by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Child Development and Psychology involves the study of child and adolescent behavior. Many of your classes will explore the impact of genetics and environmental influence on the growth and development of a person. Other subjects of study are the mechanisms and process of learning and thinking; this includes encoding, decoding, and processing information.
There are many concentrations in this major. Depending on what college you go to, you may have the opportunity to specialize in Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics; Comparative Psychology; Developmental and Child Psychology; Experimental Psychology; Personality Psychology; Physiological Psychology/Psychobiology; Social Psychology; Psychometrics and Quantitative Psychology; or Psychopharmacology.
A degree in Child Development & Psychology explores Research And Experimental Psychology. Continue reading for the key facts every child development & psychology major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering child development & psychology programs.
Nationwide, child development & psychology draws strong interest, with 22,813 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Child Development & Psychology Schools ranking analyzes these 298 schools to determine the best overall colleges for child development & psychology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of child development & psychology programs later in this article.
Programs in Child Development & Psychology develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations child development & psychology graduates commonly enter.
Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills will be important in this major as you work with professors, peers, and patients. Practice active listening and empathy as you interview patients, observe behavior and write accurate reports and papers on your findings. Compassion and understanding is necessary as you encounter people from diverse backgrounds who could suffer from mental disorders. You will be relied on to be trustworthy, approachable and keep information in confidence.
A psychology major involves time spent in the lecture hall, as well as lab work and research. This requires mathematical and science skills. You will need to memorize theories and formulas and use them to solve real-life issues. Logic and analytical skills will help you evaluate data and complete research.
Many programs require students to work at an internship or do fieldwork through participating organizations. Take advantage of any opportunity for experience in the field. This will help you when applying to grad schools or future jobs.
Skills built by a child development & psychology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a child development & psychology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several child development & psychology degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 11 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 31 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 19,130 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,658 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 970 |
People currently working in careers related to child development & psychology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 33.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 21.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 16.9% |
| Master’s degree | 11.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.6% |
| Some college courses | 2.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in child development & psychology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Many graduates continue their education to achieve a Master's or Doctorate in psychology. This can lead to a career as a psychologist or psychiatrist. Psychology grads also work in schools, research, counseling, or clinical studies. Those interested in child psychology may be interested in becoming a school psychologist or family counselor.
Studying child development & psychology can lead to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to child development & psychology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to child development & psychology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 513,614 | -3.0% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Statisticians | 307,132 | 6.6% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Clinical Neuropsychologists | 216,013 | 8.9% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of child development & psychology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $34,814 |
| 4 years | $50,900 |
| 5 years | $59,985 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for child development & psychology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers child development & psychology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Statisticians | $130,349 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Biostatisticians | $121,594 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $111,314 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
With 298 different child development & psychology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased child development & psychology school rankings to help you.
Those considering child development & psychology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Research and Experimental Psychology, Other | 13,996 |
| Experimental Psychology | 4,439 |
| Developmental and Child Psychology | 1,820 |
| Behavioral Neuroscience | 1,424 |
| Social Psychology | 458 |
| Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics | 380 |
| Psychometrics and Quantitative Psychology | 203 |
| Psychopharmacology | 67 |
| Personality Psychology | 17 |
| Comparative Psychology | 9 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Psychology, General | 147,078 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 40,952 |
| Psychology, Other | 2,825 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
