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2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California

29 Ranked Colleges
4,035 Degrees Awarded
$36,300 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California” ranking.

In 2020-2021, 17,542 people earned their degree in child development and psychology, making the major the 57th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, child development and psychology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $34,186 and had an average of $22,623 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 4,035 child development and psychology graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,767 and $17,012 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California” ranking analyzed 29 colleges that offered a degree in child development and psychology. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their child development and psychology program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California”.

Top 29 Most Focused Colleges for Child Development & Psychology in California

1
Pitzer crest
Pitzer College
Claremont, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Pitzer College. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California. Pitzer College is located in Claremont, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 27 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Pitzer Child Development & Psychology Report

2
Scripps crest
Scripps College
Claremont, California

Out of the 29 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Scripps College landed the #2 spot on the list. This small school is located in Claremont, California, and it awarded 32 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Child Development & Psychology at Scripps College

3
Claremont McKenna crest
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, California

Out of the 29 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Claremont McKenna College landed the #3 spot on the list. Claremont McKenna is a private not-for-profit institution located in Claremont, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 38 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Child Development & Psychology at Claremont McKenna College

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Riverside. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California list. University of California - Riverside is located in Riverside, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 624 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Child Development & Psychology at UCR

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Santa Barbara. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California. Santa Barbara, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s child development degrees to 578 students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Child Development & Psychology at University of California - Santa Barbara

6

University of California - Davis landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California ranking. Davis, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s child development degrees to 879 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of California - Davis Child Development & Psychology Report

7

University of California - Irvine landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California ranking. University of California - Irvine is a large public school situated in Irvine, California. It awarded 800 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Child Development & Psychology at UC Irvine

8
Pomona crest
Pomona College
Claremont, California

Pomona College landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California ranking. Pomona is a private not-for-profit institution located in Claremont, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 19 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Child Development & Psychology at Pomona

9

University of California - Los Angeles ranked #9 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California list. UCLA is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 432 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Child Development & Psychology at University of California - Los Angeles

10

With a ranking of #10, University of California - Berkeley did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California list. UC Berkeley is located in Berkeley, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 326 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Child Development & Psychology at University of California - Berkeley

11
Northcentral University crest
Northcentral University
San Diego, California

Northcentral University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California ranking. Northcentral University is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 38 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Child Development & Psychology at Northcentral University

12

California Institute of Integral Studies did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California ranking, coming in at #12. San Francisco, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s child development degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Child Development & Psychology at California Institute of Integral Studies

13
Stanford crest
Stanford University
Stanford, California

Stanford University ranked #13 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California list. Stanford University is located in Stanford, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 63 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Child Development & Psychology at Stanford

14
Mills crest
Mills College
Oakland, California

Mills College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California ranking, coming in at #14. This small school is located in Oakland, California, and it awarded 3 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Child Development & Psychology at Mills College

15
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Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, California

Mount Saint Mary’s University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California ranking. Mount Saint Mary’s University is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full MSMU Child Development & Psychology Report

16

University of California - San Diego did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California ranking, coming in at #16. La Jolla, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s child development degrees to 85 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Child Development & Psychology at University of California - San Diego

17

Saint Mary’s College of California came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California ranking. Moraga, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s child development degrees to 9 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Child Development & Psychology at Saint Mary’s College of California

18
Alliant crest
Alliant International University
San Diego, California

Alliant International University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California ranking, coming in at #18. Alliant International University is a small school located in San Diego, California that handed out 6 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Alliant Child Development & Psychology Report

19
Azusa Pacific crest
Azusa Pacific University
Azusa, California

Azusa Pacific University ranked #19 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California list. Azusa Pacific is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Azusa, California. It awarded 3 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Child Development & Psychology at Azusa Pacific University

20

California State University - San Bernardino did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California ranking, coming in at #20. Located in San Bernardino, California, this fairly large public school awarded 3 degrees to qualified ’s child development students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Child Development & Psychology at CSUSB

21
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

University of Southern California did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California ranking, coming in at #21. University of Southern California is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 9 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read more about Child Development & Psychology at USC

22

California State University - Northridge landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California ranking. Northridge, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s child development degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Child Development & Psychology at CSUN

23
Chapman crest
Chapman University
Orange, California

With a ranking of #23, Chapman University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California list. Chapman is a medium-sized school located in Orange, California that handed out 1 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Child Development & Psychology at Chapman University

24
Brandman crest
Brandman University
Irvine, California

Brandman University landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California ranking. Irvine, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s child development degrees to 1 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Brandman Child Development & Psychology Report

25
Loma Linda University crest
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda, California

Loma Linda University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California ranking. Loma Linda University is located in Loma Linda, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 0 ’s child development degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Child Development & Psychology at Loma Linda University

25

University of California - Santa Cruz came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California ranking. This fairly large school is located in Santa Cruz, California, and it awarded 0 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Child Development & Psychology at University of California - Santa Cruz

25
Meridian University crest
Meridian University
Petaluma, California

Meridian University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California ranking, coming in at #25. Meridian University is a small private for-profit school situated in Petaluma, California. It awarded 0 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Child Development & Psychology at Meridian University

25
La Sierra crest
La Sierra University
Riverside, California

La Sierra University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California ranking, coming in at #25. This small school is located in Riverside, California, and it awarded 0 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Child Development & Psychology at La Sierra University

25
HNU crest
Holy Names University
Oakland, California

Holy Names University ranked #25 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Child Development Major in California list. This small school is located in Oakland, California, and it awarded 0 ’s child development degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Child Development & Psychology at Holy Names University

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