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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Child Development & Psychology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

34 Colleges in the United States
4,085 Child Development & Psychology Degrees Awarded
$49,122 Avg Early-Career Salary

Child Development & Psychology programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their child development & psychology programs.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 72 schools to find the best for child development & psychology students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Child Development & Psychology in the Middle Atlantic Region

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.

Top Schools in Child Development & Psychology

1

Pennsylvania State University Main Campus tops our 2026 ranking of the best child development & psychology schools. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. About 42 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year. More information about a degree in child development & psychology from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus

2

Cornell University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in child development & psychology, landing the #2 spot this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. About 95% of students finish within six years. 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. Typical student debt for the program is $15,005. See the full child development & psychology program report for Cornell University

3

Students looking for a strong child development & psychology program will find one at Johns Hopkins University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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. Students borrow a median of $14,507 to complete this degree. Get the full child development & psychology details for Johns Hopkins University

4

A rank of #4 makes University Of Maryland College Park one of the top schools for child development & psychology. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 54 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $57,901. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $20,836 in student loans. More information about a degree in child development & psychology from University Of Maryland College Park

5

A rank of #5 makes University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus one of the top schools for child development & psychology. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish 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. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn around $56,926 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,958 to complete this degree. See the full child development & psychology program report for University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

6
Lafayette College crest
Lafayette College
Easton, PA

Lafayette College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. Set in the suburb of Easton, Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Lafayette College graduates 88% of students 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. Students borrow a median of $16,931 to complete this degree. See the full child development & psychology program report for Lafayette College

7

University Of Rochester ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Rochester. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Rochester awarded about 177 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from University Of Rochester earn around $39,732 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Rochester graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in child development & psychology from University Of Rochester

8
Lehigh University crest
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA

Lehigh University came in at #8 for child development & psychology this year. Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Lehigh University awarded about 31 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Lehigh University earn a median of $70,321 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,008 to complete this degree. See the full child development & psychology program report for Lehigh University

9
Drexel University crest
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA

Drexel University came in at #9 for child development & psychology this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. Drexel University awarded about 100 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Drexel University earn around $67,556 in the first couple years of their career. Drexel University graduates carry a median of $28,838 in student loans. Read more about the child development & psychology program at Drexel University

10
Duquesne University crest
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA

Duquesne University earned the #10 position for child development & psychology this year. Duquesne University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. There were roughly 14 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Duquesne University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $54,826 in their early career. Duquesne University graduates carry a median of $26,297 in student loans. See the full child development & psychology program report for Duquesne University

11

Fordham University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. Located in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 60 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Fordham University in the most recent year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $57,989 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,643 to complete this degree. Read more about the child development & psychology program at Fordham University

12
University Of Pennsylvania crest
University Of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA

University Of Pennsylvania came in at #12 for child development & psychology this year. 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%. There were roughly 165 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $45,674 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,125 to complete this degree. See the full child development & psychology program report for University Of Pennsylvania

13
Barnard College crest
Barnard College
New York, NY

Barnard College landed the #13 spot for child development & psychology this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 99 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Barnard College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Barnard College generally make around $44,055. Barnard College graduates carry a median of $17,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in child development & psychology from Barnard College

14
New York University crest
New York University
New York, NY

New York University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 919 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from New York University generally make around $43,236. Typical student debt for the program is $21,499. Read more about the child development & psychology program at New York University

15
Skidmore College crest
Skidmore College
Saratoga Springs, NY

Skidmore College placed #15 among the best child development & psychology schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. Skidmore College awarded about 83 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Skidmore College generally make around $34,440. Skidmore College graduates carry a median of $18,274 in student loans. Read more about the child development & psychology program at Skidmore College

16

Rutgers University New Brunswick placed #16 among the best child development & psychology schools. This very large public university is located in the city of New Brunswick. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn around $58,402 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,120 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in child development & psychology from Rutgers University New Brunswick

17
Princeton University crest
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ

Princeton University earned the #17 position for child development & psychology this year. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. Princeton University awarded about 57 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Princeton University earn around $47,050 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,888. More information about a degree in child development & psychology from Princeton University

18
Colgate University crest
Colgate University
Hamilton, NY

Colgate University placed #18 among the best child development & psychology schools. Set in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 63 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Colgate University in the most recent year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $41,883 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,000. Read more about the child development & psychology program at Colgate University

19

Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #19 for child development & psychology this year. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates 96% of students within six years. About 142 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Columbia University In The City Of New York earn around $53,156 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree. See the full child development & psychology program report for Columbia University In The City Of New York

20
Hofstra University crest
Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY

Hofstra University came in at #20 for child development & psychology this year. Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hempstead. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Hofstra University in the most recent year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $55,705 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,848. See the full child development & psychology program report for Hofstra University

21
Cuny Hunter College crest
Cuny Hunter College
New York, NY

Cuny Hunter College landed the #21 spot for child development & psychology this year. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 36 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Cuny Hunter College earn around $51,372 in the first couple years of their career. Cuny Hunter College graduates carry a median of $11,091 in student loans. Get the full child development & psychology details for Cuny Hunter College

22
Swarthmore College crest
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA

Swarthmore College came in at #22 for child development & psychology this year. Set in the suburb of Swarthmore, Swarthmore College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Swarthmore College graduates 92% of students within six years. About 23 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Swarthmore College in the most recent year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Swarthmore College earn around $66,971 in the first couple years of their career. Swarthmore College graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in child development & psychology from Swarthmore College

23

Pace University New York ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. Located in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit university. About 60% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 134 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Pace University New York in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Pace University New York earn around $59,662 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,670 to complete this degree. Read more about the child development & psychology program at Pace University New York

24
Haverford College crest
Haverford College
Haverford, PA

Haverford College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. Located in the suburb of Haverford, Haverford College is a small private not-for-profit university. Haverford College graduates 90% of students within six years. Haverford College awarded about 27 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Read more about the child development & psychology program at Haverford College

25

Cuny Graduate School And University Center placed #25 among the best child development & psychology schools. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public institution. Cuny Graduate School And University Center awarded about 40 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $72,222 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,921 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in child development & psychology from Cuny Graduate School And University Center

Rest of the Top 45 Child Development & Psychology Schools

Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong child development & psychology education:

26
27
Villanova University crest
Villanova University
Villanova, PA
28
29
30
31
Temple University crest
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA
32
33
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Gettysburg College
Gettysburg, PA
34
Vassar College crest
Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY
35
Hamilton College crest
Hamilton College
Clinton, NY
36
37
38
St Francis College crest
St Francis College
Brooklyn, NY
39
40
Canisius College crest
Canisius College
Buffalo, NY
41
Niagara University crest
Niagara University
Niagara University, NY
42
Utica College crest
Utica College
Utica, NY
43
44
Centenary College crest
Centenary College
Hackettstown, NJ
45
Union College New York crest
Union College New York
Schenectady, NY

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 72 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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