by our College Data Analytics Team
[Child Development Psychology](/majors/psychology/child-development-psychology/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 83 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying child development psychology schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send child development psychology graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Northwestern University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying child development psychology schools in the United States. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career child development psychology graduates from Northwestern University make a median of around $84,007 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Harvard University earned it the #2 place for child development psychology. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the child development psychology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $102,305.
Columbia University In The City Of New York produces some of the highest-paid graduates in child development psychology, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, child development psychology degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York typically earn about $80,055 annually.
Tufts University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying child development psychology schools. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a private not-for-profit institution. Child Development Psychology graduates of Tufts University earn a median of about $56,504 a year early in their careers.
University Of Chicago produces some of the highest-paid graduates in child development psychology, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Chicago is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students who complete the child development psychology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $84,957.
Smith College landed the #6 spot for child development psychology salaries this year. Located in the city of Northampton, Smith College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, child development psychology degree recipients from Smith College typically earn about $62,558 annually.
University Of Rochester came in at #7 for child development psychology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career child development psychology graduates from University Of Rochester make a median of around $67,923 per year.
Niagara University placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for child development psychology. Set in the suburb of Niagara University, Niagara University is a private not-for-profit institution. Child Development Psychology graduates of Niagara University earn a median of about $49,560 a year early in their careers.
Johns Hopkins University earned the #9 position for child development psychology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career child development psychology graduates from Johns Hopkins University make a median of around $49,035 per year.
Northeastern University earned the #10 position for child development psychology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career child development psychology graduates from Northeastern University make a median of around $64,262 per year.
Northeastern University Global Network came in at #11 for child development psychology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University Global Network is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career child development psychology graduates from Northeastern University Global Network make a median of around $64,262 per year.
University Of California Los Angeles placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for child development psychology. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. Child Development Psychology graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of about $78,384 a year early in their careers.
Yale University landed the #13 spot for child development psychology salaries this year. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the child development psychology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $47,874.
Bates College earned the #14 position for child development psychology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Lewiston, Bates College is a private not-for-profit institution. Child Development Psychology graduates of Bates College earn a median of about $47,376 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Santa Barbara landed the #15 spot for child development psychology salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a public institution. Child Development Psychology graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of about $66,321 a year early in their careers.
Princeton University came in at #16 for child development psychology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, child development psychology degree recipients from Princeton University typically earn about $47,050 annually.
Amherst College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying child development psychology schools. Amherst College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Amherst. After graduating, child development psychology degree recipients from Amherst College typically earn about $45,786 annually.
Lindsey Wilson College earned the #18 position for child development psychology graduate earnings this year. Lindsey Wilson College is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Columbia. Early-career child development psychology graduates from Lindsey Wilson College make a median of around $44,721 per year.
University Of Pennsylvania came in at #19 for child development psychology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, child development psychology degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania typically earn about $44,542 annually.
University Of California Davis placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for child development psychology. University Of California Davis is a public school located in the suburb of Davis. Child Development Psychology graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of about $62,401 a year early in their careers.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #21 spot for child development psychology salaries this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. Students who complete the child development psychology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $63,419.
Barnard College landed the #22 spot for child development psychology salaries this year. Set in the city of New York, Barnard College is a private not-for-profit institution. Child Development Psychology graduates of Barnard College earn a median of about $44,055 a year early in their careers.
The University Of Texas At Dallas placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for child development psychology. The University Of Texas At Dallas is a public school located in the city of Richardson. Students who complete the child development psychology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $55,847.
University Of Delaware earned the #24 position for child development psychology graduate earnings this year. University Of Delaware is a public school located in the suburb of Newark. After graduating, child development psychology degree recipients from University Of Delaware typically earn about $61,576 annually.
University Of Colorado Denver placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for child development psychology. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a public institution. Early-career child development psychology graduates from University Of Colorado Denver make a median of around $55,965 per year.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning child development psychology graduates:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Child Development Psychology rankings across degree levels:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries child development psychology graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 83 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.