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.
No school ranked higher than Ohio State University Main Campus this year for child development & psychology. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 683 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $91,275 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,053.
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Stanford University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in child development & psychology, ranking #2. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. About 74 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $100,827 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
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Tufts University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. Tufts University awarded about 74 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Tufts University earn a median of $56,504 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,875 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #4 makes Northwestern University one of the top schools for child development & psychology. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 42 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $78,551 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong child development & psychology program will find one at Cornell University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 97 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $75,976 in their early career. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $15,005 in student loans.
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Dartmouth College landed the #6 spot for child development & psychology this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Hanover. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Dartmouth College awarded about 60 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Dartmouth College earn around $42,947 in the first couple years of their career. Dartmouth College graduates carry a median of $18,194 in student loans.
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Brown University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. Set in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 66 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Brown University in the most recent 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 ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. Located in the city of Lewiston, Bates College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 46 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Bates College in the most recent year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Bates College earn around $47,376 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete this degree.
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Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned the #9 position for child development & psychology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Atlanta. About 94% of students finish within six years. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus awarded about 39 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $83,560 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete this degree.
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Drexel University placed #10 among the best child development & psychology schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. Drexel University graduates 78% of students within six years. About 75 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Drexel University in the most recent year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $67,556 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,838.
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Vanderbilt University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Vanderbilt University awarded about 42 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $77,997 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete this degree.
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University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus placed #12 among the best child development & psychology schools. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 471 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $56,926. Students borrow a median of $24,958 to complete this degree.
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University Of Rochester earned the #13 position for child development & psychology this year. Set in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 157 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Rochester in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of Rochester generally make around $39,732. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Santa Barbara ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. University Of California Santa Barbara awarded about 661 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $34,431 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
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University Of Pennsylvania ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 148 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from University Of Pennsylvania earn around $44,542 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,125.
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Lafayette College placed #16 among 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. There were roughly 60 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Lafayette College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Lafayette College earn around $59,513 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,931 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Davis ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. University Of California Davis graduates 86% of students 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. Students borrow a median of $13,219 to complete this degree.
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Harvard University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. Harvard University awarded about 69 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $41,501 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
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University Of Maryland College Park ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 44 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from University Of Maryland College Park earn around $57,901 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $20,836 in student loans.
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The University Of Tennessee placed #20 among the best child development & psychology schools. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 341 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $49,826. Typical student debt for the program is $22,859.
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Colby College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. Located in the town of Waterville, Colby College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Colby College graduates 89% of students 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. Students borrow a median of $22,016 to complete this degree.
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Trinity College placed #22 among the best child development & psychology schools. Set in the city of Hartford, Trinity College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Trinity College awarded about 52 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $52,927 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,667.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #23 among the best child development & psychology schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 652 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $31,568 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,708.
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University Of Chicago landed the #24 spot for child development & psychology this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 62 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $31,986. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans.
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Duke University landed the #25 spot for child development & psychology this year. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. Roughly 97% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 119 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $39,359 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,125.
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Rest of the Top 50 Child Development & Psychology Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s child development & psychology ranking:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, 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).
