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. The highest-paying schools turn a child development psychology degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 22 schools on the early-career earnings of their child development psychology graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose child development psychology graduates go on to earn the most.
Columbia University In The City Of New York tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying child development psychology schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Child Development Psychology graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of about $80,055 a year early in their careers.
University Of Rochester came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying child development psychology schools. University Of Rochester is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rochester. Students who complete the child development psychology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $67,923.
A rank of #3 makes Niagara University one of the highest-paying schools for child development psychology. Located in the suburb of Niagara University, Niagara University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, child development psychology degree recipients from Niagara University typically earn about $49,560 annually.
Johns Hopkins University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying child development psychology schools. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, child development psychology degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University typically earn about $49,035 annually.
A rank of #5 makes Teachers College At Columbia University one of the highest-paying schools for child development psychology. Located in the city of New York, Teachers College At Columbia University is a private not-for-profit institution. Child Development Psychology graduates of Teachers College At Columbia University earn a median of about $117,437 a year early in their careers.
Princeton University earned the #6 position for child development psychology graduate earnings this year. Princeton University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Princeton. Early-career child development psychology graduates from Princeton University make a median of around $47,050 per year.
Barnard College earned the #7 position for child development psychology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of New York, Barnard College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the child development psychology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $44,055.
University Of Delaware earned the #8 position for child development psychology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a public institution. After graduating, child development psychology degree recipients from University Of Delaware typically earn about $61,576 annually.
Colgate University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying child development psychology schools. Colgate University is a private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Hamilton. After graduating, child development psychology degree recipients from Colgate University typically earn about $41,883 annually.
Gettysburg College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying child development psychology schools. Set in the town of Gettysburg, Gettysburg College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the child development psychology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $41,599.
Mount St Marys University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying child development psychology schools. Set in the rural area of Emmitsburg, Mount St Marys University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career child development psychology graduates from Mount St Marys University make a median of around $49,357 per year.
Hamilton College earned the #12 position for child development psychology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Clinton, Hamilton College is a private not-for-profit institution. Child Development Psychology graduates of Hamilton College earn a median of about $39,880 a year early in their careers.
New York University landed the #13 spot for child development psychology salaries this year. New York University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Students who complete the child development psychology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $74,754.
Fordham University came in at #14 for child development psychology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a private not-for-profit institution. Child Development Psychology graduates of Fordham University earn a median of about $57,989 a year early in their careers.
Canisius College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying child development psychology schools. Set in the city of Buffalo, Canisius College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, child development psychology degree recipients from Canisius College typically earn about $54,352 annually.
University Of Pennsylvania landed the #16 spot for child development psychology salaries 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 $45,900 annually.
Villanova University landed the #17 spot for child development psychology salaries this year. Villanova University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Villanova. After graduating, child development psychology degree recipients from Villanova University typically earn about $39,218 annually.
George Washington University placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for child development psychology. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career child development psychology graduates from George Washington University make a median of around $37,906 per year.
Utica College placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for child development psychology. Set in the city of Utica, Utica College is a private not-for-profit institution. Child Development Psychology graduates of Utica College earn a median of about $43,934 a year early in their careers.
Vassar College came in at #20 for child development psychology graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Vassar College is a private not-for-profit institution. Child Development Psychology graduates of Vassar College earn a median of about $34,361 a year early in their careers.
Union College New York landed the #21 spot for child development psychology salaries this year. Union College New York is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Schenectady. Students who complete the child development psychology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $30,061.
Centenary College placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for child development psychology. Set in the suburb of Hackettstown, Centenary College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, child development psychology degree recipients from Centenary College typically earn about $27,933 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 · 22 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.