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First, some facts. Of the Child Development graduates from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:
These are estimates based on AI analysis of 10 LinkedIn profiles (see below).
The verdict? Significantly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 83%, Child Development graduates from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo have a much higher likelihood (+16%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:
And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.
Also, after graduating, 40% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Child Development graduate.
See the details:
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Relevance score: 31% We think this person has NOT gone into a career related to their degree.
DEGREE INFOGraduated in 2014 from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor of Science - BS in Child Development. Also pursued further education since (see below). JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATIONChildren's Center Educator & Team Lead Oct 2015 - Oct 2016 Customer Happiness Representative  Trusted Child Care Oct 2016 - Mar 2017 Education and Curriculum Coordinator Trusted Child Care Mar 2017 - Jan 2018 Program Coordinator The Children's Pre-School Center Jan 2018 - Aug 2018 Marriage And Family Therapy Intern KIPP Public Schools Northern California May 2023 - Jun 2024 Online Community Manager  Good2Know Partners Aug 2018 - Oct 2021 Community Content Manager Good2Know Partners Sep 2021 - Present Associate Marriage and Family Therapist Anchor Psychology, Inc. Jun 2024 - Present FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATINGMaster of Science - MSPortland State University 2019 - 2021 Counseling Psychology Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology 2021 - 2024 ABOUTNo information provided. |
The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:
People who graduated with a degree in Child Development from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo mostly ended up in jobs that are pretty closely tied to what they studied. A lot of them became teachers, including positions as preschool teachers, kindergarten teachers, and even after-school care teachers, which directly require knowledge of child growth and developmental milestones. There are also roles like Behavior Interventionists and Early Intervention Specialists that focus on understanding and supporting children's behaviors, showing a direct link to their education. Many of these positions actively engage with children and apply child development theories and practices on a daily basis, making them highly relevant to their degrees.
However, not every job fits perfectly within the Child Development field. Some graduates took roles that, while maybe touching on child development concepts, didn’t fully utilize the skills and knowledge from their degree. For instance, roles like Customer Happiness Representative or Community Content Manager involved more general interpersonal or organizational skills rather than specific child development expertise. Overall, it looks like a significant number of alumni are working in positions that make good use of their studies, but there are definitely some outliers that strayed from the more obvious paths directly related to Child Development.
Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Child Development graduates (this is across all Child Development graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo):
From the analysis of LinkedIn profiles of Child Development graduates from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, it seems these individuals generally start their careers in entry-level roles that are quite relevant to child development. Many of them kick off with positions like behavior interventionists, preschool teachers, or child care educators shortly after graduating. It’s a solid way to gain hands-on experience working directly with children and learning about the various challenges and rewards of this field. Over the first few years, there appears to be a mix of staying in educational settings and moving into more specialized roles like occupational therapy or psychology-related positions. In just a few years, many alumni transition into roles that have more responsibility, such as program coordinators or therapists, indicating a clear progression within the field.
Fast forward five to ten years later, many of these graduates have secured more substantial positions, often still tied to child development but with a broader scope. We see individuals moving into roles like marriage and family therapists or becoming educators across different grade levels. Some even take on leadership positions, such as child care center directors or curriculum coordinators. While there are a few who might veer off course into unrelated jobs or less stable roles, the majority seem to thrive in careers that resonate with their studies. Overall, the career trajectories for these graduates showcase a strong connection to their field, with many finding meaningful work that supports child development and education.
Honestly, the Bachelor’s degree in Child Development at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, can be a pretty manageable path for most students, especially if you have a genuine interest in working with kids and understanding their growth. While there are definitely some challenging courses, like psychology and child behavior, the workload is often balanced out with practical projects and hands-on experiences that make the learning process more engaging. It’s definitely not a walk in the park, but it’s also not overly intense compared to some other majors. If you stay organized and passionate about the subject, you’ll likely find it rewarding without feeling completely overwhelmed!
Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Child Development.
So, looking at the job paths of these Child Development grads from Cal Poly, it seems like some of them are doing pretty well in terms of salary, while others might be struggling a bit. For example, the folks who moved into roles like Occupational Therapist at hospitals or educators at recognized institutions like Google and KIPP Schools are likely making decent bread, especially since those positions usually come with good benefits and pay. But then you’ve got those working as nannies or in child care centers, which tend to pay less, so it seems like they might not be pulling in as much cash. Overall, it’s a mixed bag, but some are definitely set up for better earnings if they keep climbing the ladder in education and therapy roles!
Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Child Development (this is across all Child Development graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo). This may or may not be useful:
Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Child Development (ordered by the average relevance score of their Child Development graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:
| College | Score | Count |
|---|---|---|
 California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
|
83 | 10 |
 San Jose State University
|
80 | 10 |
 California State University, Fullerton
|
79 | 12 |
 California State University, Northridge
|
77 | 11 |
 California State University-Sacramento
|
73 | 22 |