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.
College Factual analyzed 11 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.
Leading the list is Harvard University, our #1 for child development psychology graduate salaries in Massachusetts. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career child development psychology graduates from Harvard University make a median of around $102,305 per year.
Tufts University came in at #2 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. Students who complete the child development psychology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,504.
A rank of #3 makes Smith College one of the highest-paying schools for child development psychology. Set in the city of Northampton, Smith 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 $62,558.
Strong graduate earnings at Northeastern University earned it the #4 place for child development psychology. Northeastern University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Child Development Psychology graduates of Northeastern University earn a median of about $64,262 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Northeastern University Global Network earned it the #5 place for child development psychology. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University Global Network is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the child development psychology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $64,262.
Amherst College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying child development psychology schools. Located in the city of Amherst, Amherst College is a private not-for-profit institution. Child Development Psychology graduates of Amherst College earn a median of about $45,786 a year early in their careers.
Brandeis University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying child development psychology schools. Located in the city of Waltham, Brandeis 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 $37,494.
Emmanuel College Massachusetts ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying child development psychology schools. Set in the city of Boston, Emmanuel College Massachusetts is a private not-for-profit institution. Child Development Psychology graduates of Emmanuel College Massachusetts earn a median of about $36,603 a year early in their careers.
Wellesley College landed the #9 spot for child development psychology salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career child development psychology graduates from Wellesley College make a median of around $36,283 per year.
Mount Holyoke College earned the #10 position for child development psychology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of South Hadley, Mount Holyoke College is a private not-for-profit institution. Child Development Psychology graduates of Mount Holyoke College earn a median of about $32,439 a year early in their careers.
Bay Path College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying child development psychology schools. Set in the suburb of Longmeadow, Bay Path 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 $23,898.
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 · 11 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.