by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 63 U.S. colleges awarded 1,864 degrees and certificates in Developmental & Child Psychology. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 62% of graduates. College Factual ranks 30 schools in its 2027 Best Developmental & Child Psychology Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $34,806 one year after completing, rising to $58,844 after four years.
A major in Developmental & Child Psychology explores Developmental And Child Psychology. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of The Unique Stages Of Psychological Growth And Development Of Individuals From Infancy Through Childhood. Includes Instruction In Cognitive And Perceptual Development, Emotional Development, Personality Development, The Effects Of Biological Maturation On Behavior, Theories Of Cognitive Growth And Related Research Methods, Testing And Assessment Methods For Different Age Levels, Research On Child And Adolescent Behavior Therapy, And The Psychology Of Aging. Examples: [Child Psychology], [Lifespan Development].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, developmental & child psychology is a widely-pursued major, with 1,864 degrees awarded annually. 63 colleges award developmental & child psychology degrees, an average of 30 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 231.
By level, the 1,864 awards include 9 certificates, 556 bachelor’s degrees, 1,154 master’s degrees and 145 doctorates.
Women earned 88% of developmental & child psychology degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,631 of 1,864). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (779) and Hispanic or Latino (296), and international students earned 274.
College Factual ranks 30 schools in its 2027 Best Developmental & Child Psychology Schools ranking, including 19 for bachelor’s degrees, 18 for master’s degrees and 4 for doctorates. It also ranks developmental & child psychology schools within 13 states. In all, 63 colleges offer developmental & child psychology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Developmental & Child Psychology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common developmental & child psychology credential is the master’s degree: 1,154 of the 1,864 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to developmental & child psychology call most for Active Listening, Reading Comprehension and Speaking, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Psychology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Expression and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a developmental & child psychology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 9 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 556 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,154 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 145 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to developmental & child psychology, at 42.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 42.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 17.8% |
| Master’s degree | 12.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 10.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 6.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.7% |
| Some college courses | 2.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
10 occupations are related to Developmental & Child Psychology, with an average median salary of $105,653; the strongest outlook belongs to Clinical and Counseling Psychologists, at 14.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Educational Psychology Professor, College Faculty Member, Faculty Member and Teacher.
The occupation related to developmental & child psychology with the most projected jobs is Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary, at 513,614.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 513,614 | -3.0% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | 206,409 | 1.0% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | 107,541 | 10.1% |
Developmental & Child Psychology graduates earn a median $34,806 one year after completing their program, $58,844 after four years and $59,483 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $34,806 |
| 4 years | $58,844 |
| 5 years | $59,483 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to developmental & child psychology is Wind Energy Development Managers, with a median salary of $169,952.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,479 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
Developmental & Child Psychology has 9 similar majors in the Psychology field, which together award 22,639 degrees a year; the largest are Research and Experimental Psychology, Other (14,964), Experimental Psychology (5,021) and Behavioral Neuroscience (1,447). Browse all Psychology majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Research and Experimental Psychology, Other | 14,964 |
| Experimental Psychology | 5,021 |
| Behavioral Neuroscience | 1,447 |
| Social Psychology | 458 |
| Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics | 425 |
| Psychometrics and Quantitative Psychology | 211 |
| Psychopharmacology | 74 |
| Personality Psychology | 23 |
| Comparative Psychology | 16 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
