Quick Highlights:
- Our #1 ranking college for an online PhD in child development is Georgia State University, followed by Texas Woman’s University.
- Ph.D. in Child Development programs prepare individuals to become educators, researchers, and child development experts.
- These programs cover topics like cultural influences on learning, accommodating diverse classrooms, and engaging different learning paces.
- Programs are offered online by top universities and focus on specialized areas like early childhood education, family advocacy, and mental health.
- Admission requirements often include GRE scores, letters of recommendation, essays, and interviews.
Help teachers become heroes with one of the 5 Best Online Ph.D.’s in Child Development programs.
The value of education isn’t lost on anybody. It’s through education that we become our best selves, and it’s by learning that we absorb content. Teachers are the lifeline behind an educated populace, and we can’t thank them enough for their hard work. And this goes for all teachers, from preschool to university. If you’re focused on educating teachers, consider one of the 5 Best Online Ph.D. in Child Development programs.
How does a person’s cultural background influence how they learn? How can teachers best accommodate classrooms with diverse children? How does a teacher educate the slowest learners while keeping the quickest learners engaged? These are all central questions in the field of child development.
Every child is unique, and teaching is a balancing act. With a Ph.D. in child development, you’ll be empowered to research the field, join the ranks of scholars, and teach educators who actively engage with children. And due to the flexibility of the field, a doctorate level child development program will offer you opportunities to specialize, so that you can build the skills to become the exact type of educator that you’ve dreamt of becoming.
What Are the Best Child Development Degrees?
At CollegeRank, we strive to do our best to guide you and your family toward a fruitful academic career. The pursuit of knowledge is a noble one, and we want to help you reach your goals. To supply you with the best of the best in Ph.D’s in Child Development degree programs, we considered the following points when compiling this list, such as:
- The school’s ability to provide a quality Ph.D. degree program in the field of Child Development,
- Offering various learning degree formats, such as online, on-campus, or hybrid coursework,
- Taught by professionals in the field of Child Development,
- Offers financial aid opportunities, such as federal loans, scholarships, and grants,
- Displays proper accreditation, pursuant to the field of Child Development,
- Prepares graduates for career advancement in Child Development.
Please feel free to visit our dedicated methodology page for a step-by-step breakdown. For questions, comments, badge downloads, or data corrections, please feel free to reach out to us at editor@www.collegerank.net.
Georgia State University
Georgia State University has an excellent Ph.D. program in early childhood and elementary education. Based in the school’s Atlanta campus with the availability of online classes, the program gives students the tools to become educators, researchers, and empathetic individuals whose cares align with childhood development best practices.
To gain admission into this program, applicants must pay a $50 application fee, provide a writing statement, upload their resume, present a writing sample, have two letters of recommendation, and upload GRE scores. To gain admission, you must have an interview with the program. Not everybody is selected for an interview, and not everybody interviewed will necessarily gain admission.
The curriculum of students comprises research and in-person classes. Some classes students take are Bayesian Statistics, Quantitative Methods and Analysis in Education, Poststructural Inquiry, Introduction to Single-Case Methodology, and Historical Research in American Education. Each of these classes focuses on a small but vital part of the child development field.
Texas Woman’s University
In this Doctor of Philosophy in Early Child Development and Education program, students choose to concentrate on early childhood education or child development. Those who pick the former concentration focus more on educating teachers and becoming teachers. Students in the latter group focus on family advocacy, childhood intervention, and public policy.
Each student designs their dream curriculum and submits it for approval. Their curriculum must follow the specific requirements of the program, however, so they must comply with a certain amount of credit hours per subject in the degree program. Students take courses like Theory Building in Family Sciences, Research Methods in Family Sciences, Multivariate Statistics, and Child Guidance.
This program has relatively stringent requirements. Students must pass each class with a B or higher. The program only allows one-course grade under a B to count toward your degree, and any student with more than one grade lower than a B will be dismissed from the program.
East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University offers one of the best online Doctor of Philosophy in early childhood education programs in the country. Prospective students should note that the program is mostly online.
While you can complete the required coursework online, every student must be present for one intensive school session per semester. If that doesn’t sound like an option, consider a different program.
To gain admission to this program, applicants must have a master’s in early childhood education or a related field. Additionally, they must turn in their GRE scores, resume, official transcript, essays, and four letters of recommendation. Some students will be interviewed, too.
Students take a variety of classes that are informed by both foundational theories and the latest research in the field. Some of the classes required to graduate are Paradigms of Inquiry-Based Constructivism, Social and Cultural Diversity in Children and their Families, and Processes of Language and Literacy Learning. Besides classes, students must hold an apprenticeship and complete a pre-determined amount of research to graduate.
Fielding Graduate University
Fielding Graduate University’s Ph.D. in infant and early childhood development has a slightly different focus than the other programs on this list. While the core classes of this program reflect those of other programs, Fielding emphasizes mental health and developmental disorders. If you’re interested in working with non-traditional students in some capacity, consider this program.
Mental health is an emerging topic of discussion. The stigma of talking about mental health is slowly going away, leaving a space to talk about it comfortably. While mental health is crucial in your adult life, the foundations of your mental health form in your childhood. By focusing on mental health in early childhood, Fielding enables its educators to foster positive attitudes and spot students who are struggling with their mental health.
To apply for this program, students must have a bachelor’s or master’s degree, a 3.0 or higher GPA, an updated resume, application essays, two letters of recommendation, and their official transcript. No GRE is required to enter this program.
Tufts University
Tufts University is perhaps the most recognizable name on this list. The school has developed Nobel prize winners, world leaders, and scholars who play leading roles in dozens of fields. They also offer a fantastic Doctor of Philosophy in Child Study and Human Development program.
In this program, students combine learning about research with researching, absorbing new theories by using those frameworks for applied projects, and enrolling in a graduate seminar. The well-rounded curriculum includes classes like Qualitative Research Methods, Applied Data Analysis, Human Development Across the Lifespan, and Intellectual Development.
These courses will inform your work, no matter where you end up. Tufts University has one of the most dynamic child study and human development programs in the nation. While some graduates have become professors, many have begun careers in children’s media, designing toys, strengthening nonprofit programs, and advising governments on childhood education policy. No matter your specific interest, Tufts University will help you obtain your dream job.
How to Choose the Right Child Development PhD Program
Choosing the right child development doctorate program comes down to identifying which program features are most important to you, and which program best matches your unique career goals and personal needs. In the ranking above, we identified the best program options by objective methodology, but any one of those progams may match your needs better than the others.
To choose the right program for you, keep these considerations in mind. These considerations are designed to help you make a great decision.
1. Theoretical vs. Applied Focus in Child Development
Child development PhD programs vary in whether they emphasize developmental theory, research methodology, or applied practice. Some programs center on cognitive and emotional development across stages, while others prioritize real-world applications in education, intervention, or family systems. Students should assess whether the program’s orientation aligns with their goals—whether they aim to be researchers, educators, or practitioners influencing child and family outcomes.
2. Research Opportunities and Faculty Expertise in Specialized Areas
PhD-level work in child development often requires deep specialization in areas like early childhood education, developmental psychopathology, family dynamics, or social-emotional learning. Since online formats can limit informal research exposure, students should look closely at faculty interests, current research projects, and whether there are virtual or in-person opportunities to assist with data collection or co-author papers in their area of interest.
3. Support for Dissertation Research in Diverse Settings
Because online programs often serve geographically dispersed students, it’s critical to understand how dissertation research is supported remotely. The best programs offer flexibility in designing and conducting studies in local schools, clinics, or communities, while still providing close virtual mentorship and IRB support. Prospective students should ask how past students have conducted field-based or observational research from a distance.
4. Developmental and Cultural Context in the Curriculum
High-quality programs in child development incorporate cultural, socioeconomic, and developmental diversity into the curriculum, reflecting the complexity of children’s lived experiences. Students should evaluate whether coursework addresses issues such as trauma, bilingual development, disability, and systemic inequality, and whether these topics are integrated into research design and policy discussion.
5. Professional Preparation for Careers in Academia, Policy, or Advocacy
PhDs in child development can lead to diverse careers—in research, higher education, early childhood policy, or nonprofit leadership. Students should consider how well a program supports these career paths, especially in the absence of a physical campus. This includes faculty connections to policy institutions, support for publishing, and structured opportunities for teaching or presenting at conferences—even if remotely.
Frequently Asked Questions
The primary reason why a child development Ph.D. is worth it is because it empowers you to help children learn, grow, and achieve their potential. Aside from that, a Ph.D. offers you personal and professional benefits, including pride in your achievement, expanded professional opportunities, and increased salary potential.
According to the Education Data Initiative, the average Ph.D. program costs $106,860. The final cost for your specific program depends on factors like the length of the program, the school you attend, and the amount of financial assistance you receive in the form of scholarships, grants, and assistantships.
Child development connects psychology, pedagogy, biology, and several other soft and hard sciences to analyze how children learn and grow. Because there is no single theory or methodology for teaching children, you will spend much of your Ph.D. program learning different aspects of the field. You will take classes like Educational Measurement, Historical Research in American Education, and Qualitative Research in Education. You will also likely take classes such as Effective Teaching Methods, Developmental Theory, and Language and Literacy. Some courses in Ph.D. programs focus on teaching children, while others concentrate on teaching leading educational methodologies.
Most child development doctoral programs are three to five years in length and require anywhere from 60 to 120 credits. This includes the time needed to complete necessary coursework, practicums or internships, and any research requirements.
Admission requirements for child development Ph.D. programs commonly include the following:
• A bachelor’s degree in child development or a closely related field
• A master’s degree in child development or several years of child development-related work experience
• A resume or curriculum vitae
• Letters of recommendation from academic and/or professional references
• A writing sample
Admissions requirements vary from one school to the next. Be sure to thoroughly explore what you need to do to gain admission to each program that interests you.
You can complete your child development Ph.D. coursework entirely online. However, many online programs have a residential requirement, such as an intensive weekend of courses or training on campus. Likewise, some Ph.D.’s in child development require you to complete a practicum, internship, or another experiential learning component on campus or at an approved training site.
It’s common for Ph.D. graduates in child development to work in child development administration as a director or manager of a development agency. However, a Ph.D. in this field can qualify you for a wide range of jobs, including those in the fields of teaching, research, and advocacy. Other career fields include the following:
• Child Development Program Design
• Child Development Policy Analysis
• Early Childhood Education Administration
• Social Services Administration
• Parent-Child Education
According to PayScale, the average base salary for a doctoral-level worker in child development is around $76,000 per year. The pay range for most workers varies widely, from a low of around $40,000 per year to more than $138,000 per year. Your salary will be dependent on numerous factors, including your experience, specialty within child development, and where you’re employed.
According to ZipRecruiter, one of the highest-paid Ph.D.-level jobs in child development is in corporate child care. This job pays more than $130,000 per year. Child Care Health Consultants are also compensated well, with an annual salary of more than $93,000. Child Development Directors are not far behind, with an average annual salary of just under $90,000.
Related Reading:
- Best Master’s in Child Development
- Top Online Master’s in Child Development
- 20 Best Bachelor’s in Human and Child Development