Complete Guide to Earning a Child and Adolescent Psychology Degree

Child psychology is a specialized branch of psychological science concerned with the growth, behavior, and mental health of children and adolescents. It overlaps with developmental psychology, which studies the ways in which people change as they move through life.

The path to many child development careers begins with a child psychology degree, which colleges offer at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. This page outlines the most important things to know as you search for a program.

To choose the right child psychology degree, you’ll need to consider a lot of competing factors. A systematic approach can make this process easier. Do a point-by-point comparison of the schools and programs you’re considering, starting with these factors:

First, confirm that the institution you’ll be attending holds valid, up-to-date accreditation. Double-check your research using resources from the Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Next, consider programmatic accreditation. If you want to become a licensed child psychologist, you must complete a program recognized by the American Psychological Association.

Graduation rates measure the percentage of cohorts who completed their degrees within a specific time frame (usually six years). The metric is a key indicator of program quality and student satisfaction.

Colleges typically make their institution-wide graduation rates easily accessible. If you’re unable to locate program-specific statistics, try contacting the school’s psychology department for more information.

The average tuition for a four-year program at a public, in-state school costs $9,596, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Your program may cost more or less depending on whether you attend a public or private school as an in-state or out-of-state program. You can reduce your costs by:

Some schools have more inclusive admission policies, while others are more selective. Both approaches have advantages and drawbacks, and neither one necessarily indicates higher or lower academic quality.

Here, you should focus on comparing your qualifications against the requirements listed on the school’s child and adolescent psychology program page. Do you meet the indicated standards? If so, how well? If not, where are the gaps and do you have a path to closing them?

You can save costs by applying only to academic programs that match your student profile.

Published costs often tell only part of the story when it comes to institutional affordability. You’ll also need to investigate the financial aid programs available at each school.

Look at the types of aid packages the school offers, whether you qualify, and how much aid they deliver. Financial aid can reduce your out-of-pocket costs, sometimes by a wide margin.

The exact lineup of available child psychology courses varies among schools. If you have specific learning goals, perform thorough curriculum research to see how well each program on your list matches them.

If you’ve got additional academic interests, remember that you can double major in child psychology and another subject. Some schools also offer concentrated degrees in specialized areas, like school psychology, counseling psychology, or adolescent mental health.

These five sample course descriptions profile some common classes featured in child psychology degrees at the bachelor’s level:

A master’s in child psychology is a key stepping stone to advanced careers. As you plan your educational journey, you’ll likely want to prioritize costs since they may affect both your school choice and your post-graduation debt load.

The average cost of tuition and fees for graduate programs in 2021-22 was $20,513 per year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

A bachelor’s degree in child psychology leads most readily to entry-level opportunities with variable levels of advancement potential. The following list profiles some of the career paths commonly pursued by bachelor’s graduates. Some require additional training or credentialing, as noted in the accompanying descriptions.

While a bachelor’s or master’s in child psychology might sound appealing on the surface, there’s a lot to consider in determining whether either academic path is the right one.

On the one hand, you’ll likely find yourself in a position to make a difference in the lives of the children and teens you work with. Child psychology professionals often help their charges navigate situations in which they have no other support. This can be motivational and gratifying.

Qualities that may help you succeed include empathy and compassion, sound judgment, and a sharp eye for detail. The ability to deal with work-related emotional challenges and stress may also serve you well, depending on the career path you choose. Keep these considerations at the forefront of your mind as you assess your academic and professional options.

Note: The insights on this page — excluding school descriptions — were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by BestColleges. Page last reviewed May 30, 2024.