2026 Best Child Development & Psychology Schools in the Far Western Region
Child Development & Psychology degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their child development & psychology programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 45 schools to find the best for child development & psychology students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Child Development & Psychology in the Far Western Region
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.
Top Schools in Child Development & Psychology
Leading the list is University Of Southern California, our #1 school 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 12 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $75,677 in their early 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
Students looking for a strong child development & psychology program will find one at Stanford University, which ranked #2. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 95 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Stanford University earn around $100,827 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
See the full child development & psychology program report for Stanford University
University Of California Santa Barbara is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in child development & psychology, ranking #3. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. University Of California Santa Barbara awarded about 671 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $34,431 in their early career. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in child development & psychology from University Of California Santa Barbara
Students looking for a strong child development & psychology program will find one at University Of California Davis, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Davis awarded about 875 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from University Of California Davis earn around $32,301 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $13,219 in student loans.
See the full child development & psychology program report for University Of California Davis
University Of Oregon is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in child development & psychology, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a very large public university. About 72% of students finish within six years. University Of Oregon awarded about 387 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of Oregon earn a median of $44,628 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,034 to complete this degree.
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San Francisco State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at San Francisco State University in the most recent year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $50,955 early in their careers. San Francisco State University graduates carry a median of $17,024 in student loans.
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University Of California Irvine ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. About 574 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at University Of California Irvine in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $29,830. University Of California Irvine graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans.
See the full child development & psychology program report for University Of California Irvine
University Of California Los Angeles ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. About 420 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $27,748 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,737.
More information about a degree in child development & psychology from University Of California Los Angeles
University Of California Merced ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. Set in the suburb of Merced, University Of California Merced is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 341 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at University Of California Merced in the most recent year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of California Merced earn a median of $42,071 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,318.
More information about a degree in child development & psychology from University Of California Merced
Claremont Mckenna College came in at #10 for child development & psychology this year. Located in the suburb of Claremont, Claremont Mckenna College is a small private not-for-profit university. Claremont Mckenna College graduates 91% of students within six years. There were roughly 20 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Claremont Mckenna College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $66,028 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
See the full child development & psychology program report for Claremont Mckenna College
University Of California San Diego came in at #11 for child development & psychology this year. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. University Of California San Diego graduates 86% of students within six years. About 130 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $23,420 early in their careers. University Of California San Diego graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned the #12 position for child development & psychology this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 475 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $34,715. Typical student debt for the program is $15,754.
More information about a degree in child development & psychology from University Of Washington Seattle Campus
University Of California Berkeley landed the #13 spot for child development & psychology this year. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 322 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $34,450 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,111 to complete this degree.
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Whitman College came in at #14 for child development & psychology this year. Whitman College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Walla Walla. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 34 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Whitman College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Whitman College generally make around $32,345. Students borrow a median of $17,518 to complete this degree.
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Occidental College placed #15 among the best child development & psychology schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 81% of students finish within six years. Occidental College awarded about 31 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Occidental College earn around $41,514 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,967.
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Pomona College earned the #16 position for child development & psychology this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Claremont. Pomona College graduates 93% of students within six years. About 17 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Pomona College in the most recent year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Pomona College earn around $75,954 in the first couple years of their career.
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Scripps College earned the #17 position for child development & psychology this year. Located in the suburb of Claremont, Scripps College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 29 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Scripps College in the most recent year.
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Claremont Graduate University came in at #18 for child development & psychology this year. Set in the suburb of Claremont, Claremont Graduate University is a small private not-for-profit institution. There were roughly 32 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Claremont Graduate University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Claremont Graduate University earn around $68,239 in the first couple years of their career.
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Western Washington University came in at #19 for child development & psychology this year. This large public university is located in the city of Bellingham. Western Washington University graduates 65% of students within six years. Western Washington University awarded about 13 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Western Washington University generally make around $41,118. Western Washington University graduates carry a median of $20,361 in student loans.
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California State University San Bernardino placed #20 among the best child development & psychology schools. Located in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public university. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at California State University San Bernardino in the most recent year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of California State University San Bernardino earn a median of $26,697 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,750.
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University Of Nevada Reno placed #21 among the best child development & psychology schools. University Of Nevada Reno is a very large public school located in the city of Reno. University Of Nevada Reno graduates 61% of students within six years. There were roughly 96 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Nevada Reno in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of Nevada Reno earn a median of $69,459 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,918.
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Reed College came in at #22 for child development & psychology this year. Located in the city of Portland, Reed College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 72% of students finish within six years. Reed College awarded about 24 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Reed College generally make around $30,588. Students borrow a median of $21,137 to complete this degree.
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Alliant International University placed #23 among the best child development & psychology schools. Set in the city of San Diego, Alliant International University is a moderately-sized private for-profit institution. Alliant International University awarded about 14 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Alliant International University earn around $123,985 in the first couple years of their career. Alliant International University graduates carry a median of $21,234 in student loans.
More information about a degree in child development & psychology from Alliant International University
Pitzer College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. Set in the suburb of Claremont, Pitzer College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Pitzer College graduates 83% of students within six years. Pitzer College awarded about 22 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Pitzer College earn around $40,668 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,125.
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The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At Los Angeles ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At Los Angeles is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. There were roughly 71 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $66,047 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $32,107.
Read more about the child development & psychology program at The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At Los Angeles
Rest of the Top 30 Child Development & Psychology Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s child development & psychology ranking:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 45 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.