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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Child Development & Psychology Schools in Missouri

5 Colleges in the United States
469 Child Development & Psychology Degrees Awarded
$42,414 Avg Early-Career Salary

Child Development & Psychology programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for child development & psychology students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Child Development & Psychology in Missouri

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

No school ranked higher than University Of Missouri Columbia this year for child development & psychology. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. About 75% of students finish within six years. University Of Missouri Columbia awarded about 15 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from University Of Missouri Columbia earn around $53,134 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,818. More information about a degree in child development & psychology from University Of Missouri Columbia

2

Washington University In St Louis is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in child development & psychology, ranking #2. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. Washington University In St Louis graduates 94% of students within six years. About 190 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $37,377. Students borrow a median of $15,450 to complete this degree. Get the full child development & psychology details for Washington University In St Louis

3

A rank of #3 makes Missouri State University Springfield one of the top schools for child development & psychology. This very large public university is located in the city of Springfield. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Missouri State University Springfield earn around $59,052 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,408. More information about a degree in child development & psychology from Missouri State University Springfield

4

University Of Central Missouri is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in child development & psychology, ranking #4. University Of Central Missouri is a large public school located in the town of Warrensburg. About 54% of students finish within six years. University Of Central Missouri awarded about 45 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of Central Missouri earn a median of $34,822 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,810 to complete this degree. See the full child development & psychology program report for University Of Central Missouri

5

Students looking for a strong child development & psychology program will find one at Northwest Missouri State University, which ranked #5. This large public university is located in the town of Maryville. About 54% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 47 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Northwest Missouri State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Northwest Missouri State University earn around $35,556 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,540 to complete this degree. Get the full child development & psychology details for Northwest Missouri State University

6
Cottey College crest
Cottey College
Nevada, MO

Cottey College earned the #6 position for child development & psychology this year. Located in the town of Nevada, Cottey College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 39% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Cottey College in the most recent data year. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree. See the full child development & psychology program report for Cottey College

7
Park University crest
Park University
Parkville, MO

Park University placed #7 among the best child development & psychology schools. Set in the suburb of Parkville, Park University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Park University graduates 37% of students within six years. There were roughly 126 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Park University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Park University generally make around $40,313. Students borrow a median of $22,660 to complete this degree. Read more about the child development & psychology program at Park University

8

Ozarks Technical Community College placed #8 among the best child development & psychology schools. Set in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public institution. About 14 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Ozarks Technical Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Ozarks Technical Community College generally make around $36,644. Students borrow a median of $15,866 to complete this degree. Read more about the child development & psychology program at Ozarks Technical Community College

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Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 11 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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