Best Child Development Schools Near Henderson, KY (2026)

Updated September 5, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Henderson, Kentucky is home to about 27,994 residents. Median household income is $47,176 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 18.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Kentucky, the top-earning child development-related role is Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education at a median $60,280 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Child Development Schools to Henderson

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer child development programs near Henderson, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Henderson city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Henderson. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

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#1

Kentucky State University

Frankfort, KY 150.3 miles from Henderson
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
40.3 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 96%
Graduation rate 30%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $36,382
Avg net price $8,040/yr
Tuition
In‑state$9,387
Out‑of‑state$13,658
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 62%
  • Programs offered: 32

Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY 168.1 miles from Henderson
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
70.9 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 93%
Graduation rate 71%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $59,025
Avg net price $18,851/yr
Tuition
In‑state$13,502
Out‑of‑state$34,140
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 87%
  • Programs offered: 217

Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

Eastern Kentucky University

Richmond, KY 179.1 miles from Henderson
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
52.8 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 78%
Graduation rate 50%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $45,795
Avg net price $11,040/yr
Tuition
In‑state$10,320
Out‑of‑state$21,230
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 118

Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Berea College

Berea, KY 180.6 miles from Henderson
  • 4 year
55.0 BOC Score
Graduation rate 65%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $43,150
Avg net price $6,106/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 83%
  • Programs offered: 37

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Kentucky schools on the Kentucky child development page.

Child Development Wages Near Henderson

Occupation Median Annual Wage (Kentucky, statewide)
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education $29,780
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare $44,530
Child, Family, and School Social Workers $59,100
Childcare Workers $28,920
Special Education Teachers, Preschool $54,220
Social and Human Service Assistants $37,440
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education $60,280
Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other $58,150

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.

Henderson at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 27,994 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $47,176 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 18.2% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Henderson-Area Cities With Child Development Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the highest-paying child development roles in Kentucky?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying child development-related roles in Kentucky are: Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education ($60,280), Child, Family, and School Social Workers ($59,100), Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other ($58,150). Wages for Henderson workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Evansville instead of Henderson?

Evansville, IN is 10.5 miles from Henderson and has its own set of local child development programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Henderson an affordable place to study child development?

Henderson’s median household income of $47,176 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Henderson while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Kentucky public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.

Learn More About Child Development Programs

Other Programs Available in Henderson

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Henderson:

Data verified: September 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.

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