Child Development & Psychology degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their child development & psychology programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 329 schools to find the best for child development & psychology students.
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Choosing a Great Child Development & Psychology School
The school you choose for child development & psychology can shape your career. That is why we built our Best Child Development & Psychology Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Child Development & Psychology School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Child Development & Psychology Rankings by Degree Level
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Child Development & Psychology Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
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ADBLOCK #171
Best Schools for Child Development & Psychology in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the child development & psychology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Ohio State University Main Campus, our #1 school for child development & psychology. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbus. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates 88% of students within six years. There were roughly 723 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $91,275 in the first couple years of their career. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $22,053 in student loans.
See the full child development & psychology program report for Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of Southern California came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. About 92% of students finish within six years. University Of Southern California awarded about 12 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $75,677. Typical student debt for the program is $15,625.
See the full child development & psychology program report for University Of Southern California
Tufts University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in child development & psychology, ranking #3. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 82 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Tufts University in the most recent year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Tufts University earn around $56,504 in the first couple years of their career. Tufts University graduates carry a median of $15,875 in student loans.
Read more about the child development & psychology program at Tufts University
Stanford University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 95 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
Get the full child development & psychology details for Stanford University
Vanderbilt University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 94% of students finish within six years. Vanderbilt University awarded about 81 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Vanderbilt University earn around $77,997 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in child development & psychology from Vanderbilt University
Boston College placed #6 among the best child development & psychology schools. Set in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit institution. Boston College graduates 91% of students within six years. About 104 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Boston College in the most recent year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Boston College earn around $66,132 in the first couple years of their career. Boston College graduates carry a median of $18,101 in student loans.
Get the full child development & psychology details for Boston College
Northwestern University came in at #7 for child development & psychology this year. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 95% of students finish within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 42 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $78,551 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
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Texas A And M University College Station ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 63 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $64,891. Typical student debt for the program is $20,031.
Read more about the child development & psychology program at Texas A And M University College Station
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #9 among the best child development & psychology schools. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 42 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
Get the full child development & psychology details for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Cornell University came in at #10 for child development & psychology this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cornell University awarded about 97 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $75,976 early in their careers. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $15,005 in student loans.
More information about a degree in child development & psychology from Cornell University
Dartmouth College earned the #11 position for child development & psychology this year. Located in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Dartmouth College awarded about 60 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Dartmouth College earn a median of $42,947 early in their careers. Dartmouth College graduates carry a median of $18,194 in student loans.
Read more about the child development & psychology program at Dartmouth College
Brown University landed the #12 spot for child development & psychology this year. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Brown University awarded about 69 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Brown University earn around $39,493 in the first couple years of their career. Brown University graduates carry a median of $15,110 in student loans.
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Bates College placed #13 among the best child development & psychology schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Lewiston. About 90% of students finish within six years. Bates College awarded about 46 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Bates College earn a median of $47,376 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,750.
Read more about the child development & psychology program at Bates College
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus placed #14 among the best child development & psychology schools. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus awarded about 57 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn a median of $83,560 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete this degree.
See the full child development & psychology program report for Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #15 position for child development & psychology this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 29 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $59,877. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans.
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Johns Hopkins University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 110 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $49,035 in their early career. Johns Hopkins University graduates carry a median of $14,507 in student loans.
More information about a degree in child development & psychology from Johns Hopkins University
University Of Maryland College Park landed the #17 spot for child development & psychology this year. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. University Of Maryland College Park graduates 89% of students within six years. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 54 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $57,901 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,836.
See the full child development & psychology program report for University Of Maryland College Park
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus placed #18 among the best child development & psychology schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 481 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $56,926 in their early career. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates carry a median of $24,958 in student loans.
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University Of California Santa Barbara came in at #19 for child development & psychology this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public institution. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 671 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $34,431. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
Read more about the child development & psychology program at University Of California Santa Barbara
Lafayette College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. Located in the suburb of Easton, Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 60 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Lafayette College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Lafayette College generally make around $59,513. Lafayette College graduates carry a median of $16,931 in student loans.
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University Of California Davis earned the #21 position for child development & psychology this year. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 875 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $32,301. Typical student debt for the program is $13,219.
More information about a degree in child development & psychology from University Of California Davis
Harvard University placed #22 among the best child development & psychology schools. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 98% of students finish within six years. About 86 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Harvard University earn around $41,501 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
See the full child development & psychology program report for Harvard University
University Of Rochester earned the #23 position for child development & psychology this year. University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rochester. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Rochester awarded about 177 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of Rochester earn a median of $39,732 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the child development & psychology program at University Of Rochester
Colby College came in at #24 for child development & psychology this year. Set in the town of Waterville, Colby College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 17 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Colby College in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Colby College earn a median of $46,772 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,016.
See the full child development & psychology program report for Colby College
Arizona State University came in at #25 for child development & psychology this year. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Arizona State University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 14 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Arizona State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $55,876 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,842 to complete this degree.
Get the full child development & psychology details for Arizona State University
Rest of the Top 50 Child Development & Psychology Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s child development & psychology ranking:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 329 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).