2026 Best Child Development & Psychology Schools in California

1

University Of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA

Leading the list is University Of Southern California, our #1 school for child development & psychology. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. University Of Southern California awarded about 12 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $75,677. Typical student debt for the program is $15,625. See the full child development & psychology program report for University Of Southern California

2

Stanford University
Stanford, CA

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. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. Stanford University awarded about 95 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data 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. Get the full child development & psychology details for Stanford University

3

University Of California Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA

Students looking for a strong child development & psychology program will find one at University Of California Santa Barbara, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates 83% of students within six years. University Of California Santa Barbara awarded about 671 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $34,431 early in their careers. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. See the full child development & psychology program report for University Of California Santa Barbara

4

University Of California Davis
Davis, CA

University Of California Davis came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 875 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at University Of California Davis in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $32,301. Students borrow a median of $13,219 to complete this degree. See the full child development & psychology program report for University Of California Davis

5

San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA

San Francisco State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in child development & psychology, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at San Francisco State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from San Francisco State University earn around $50,955 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,024 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in child development & psychology from San Francisco State University

6

University Of California Irvine
Irvine, CA

University Of California Irvine earned the #6 position for child development & psychology this year. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. University Of California Irvine graduates 87% of students within six years. About 574 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at University Of California Irvine in the most recent year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from University Of California Irvine earn around $29,830 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Irvine graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans. Read more about the child development & psychology program at University Of California Irvine

7

University Of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA

University Of California Los Angeles placed #7 among the best child development & psychology schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 420 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $27,748 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,737 to complete this degree. See the full child development & psychology program report for University Of California Los Angeles

8

University Of California Merced
Merced, CA

University Of California Merced ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. University Of California Merced is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Merced. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 341 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Merced in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of California Merced generally make around $42,071. University Of California Merced graduates carry a median of $18,318 in student loans. Get the full child development & psychology details for University Of California Merced

9

Claremont Mckenna College
Claremont, CA

Claremont Mckenna College earned the #9 position for child development & psychology this year. Claremont Mckenna College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Claremont. Claremont Mckenna College graduates 91% of students within six years. About 20 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Claremont Mckenna College in the most recent year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Claremont Mckenna College earn a median of $66,028 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000. Read more about the child development & psychology program at Claremont Mckenna College

10

University Of California San Diego
La Jolla, CA

University Of California San Diego landed the #10 spot for child development & psychology this year. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. University Of California San Diego graduates 86% of students within six years. University Of California San Diego awarded about 130 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from University Of California San Diego earn around $23,420 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete this degree. Read more about the child development & psychology program at University Of California San Diego

11

University Of California Berkeley
Berkeley, CA

University Of California Berkeley came in at #11 for child development & psychology this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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. See the full child development & psychology program report for University Of California Berkeley

12

Occidental College
Los Angeles, CA

Occidental College landed the #12 spot for child development & psychology this year. Occidental College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. There were roughly 31 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Occidental College in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Occidental College earn a median of $41,514 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,967 to complete this degree. Get the full child development & psychology details for Occidental College

13

Pomona College
Claremont, CA

Pomona College earned the #13 position for child development & psychology this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Claremont. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pomona College awarded about 17 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Pomona College earn around $75,954 in the first couple years of their career. More information about a degree in child development & psychology from Pomona College

14

Scripps College
Claremont, CA

Scripps College earned the #14 position for child development & psychology this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Claremont. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. Scripps College awarded about 29 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. See the full child development & psychology program report for Scripps College

15

Claremont Graduate University
Claremont, CA

Claremont Graduate University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. Located in the suburb of Claremont, Claremont Graduate University is a small private not-for-profit university. About 32 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Claremont Graduate University in the most recent 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. Get the full child development & psychology details for Claremont Graduate University

16

California State University San Bernardino
San Bernardino, CA

California State University San Bernardino placed #16 among the best child development & psychology schools. California State University San Bernardino is a very large public school located in the city of San Bernardino. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University San Bernardino awarded about 11 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of California State University San Bernardino earn a median of $26,697 early in their careers. California State University San Bernardino graduates carry a median of $16,750 in student loans. See the full child development & psychology program report for California State University San Bernardino

17

Alliant International University
San Diego, CA

Alliant International University placed #17 among the best child development & psychology schools. Alliant International University is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. There were roughly 14 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Alliant International University in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Alliant International University earn a median of $123,985 early in their careers. 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

18

Pitzer College
Claremont, CA

Pitzer College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. Located in the suburb of Claremont, Pitzer College is a small private not-for-profit university. 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. See the full child development & psychology program report for Pitzer College

19

The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA

The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At Los Angeles landed the #19 spot for child development & psychology this year. 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. The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At Los Angeles awarded about 71 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At Los Angeles earn a median of $66,047 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $32,107 to complete this degree. Read more about the child development & psychology program at The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At Los Angeles

20

University Of California Riverside
Riverside, CA

University Of California Riverside earned the #20 position for child development & psychology this year. Located in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. There were roughly 613 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Riverside in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $25,654 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete this degree. Get the full child development & psychology details for University Of California Riverside

21

California Institute Of Integral Studies
San Francisco, CA

California Institute Of Integral Studies landed the #21 spot for child development & psychology this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, California Institute Of Integral Studies is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. California Institute Of Integral Studies awarded about 13 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of California Institute Of Integral Studies earn a median of $48,499 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,177. More information about a degree in child development & psychology from California Institute Of Integral Studies

22

Northcentral University
San Diego, CA

Northcentral University came in at #22 for child development & psychology this year. Located in the city of San Diego, Northcentral University is a large private not-for-profit university. Northcentral University awarded about 39 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Northcentral University generally make around $62,828. Typical student debt for the program is $42,500. Read more about the child development & psychology program at Northcentral University