2027 Best Child Development & Psychology Schools in the The Plains States Region
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 23 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for child development & psychology students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Child Development & Psychology in the The Plains States 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 Missouri Columbia, our #1 school for child development & psychology. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 22 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $53,134 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,818.
More information about a degree in child development & psychology from University Of Missouri Columbia
Washington University In St Louis is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in child development & psychology, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. About 94% of students finish within six years. Washington University In St Louis awarded about 197 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $37,377. Students borrow a median of $15,450 to complete this degree.
See the full child development & psychology program report for Washington University In St Louis
Students looking for a strong child development & psychology program will find one at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities awarded about 153 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $31,027 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,625.
See the full child development & psychology program report for University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Students looking for a strong child development & psychology program will find one at Carleton College, which ranked #4. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Northfield. Carleton College graduates 90% of students within six years. Carleton College awarded about 37 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Carleton College earn a median of $39,238 early in their careers. Carleton College graduates carry a median of $16,700 in student loans.
See the full child development & psychology program report for Carleton College
A rank of #5 makes University Of Kansas one of the top schools for child development & psychology. This very large public university is located in the city of Lawrence. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. University Of Kansas awarded about 85 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of $56,289 early in their careers. University Of Kansas graduates carry a median of $23,608 in student loans.
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Luther College placed #6 among the best child development & psychology schools. Luther College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Decorah. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. Luther College awarded about 18 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Luther College earn around $42,426 in the first couple years of their career. Luther College graduates carry a median of $26,967 in student loans.
See the full child development & psychology program report for Luther College
Fort Hays State University earned the #7 position for child development & psychology this year. This large public university is located in the town of Hays. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. Fort Hays State University awarded about 15 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $49,775 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,967 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in child development & psychology from Fort Hays State University
Missouri State University Springfield came in at #8 for child development & psychology this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Missouri State University Springfield earn around $59,052 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,408.
See the full child development & psychology program report for Missouri State University Springfield
St Olaf College earned the #9 position for child development & psychology this year. Located in the town of Northfield, St Olaf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. St Olaf College graduates 84% of students within six years. About 61 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at St Olaf College in the most recent year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from St Olaf College earn around $35,070 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
See the full child development & psychology program report for St Olaf College
University Of Nebraska At Kearney ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best child development & psychology schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Kearney. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 43 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Nebraska At Kearney in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of Nebraska At Kearney earn a median of $46,744 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,173 to complete this degree.
Read more about the child development & psychology program at University Of Nebraska At Kearney
Kansas State University earned the #11 position for child development & psychology this year. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. About 71% of students finish within six years. Kansas State University awarded about 116 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $36,257 early in their careers. Kansas State University graduates carry a median of $20,035 in student loans.
Read more about the child development & psychology program at Kansas State University
Maryville University Of Saint Louis placed #12 among the best child development & psychology schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. Maryville University Of Saint Louis awarded about 10 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $67,909 in their early career. Maryville University Of Saint Louis graduates carry a median of $24,499 in student loans.
Read more about the child development & psychology program at Maryville University Of Saint Louis
Missouri Southern State University earned the #13 position for child development & psychology this year. Set in the city of Joplin, Missouri Southern State University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 40% of students finish within six years. About 16 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Missouri Southern State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Missouri Southern State University generally make around $39,434. Typical student debt for the program is $22,241.
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Grinnell College earned the #14 position for child development & psychology this year. Located in the town of Grinnell, Grinnell College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 40 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Grinnell College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Grinnell College earn around $28,507 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,702 to complete this degree.
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University Of Central Missouri came in at #15 for child development & psychology this year. Located in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public university. University Of Central Missouri graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 45 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Central Missouri in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of Central Missouri generally make around $34,822. University Of Central Missouri graduates carry a median of $20,810 in student loans.
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Creighton University landed the #16 spot for child development & psychology this year. Set in the city of Omaha, Creighton University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 63 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Creighton University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Creighton University earn around $26,845 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,292 to complete this degree.
See the full child development & psychology program report for Creighton University
Macalester College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best child development & psychology schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Paul. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. About 50 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Macalester College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Macalester College generally make around $38,027. Macalester College graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
See the full child development & psychology program report for Macalester College
Northwest Missouri State University earned the #18 position for child development & psychology this year. Located in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a large public university. Northwest Missouri State University graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 41 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Northwest Missouri State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Northwest Missouri State University earn around $35,556 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,540.
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Capella University placed #19 among the best child development & psychology schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a very large private for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 20%. There were roughly 139 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Capella University in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Capella University earn a median of $45,399 early in their careers. Capella University graduates carry a median of $35,998 in student loans.
More information about a degree in child development & psychology from Capella University
Walden University came in at #20 for child development & psychology this year. This very large private for-profit university is located in the city of Minneapolis. Walden University awarded about 113 child development & psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their child development & psychology degree from Walden University earn around $46,371 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $49,361.
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Park University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best child development & psychology schools. Located in the suburb of Parkville, Park University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 37% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 84 child development & psychology students who graduated with this degree at Park University in the most recent data year. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Park University earn a median of $40,313 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,660.
See the full child development & psychology program report for Park University
Ozarks Technical Community College placed #22 among the best child development & psychology schools. Located in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public university. About 23 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Ozarks Technical Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the child development & psychology program make about $36,644 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,866.
More information about a degree in child development & psychology from Ozarks Technical Community College
Cottey College placed #23 among the best child development & psychology schools. Located in the town of Nevada, Cottey College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. About 11 child development & psychology degrees were awarded at Cottey College in the most recent year. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
Read more about the child development & psychology program at Cottey College
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 23 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.
