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.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find where child development psychology graduates earn the most.
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If you want to know which schools send child development psychology graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Columbia University In The City Of New York tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying child development psychology schools in New York. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Early-career child development psychology graduates from Columbia University In The City Of New York make a median of around $80,055 per year.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Rochester one of the highest-paying schools for child development psychology. Located in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a private not-for-profit institution. Child Development Psychology graduates of University Of Rochester earn a median of about $67,923 a year early in their careers.
Niagara University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in child development psychology, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Niagara University, Niagara 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 $49,560.
Teachers College At Columbia University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying child development psychology schools. Teachers College At Columbia 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 $117,437.
A rank of #5 makes Barnard College one of the highest-paying schools for child development psychology. Barnard College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. After graduating, child development psychology degree recipients from Barnard College typically earn about $44,055 annually.
Colgate University earned the #6 position for child development psychology graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career child development psychology graduates from Colgate University make a median of around $41,883 per year.
Hamilton College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying child development psychology schools. Located in the suburb of Clinton, Hamilton College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, child development psychology degree recipients from Hamilton College typically earn about $39,880 annually.
New York University came in at #8 for child development psychology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of New York, New York 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 $74,754.
Fordham University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying child development psychology schools. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham 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 $57,989.
Canisius College placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for child development psychology. Set in the city of Buffalo, Canisius College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career child development psychology graduates from Canisius College make a median of around $54,352 per year.
Utica College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying child development psychology schools. Utica College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Utica. Students who complete the child development psychology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $43,934.
Vassar College landed the #12 spot for child development psychology salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Vassar College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career child development psychology graduates from Vassar College make a median of around $34,361 per year.
Union College New York earned the #13 position for child development psychology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Schenectady, Union College New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career child development psychology graduates from Union College New York make a median of around $30,061 per year.
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 · 13 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.