2026 Best Child Development & Psychology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Child Development & Psychology degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 47 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best child development & psychology schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Child Development & Psychology in the Great Lakes 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 Ohio State University Main Campus, our #1 school for child development & psychology. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 723 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $91,275 in the first couple years of their 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 Northwestern University one of the top schools for child development & psychology. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northwestern University awarded about 42 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $78,551 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in child development & psychology, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 29 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $59,877 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong child development & psychology program will find one at University Of Chicago, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Chicago awarded about 89 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $31,986 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in child development & psychology, landing the #5 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 708 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $52,349 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,708.
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Purdue University Main Campus placed #6 among the best child development & psychology schools. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 401 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $31,172 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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Depaul University placed #7 among the best child development & psychology schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 16 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Depaul University in the most recent year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Depaul University earn around $55,226 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,310.
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University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee landed the #8 spot for child development & psychology this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 257 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn a median of $46,561 early in their careers. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee graduates carry a median of $26,657 in student loans.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #9 among the best child development & psychology schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. About 645 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $33,384. Students borrow a median of $20,050 to complete this degree.
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Illinois Institute Of Technology ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Illinois Institute Of Technology awarded about 16 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $71,315 in their early career. Illinois Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $26,774 in student loans.
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The College Of Wooster ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. Located in the town of Wooster, The College Of Wooster is a small private not-for-profit university. The College Of Wooster graduates 74% of students within six years. The College Of Wooster awarded about 32 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $32,382 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,936.
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University Of Toledo placed #12 among the best child development & psychology schools. Located in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public university. About 58% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 78 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Toledo in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of Toledo generally make around $52,675. University Of Toledo graduates carry a median of $24,923 in student loans.
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Baldwin Wallace College landed the #13 spot for child development & psychology this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Berea. About 67% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 36 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Baldwin Wallace College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $46,668 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,307.
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Denison University came in at #14 for child development & psychology this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Granville. About 79% of students finish within six years. Denison University awarded about 36 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Denison University earn a median of $36,909 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,645.
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Indiana University Bloomington landed the #15 spot for child development & psychology this year. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 346 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $31,129. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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Lake Forest College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. Lake Forest College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lake Forest. About 78% of students finish within six years. Lake Forest College awarded about 37 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $41,168 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,839.
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Ohio State University Newark Campus ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. Ohio State University Newark Campus is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Newark. Roughly 3% of students complete a degree within six years here. Ohio State University Newark Campus awarded about 17 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Ohio State University Newark Campus earn a median of $45,282 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,401 to complete this degree.
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Ball State University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public university. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. Ball State University awarded about 38 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $47,863 early in their careers. Ball State University graduates carry a median of $24,518 in student loans.
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Wabash College earned the #19 position for child development & psychology this year. Wabash College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Crawfordsville. Wabash College graduates 77% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Wabash College in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Wabash College earn a median of $40,138 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Ohio State University Marion Campus placed #20 among the best child development & psychology schools. Ohio State University Marion Campus is a small public school located in the town of Marion. The six-year graduation rate is 11%. Ohio State University Marion Campus awarded about 14 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Ohio State University Marion Campus earn a median of $34,786 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,201 to complete this degree.
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Ohio State University Mansfield Campus landed the #21 spot for child development & psychology this year. Set in the rural area of Mansfield, Ohio State University Mansfield Campus is a small public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 6%. There were roughly 13 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Mansfield Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $39,030 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,011 to complete this degree.
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Ohio State University Lima Campus ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best child development & psychology schools. Located in the rural area of Lima, Ohio State University Lima Campus is a small public university. Ohio State University Lima Campus graduates 14% of students within six years. About 14 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Lima Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $34,153 in their early career. Ohio State University Lima Campus graduates carry a median of $22,414 in student loans.
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Kent State University At Kent placed #23 among the best child development & psychology schools. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. About 12 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Kent State University At Kent in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $44,776. Typical student debt for the program is $25,174.
More information about a degree in child development & psychology from Kent State University At Kent
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne came in at #24 for child development & psychology this year. Set in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 36%. There were roughly 69 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne earn around $32,031 in the first couple years of their career. Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne graduates carry a median of $20,487 in student loans.
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Knox College landed the #25 spot for child development & psychology this year. Located in the town of Galesburg, Knox College is a small private not-for-profit university. Knox College graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Knox College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Knox College earn around $27,822 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 29 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 · 47 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.