by our College Data Analytics Team
[Child Development Psychology](/majors/psychology/child-development-psychology/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 9 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying child development psychology schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose child development psychology graduates go on to earn the most.
Northwestern University earned the #1 spot for highest-paid child development psychology graduates in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, child development psychology degree recipients from Northwestern University typically earn about $84,007 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in child development psychology will find them at University Of Chicago, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career child development psychology graduates from University Of Chicago make a median of around $84,957 per year.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying child development psychology schools. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. Child Development Psychology graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $64,219 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in child development psychology will find them at Purdue University Main Campus, which ranked #4. Purdue University Main Campus is a public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Students who complete the child development psychology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $49,575.
Strong graduate earnings at Denison University earned it the #5 place for child development psychology. Set in the suburb of Granville, Denison University is a private not-for-profit institution. Child Development Psychology graduates of Denison University earn a median of about $36,909 a year early in their careers.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying child development psychology schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. After graduating, child development psychology degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign typically earn about $33,384 annually.
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for child development psychology. Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a public school located in the city of Fort Wayne. Early-career child development psychology graduates from Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne make a median of around $32,031 per year.
Indiana University Bloomington landed the #8 spot for child development psychology salaries this year. Indiana University Bloomington is a public school located in the city of Bloomington. Early-career child development psychology graduates from Indiana University Bloomington make a median of around $31,129 per year.
Albion College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying child development psychology schools. Albion College is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Albion. After graduating, child development psychology degree recipients from Albion College typically earn about $23,906 annually.
The ranking above is published 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 · 9 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.