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2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major

266 Ranked Colleges
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Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Child Development & Psychology is the 57th most popular major in the country with 19,646 degrees awarded in 2021-2022. In , child development & psychology graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $34,037 and had an average of $23,167 in loans still to pay off.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major” ranking analyzed 266 colleges that offered a degree in child development & psychology. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in child development & psychology.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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The child development school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major

The colleges and universities below are the best for child development students.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Child Development & Psychology

1
Bates crest
Bates College
Lewiston, Maine

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Bates College. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major. Bates is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lewiston, Maine. It awarded 83 ’s child development degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.

Read more about Child Development & Psychology at Bates College

2
Pitzer crest
Pitzer College
Claremont, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Pitzer College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major list. Pitzer is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Claremont, California. It awarded 24 ’s child development degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Child Development & Psychology at Pitzer College

3
Whitman crest
Whitman College
Walla Walla, Washington

Out of the 266 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Whitman College landed the #3 spot on the list. Whitman College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Walla Walla, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 34 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Full Whitman Child Development & Psychology Report

4
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Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lake Forest College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major list. This small school is located in Lake Forest, Illinois, and it awarded 41 ’s child development degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Child Development & Psychology at Lake Forest College

5
Scripps crest
Scripps College
Claremont, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Scripps College. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major. Scripps College is located in Claremont, California and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 19 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Child Development & Psychology at Scripps College

6
Cottey College crest
Cottey College
Nevada, Missouri

Cottey College ranked #6 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major list. Nevada, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s child development degrees to 9 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Child Development & Psychology at Cottey College

7
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Park University
Parkville, Missouri

With a ranking of #7, Park University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major list. Parkville, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s child development degrees to 206 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Child Development & Psychology at Park University

8
Mt. Holyoke crest
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, Massachusetts

Mount Holyoke College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major ranking. Mount Holyoke College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in South Hadley, Massachusetts. It awarded 83 ’s child development degrees in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Child Development & Psychology at Mt. Holyoke

9
Barnard crest
Barnard College
New York, New York

Barnard College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major ranking, coming in at #9. Barnard is a small private not-for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 76 ’s child development degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Barnard College Child Development & Psychology Report

10
Claremont McKenna crest
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, California

Claremont McKenna College landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major ranking. Claremont, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s child development degrees to 29 students in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 98%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Child Development & Psychology at Claremont McKenna College

11

University of California - Riverside came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major ranking. University of California - Riverside is a large school located in Riverside, California that handed out 602 ’s child development degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Child Development & Psychology at UCR

12
Montclair State crest
Montclair State University
Montclair, New Jersey

Montclair State University ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major list. Montclair State University is a public institution located in Montclair, New Jersey. The school has a large population, and it awarded 511 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Child Development & Psychology at Montclair State University

13
Wellesley crest
Wellesley College
Wellesley, Massachusetts

Wellesley College landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major ranking. Wellesley College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Wellesley, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 38 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Child Development & Psychology at Wellesley College

14
Amherst crest
Amherst College
Amherst, Massachusetts

Amherst College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major ranking. Amherst College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Amherst, Massachusetts. It awarded 61 ’s child development degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 98%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Amherst Child Development & Psychology Report

15
UNF crest
University of North Florida
Jacksonville, Florida

University of North Florida landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major ranking. UNF is a fairly large public school situated in Jacksonville, Florida. It awarded 318 ’s child development degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Child Development & Psychology at UNF

16
St. Olaf crest
St Olaf College
Northfield, Minnesota

St Olaf College ranked #16 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major list. Northfield, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s child development degrees to 75 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read full report on Child Development & Psychology at St. Olaf

17

University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major ranking, coming in at #17. University of California - Santa Barbara is a public institution located in Santa Barbara, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 634 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Child Development & Psychology at UCSB

18

With a ranking of #18, University of California - Davis did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major list. University of California - Davis is a public institution located in Davis, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 924 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read more about Child Development & Psychology at University of California - Davis

19

Northeastern State University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major ranking. Tahlequah, Oklahoma is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s child development degrees to 149 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Child Development & Psychology at Northeastern State University

20
Union College crest
Union College New York
Schenectady, New York

Union College New York landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major ranking. Union College New York is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Schenectady, New York. It awarded 44 ’s child development degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Union College Child Development & Psychology Report

21
Wabash crest
Wabash College
Crawfordsville, Indiana

Wabash College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major ranking. Wabash is a private not-for-profit institution located in Crawfordsville, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 15 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Child Development & Psychology at Wabash

22
Luther crest
Luther College
Decorah, Iowa

Luther College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major ranking, coming in at #22. This small school is located in Decorah, Iowa, and it awarded 30 ’s child development degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Child Development & Psychology at Luther College

23
Albion crest
Albion College
Albion, Michigan

Albion College ranked #23 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major list. Albion, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s child development degrees to 38 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Albion Child Development & Psychology Report

24
Carleton crest
Carleton College
Northfield, Minnesota

With a ranking of #24, Carleton College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major list. Carleton College is located in Northfield, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 43 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Carleton College Child Development & Psychology Report

25
Vassar crest
Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, New York

With a ranking of #25, Vassar College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major list. Vassar College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Poughkeepsie, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 53 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Child Development & Psychology at Vassar

Rest of the Best 40 in Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major

Not only did these schools make the top 40 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
27
28
Hamilton crest
Hamilton College
Clinton, NY
29
Gordon College crest
Gordon College
Wenham, MA
30
Centre College of Kentucky crest
Centre College
Danville, KY
31
Trinity U crest
Trinity University
San Antonio, TX
32
Smith crest
Smith College
Northampton, MA
33
Grinnell crest
Grinnell College
Grinnell, IA
34
Knox crest
Knox College
Galesburg, IL
35
36
Colgate crest
Colgate University
Hamilton, NY
37
Macalester crest
Macalester College
Saint Paul, MN
38
Denison crest
Denison University
Granville, OH
39
40

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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