Child Development & Psychology is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 204 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for child development & psychology students pursuing a degree.
Choosing a Great Child Development & Psychology School
Where you study child development & psychology matters for your future. To help, we created our Best Child Development & Psychology Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Child Development & Psychology School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Child Development & Psychology Rankings by Degree Level
We offer several rankings, including this Best Child Development & Psychology Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Best Schools for Child Development & Psychology in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the child development & psychology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Ohio State University Main Campus, our #1 school for child development & psychology. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. About 88% of students finish within six years. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 641 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $91,275 in their early career. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $22,053 in student loans.
See the full child development & psychology program report for Ohio State University Main Campus
A rank of #2 makes University Of Southern California one of the top schools for child development & psychology. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 22 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from University Of Southern California earn around $75,677 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans.
Read more about the child development & psychology program at University Of Southern California
Northwestern University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in child development & psychology, landing the #3 spot this year. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 47 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $78,551 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
More information about a degree in child development & psychology from Northwestern University
Rutgers University New Brunswick is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in child development & psychology, landing the #4 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of New Brunswick. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Rutgers University New Brunswick awarded about 17 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick generally make around $58,402. Students borrow a median of $25,120 to complete this degree.
Get the full child development & psychology details for Rutgers University New Brunswick
Stanford University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in child development & psychology, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 84 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
More information about a degree in child development & psychology from Stanford University
Cornell University landed the #6 spot for child development & psychology this year. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 110 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $75,976. Typical student debt for the program is $15,005.
Read more about the child development & psychology program at Cornell University
Boston College landed the #7 spot for child development & psychology this year. Set in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 123 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Boston College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Boston College generally make around $66,132. Typical student debt for the program is $18,101.
Get the full child development & psychology details for Boston College
Tufts University came in at #8 for child development & psychology this year. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 99 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Tufts University in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Tufts University earn a median of $56,504 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,875 to complete this degree.
Read more about the child development & psychology program at Tufts University
Texas A And M University College Station placed #9 among the best child development & psychology schools. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. Texas A And M University College Station graduates 84% of students within six years. Texas A And M University College Station awarded about 71 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $64,891 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,031 to complete this degree.
Get the full child development & psychology details for Texas A And M University College Station
Vanderbilt University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best child development & psychology schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Vanderbilt University awarded about 69 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Vanderbilt University earn around $77,997 in the first couple years of their career. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans.
More information about a degree in child development & psychology from Vanderbilt University
Dartmouth College earned the #11 position for child development & psychology this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Hanover. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 56 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Dartmouth College in the most recent year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Dartmouth College earn around $42,947 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,194.
See the full child development & psychology program report for Dartmouth College
Bates College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best child development & psychology schools. Bates College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lewiston. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 53 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Bates College in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Bates College earn a median of $47,376 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,750.
More information about a degree in child development & psychology from Bates College
Johns Hopkins University landed the #13 spot for child development & psychology this year. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. About 94% of students finish within six years. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 154 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $49,035 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,507 to complete this degree.
See the full child development & psychology program report for Johns Hopkins University
University Of Maryland College Park placed #14 among the best child development & psychology schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of College Park. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 70 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $57,901 in their early career. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $20,836 in student loans.
More information about a degree in child development & psychology from University Of Maryland College Park
Lafayette College came in at #15 for child development & psychology this year. Located in the suburb of Easton, Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Lafayette College graduates 88% of students within six years. There were roughly 62 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Lafayette College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Lafayette College earn around $59,513 in the first couple years of their career. Lafayette College graduates carry a median of $16,931 in student loans.
Read more about the child development & psychology program at Lafayette College
University Of California Santa Barbara ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best child development & psychology schools. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 780 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $34,431 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in child development & psychology from University Of California Santa Barbara
University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best child development & psychology schools. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 22 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $53,134 early in their careers. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates carry a median of $21,818 in student loans.
See the full child development & psychology program report for University Of Missouri Columbia
University Of Notre Dame landed the #18 spot for child development & psychology this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Notre Dame. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Notre Dame awarded about 20 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of Notre Dame generally make around $69,494. Students borrow a median of $19,891 to complete this degree.
Read more about the child development & psychology program at University Of Notre Dame
San Diego State University came in at #19 for child development & psychology this year. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at San Diego State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from San Diego State University earn around $51,162 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,417 to complete this degree.
Read more about the child development & psychology program at San Diego State University
Lehigh University came in at #20 for child development & psychology this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bethlehem. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Lehigh University awarded about 35 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Lehigh University earn around $70,321 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,008 to complete this degree.
Get the full child development & psychology details for Lehigh University
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #21 for child development & psychology this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 569 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $56,926. Students borrow a median of $24,958 to complete this degree.
See the full child development & psychology program report for University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Arizona State University landed the #22 spot for child development & psychology this year. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 16 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Arizona State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $55,876 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,842 to complete this degree.
Read more about the child development & psychology program at Arizona State University
University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #23 spot for child development & psychology this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 47 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $59,877. Typical student debt for the program is $21,813.
See the full child development & psychology program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison
University Of Rochester earned the #24 position for child development & psychology this year. Set in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 206 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at University Of Rochester in the most recent year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of Rochester earn a median of $39,732 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete this degree.
See the full child development & psychology program report for University Of Rochester
Harvard University came in at #25 for child development & psychology this year. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. There were roughly 124 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $41,501 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
See the full child development & psychology program report for Harvard University
Rest of the Top 50 Child Development & Psychology Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong child development & psychology education:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 204 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
