811 - Family Psychology.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Early Childhood and Family Studies program focuses on the development and learning of children from birth to six years old within the family context. This program is ideal for individuals interested in understanding child growth, early education, and family dynamics, preparing them for roles that support young children and their families.
Students will gain essential skills in monitoring, critical thinking, and active listening, along with knowledge in psychology, education, and family sociology. Coursework typically includes early childhood education, child development, and family literacy.
Credentials awarded
What Early Childhood and Family Studies graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree376 graduates / yr · 11 institutions77%
- Master's degree45 graduates / yr · 2 institutions9.2%
- Associate's degree44 graduates / yr · 6 institutions9.0%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year19 graduates / yr · 3 institutions3.9%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate5 graduates / yr · 2 institutions1.0%
Graduates over time
Early Childhood and Family Studies completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 318 |
| 2021 | 257 |
| 2022 | 285 |
| 2023 | 332 |
| 2024 | 439 |
| 2025 | 489 |
CIP 19.0711 was introduced in CIP 2020, so the series starts when institutions began reporting under the new code.
Top 22 institutions for Early Childhood and Family Studies, 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 | American Public University System Charles Town, WVPrivate for-profitBachelor's | 114 | 57% | $10,199 | $34,347 |
| 2 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg, TXPublicBachelor's | 88 | 51% | — | $26,897 |
| 3 | Tarleton State University Stephenville, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 86 | 48% | — | — |
| 4 | Eastern University Saint Davids, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sAssociate's | 43 | 54% | $25,146 | — |
| 5 | National Louis University Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 36 | 30% | $18,904 | $46,954 |
| 6 | College of the Ozarks Point Lookout, MOPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 17 | 64% | $8,360 | — |
| 7 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, ALPublicBachelor's | 15 | 73% | — | $30,264 |
| 8 | Fielding Graduate University Santa Barbara, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 15 | — | — | — |
| 9 | South Texas College McAllen, TXPublicAssociate's | 15 | 27% | — | $19,971 |
| 10 | University of Utah Salt Lake City, UTPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 13 | 65% | — | $35,467 |
| 11 | Wayne County Community College District Detroit, MIPublicAssociate's | 9 | 22% | — | — |
| 12 | University of Michigan - Dearborn Dearborn, MIPublicBachelor's | 8 | 58% | — | — |
| 13 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MIPublicBachelor's | 7 | 46% | — | $33,911 |
| 14 | University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lincoln, NEPublicPost-degree cert. | 4 | 67% | — | — |
| 15 | College of Southern Nevada Las Vegas, NVPublicAssociate's | 4 | 19% | — | — |
| 16 | Holyoke Community College Holyoke, MAPublicAssociate's | 3 | 29% | — | — |
| 17 | University of Michigan - Flint Flint, MIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 40% | — | — |
| 18 | Albright College Reading, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 51% | $21,906 | — |
| 19 | Dyersburg State Community College Dyersburg, TNPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 34% | — | — |
| 20 | Rose State College Midwest City, OKPublicAssociate's | 1 | 20% | — | — |
| 21 | Carson - Newman University Jefferson City, TNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 53% | $19,537 | — |
| 22 | Pennsylvania State University - World Campus University Park, PAPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 34% | — | $34,030 |
* 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 14 states
Where Early Childhood and Family Studies graduates come from. Each state links to all Human Development programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 3 | 189 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley88 / yr |
| West Virginia | 1 | 114 | American Public University System114 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | 47 | Eastern University43 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 36 | National Louis University36 / yr |
| Michigan | 4 | 27 | Wayne County Community College District9 / yr |
| Missouri | 1 | 17 | College of the Ozarks17 / yr |
| Alabama | 1 | 15 | The University of Alabama15 / yr |
| California | 1 | 15 | Fielding Graduate University15 / yr |
| Utah | 1 | 13 | University of Utah13 / yr |
| Tennessee | 2 | 4 | Dyersburg State Community College3 / yr |
| Nebraska | 1 | 4 | University of Nebraska - Lincoln4 / yr |
| Nevada | 1 | 4 | College of Southern Nevada4 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 3 | Holyoke Community College3 / yr |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 1 | Rose State College1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 39-9011, Childcare Workers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Early Childhood and Family Studies program can pursue careers as childcare workers, community service specialists, or educators. While the job outlook shows a decline of 2.9%, there are approximately 160,200 annual openings, with a median wage of $32,050 and typical education requirements of a high school diploma.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 19.0711
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 |
Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other SOC 21-1099 | $56,730 | +4.6% About as fast as average | ~13,100 | Bachelor's degree |
Psychologists, All Other SOC 19-3039 | $110,840 | +4.3% About as fast as average | ~3,900 | Master's degree |
Farm and Home Management Educators SOC 25-9021 | $60,220 | -2.5% Decline | ~1,100 | Master's degree |
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 Early Childhood and Family Studies 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).
- Child Care Provider/CIP 19.0709
Assistant 23,628 graduates / yr397 institutions - 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
- 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 degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, Associate's degree, or a short-term award.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in monitoring, critical thinking, active listening, and communication.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a childcare worker, community service specialist, or educator.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook shows a decline of 2.9%, but there are still many annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Early Childhood and Family Studies?+
Early Childhood and Family Studies is CIP 19.0711 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 of study that focuses on the development and learning of children from birth to six years old within the context of the family. Includes instruction in child abuse and neglect, child and infant growth and development, early childhood education, early childhood language and literacy, early childhood math and science, early childhood special education, family literacy, family sociology, family and marriage relations, assessment and measurement, psychology, and psychopathology.
How many institutions offer Early Childhood and Family Studies programs?+
22 U.S. institutions reported Early Childhood and Family Studies graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 14 states, awarding 489 credentials in the year. That is 1.1% of all Human Development graduates.
How much do Early Childhood and Family Studies graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Childcare Workers occupation, which Early Childhood and Family Studies 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 $34,030 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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