The Best Online Child Psychology Bachelor’s Degrees for 2025
Child psychology bachelor’s programs build strong foundations for advanced study or career entry. Explore a ranked list of top-rated online programs.
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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
Why We Chose This School:
Bay Paths bachelor's in child psychology explores the physical, intellectual, and emotional aspects of child development. The program focuses on individuals who want to work with children of all ages, from infancy to adolescence.
Fully asynchronous courses take place through a virtual classroom. The child psychology degree curriculum comprises 120 credits, including courses in childhood psychopathology, psychology of cultural diversity, and theories of personality. We like that the program can be completed within 3.5 years.
Students can receive a 20% discount on graduate tuition when pursuing a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling. Bay Path's graduate school applies 1-2 course credits from the bachelor's in child psychology program toward the master's program.
Highlights:
- Pursue your interests with up to 50 major electives
- Transfer up to 90 credits
- May consider applicants with a GPA below 2.0
Considerations:
- Limited overlap of credits for the bachelor's-to-master's program
- Lack of scholarship opportunities for online students
- Few online student resources
78%
Yes
76%
N/A
$35,781
$35,781
70%
2,465
Private
University of Massachusetts Global
- Irvine, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
Why We Chose This School
UMass Global offers a BA in psychology with a concentration in child psychology for those wanting to assist children with developmental disorders. Coursework explores the psychological development of children, behavioral models, and the application of psychological theories in professional settings.
The program comprises 120 semester credits, including five child psychology concentration classes and a capstone course. Child psychology concentration courses cover pediatric neuropsychology, applied behavioral analysis, and preferred behavior enhancement.
If you apply with less than 12 transferable credits, you must complete the student success strategies course. This course teaches time management, test-taking, and stress reduction skills.
Highlights
- No additional program application requirements
- Tuition reduction for active military personnel and spouses
- Online discussion boards
Considerations
- Few concentration courses
- Classes may require synchronous tasks
- No bachelor's-to-master's option
99%
Yes
93%
N/A
$12,000
$12,000
40%
8,689
Public
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.
