The Best Online Child Psychology Bachelor’s Degrees for 2025
Child psychology bachelor’s programs explore typical and atypical child and adolescent development, along with behavioral models and psychology theory. They also teach applied skills and lay the groundwork for future study at the graduate level.
Discover our list of the top online bachelor’s in child psychology programs, and navigate the school selection and application processes.
Best Online Child Psychology Bachelor’s Degrees
Bay Path University
Longmeadow, MA- 4 year
- Online
- In-State$35,781
- Out-of-state$35,781
- In-State$19,235
- Out-of-state$19,235
- Retention Rate70%
- Acceptance Rate76%
- Students Enrolled2,465
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment78%
- AccreditationYes
University of Massachusetts Global
- Irvine, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$12,000
- Out-of-state$12,000
- In-State$12,510
- Out-of-state$12,510
- Retention Rate40%
- Acceptance Rate93%
- Students Enrolled8,689
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment99%
- AccreditationYes
Our Ranking Methodology
Psychology.org ranks education programs using data from reputable sources like the U.S. Department of Education. Our vetting process also includes a quality assurance team that assesses datasets for accuracy.
Psychology.org reserves the right to exclude any schools that lack significant data from the rankings to ensure accurate calculations. This list is for 2025. For more about how Psychology.org evaluates and ranks education programs, visit our full ranking methodology.
How To Choose an Online Child Psychology Bachelor’s Program
When researching child psychology bachelor’s programs, look closely at accreditation, admission requirements, cost, format, and whether the curriculum aligns with your interests and career goals.
Accreditation
Institutional accreditation signals that a school meets academic quality standards and that employers and other accredited schools will recognize your degree.
Check the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) accreditation database to ensure that each school on your list is accredited by an agency recognized by CHEA.
Admission Requirements
Some schools use inclusive admission standards to remove barriers to program entry. Others have more selective policies, requiring higher grades or test scores and more precise academic prerequisites.
Career Relevance
Schools usually lay out their core philosophy and educational objectives on their websites. Look to these — and to the school’s child psychology program curriculum — for evidence that the program lines up with your long-term career plans.
For example, you might seek out programs with research or internship opportunities or curricula that cover applied topics in child psychology.
Flexibility
Online child psychology programs inherently offer more flexibility than on-campus alternatives. However, you should also consider whether the school delivers online classes in real-time (synchronously) or with pre-recorded lectures (asynchronously). You may want to enroll part time if you’re working or balancing other commitments while going to school.
Cost and Financial Aid
Tuition rates are a major factor but are not the only cost consideration. The net price of attendance, which is the amount you pay after student aid, is arguably even more relevant.
Schools with strong financial aid packages reduce students’ net costs. See what each school offers you in terms of non-repayable aid, including scholarships, grants, and tuition reductions or waivers.
How To Apply to an Online Child Psychology Bachelor’s Program
Each institution has its own application requirements, and you should always follow the school’s guidelines when applying.
At the same time, many schools share similar application processes. Here’s a roadmap you can follow as you prepare to apply:
- 1
Determine Your Admission Status
Will you be applying as a first-time college student, or have you already attended college? If the latter, check the school’s transfer credit policy to see if you can obtain advanced standing for your existing coursework.
- 2
Prepare Your Application
As a bachelor’s student, you will submit a general undergraduate application to the institution that hosts your program. Prepare it with care, as errors and omissions may cause delays or force you to reapply at a later date.
Also, check to see whether application costs apply. Some schools charge fees, while others do not.
- 3
Gather Your Supporting Documentation
Schools almost always require applicants to submit academic transcripts. If you’ve never attended college before, you’ll send your high school transcripts if you’ve never attended college or your college transcripts.
You may also need to provide:
- ACT or SAT scores
- Personal essay
- Letter(s) of recommendation
- 4
Check For Completeness
Before sending in your application, create a checklist of materials and perform a systematic review of your documents. Make sure you have everything the school requires, and also ensure you submit your materials well ahead of any application deadlines that apply.
Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a Child Psychologist
Becoming a fully licensed child psychologist can take 8-12 years. You will need a four-year bachelor’s degree and likely a master’s degree, plus a doctorate. Depending on your state, you must also complete about 1,500-6,000 clinical training hours, which can take several years.
