Top Online Child Psychology Master’s Programs for 2025
Child psychology master’s programs are an essential step toward licensed careers. Discover top-ranked programs and how to choose the right one for you.
Child psychology master’s programs build on undergraduate fundamentals and explore the field in greater depth. If you plan to pursue a career as a licensed child psychologist, a graduate degree is an essential step.
According to a 2023 American Psychological Association (APA) study, nearly half of surveyed psychologists report increased demand for mental health services from adolescents. However, many lack experience serving this age group. The trend suggests strong opportunities for emerging professionals.
Explore key features of child psychology master’s programs and compare top-ranked schools.
Top Online Child Psychology Master’s Programs
Bay Path University
- Longmeadow, MA
- 4 year
- Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose This School:
Bay Path's online MS in developmental psychology emphasizes childhood development and its many influential impacts on later stages of life. We like that the curriculum begins with an overview of human development across the lifespan before delving into family dynamics, trauma, and clinical intervention techniques.
The 12-course, 36-credit program balances contemporary developmental psychology theories with their practical applications. Graduates can pursue advanced careers in applied psychology research and service delivery, or licensure-track doctoral programs.
Students can join the program three times per year: January, May, or September.
Highlights:
- Undergraduate psychology degree not required
- Study part or full time
- Mentorship opportunities available
Considerations:
- Requires 160 hours of community-based fieldwork
- $925 per credit
- No specializations or concentrations available
78%
$19,235
70%
$19,235
- Acceptance Rate
- 76%
- Students Enrolled
- 2,465
- Institution Type
- Private
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
- Minneapolis, MN
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose This School:
UMN's online MA in applied child and adolescent development emphasizes qualitative viewpoints and practical techniques for advancing mental and emotional health in youth populations. We like the program's specialization options. Students can choose from standard concentration tracks in child life or infant and early childhood mental health or design their own specialization path.
Each personalization option builds targeted skills that help graduates qualify for specialized psychology careers. The degree also transfers to adjacent areas of academic and professional practice, including nursing, policy development, criminal justice, education, and nonprofit management.
Highlights:
- 100% online
- Test-free admission process
- Licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC) licensure track available
Considerations:
- Some concentrations require a clinical internship and experiential components
- Undergraduate psychology coursework required for admission
- $1,665 per credit
37%
$18,468
91%
$28,578
- Acceptance Rate
- 77%
- Students Enrolled
- 54,890
- Institution Type
- Public
How to Choose an Online Child Psychology Master’s Program
Researching and selecting the right online child psychology program can seem overwhelming. To help you narrow your choices, we’ve listed the most important factors to consider, including accreditation, admissions requirements, flexibility, and cost.
Accreditation
Institutional accreditation is mandatory, but programmatic accreditation is optional at the master’s level. However, attending an accredited program can facilitate smoother and more direct entry into advanced careers in child psychology.
Look for institutional accreditation recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and programmatic accreditation from the Master’s in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) or the APA. Note that currently, the APA only accredits a small number of master’s programs.
Admission Requirements
Admissions generally become more competitive at the master’s level. Before spending time and money applying to a program, conduct a thorough review of the admission requirements. Proceed only if you closely match the school’s preferred candidate profile.
Experts recommend applying to about 4-6 master’s programs. As an online student, you will have access to a much wider selection of schools since you are not limited by geography.
Career Relevance
Ensure the program matches your career plans. For example, if you want to become a child psychologist, make sure the curriculum prepares you to enter a doctoral program, which is the prerequisite degree for state licensure. If you’re interested in working with a specific population, such as autistic children or people managing substance use disorders, verify that the programs offer courses and field experiences in those areas of interest.
Flexibility
Online child psychology master’s programs offer various delivery methods. Before you apply, confirm that a program offers your preferred format.
Format options include:
- Asynchronous courses with pre-recorded instructional sessions
- Synchronous courses with live, interactive classes
- 100% online programs
- Hybrid programs that blend online and face-to-face learning
Online programs offer varying levels of flexibility and convenience. Asynchronous learning allows the most flexibility with course materials you can access 24/7, enabling you to study at any time of the day or night. Synchronous course delivery means that you attend class virtually but at a set time. Hybrid programs combine online study with on-campus class attendance.
Cost and Financial Aid
In-state public schools typically cost less than out-of-state public universities and private institutions. Online programs sometimes offer an in-state or lower tuition rate regardless of residency.
Fill out and submit the Federal Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) yearly to determine your eligibility for federal aid, including grants, loans, and work-study. Other forms of aid, such as scholarships and fellowships, can significantly reduce your out-of-pocket costs, especially at private institutions.
How to Apply to an Online Child Psychology Master’s Program
The child psychology master’s programs that interest you will have detailed, case-specific application instructions to follow. However, you should still review general elements of the typical process to ensure your preparedness.
Use the following blueprint to inform your expectations:
- Step 1: Take any required entrance exams
Graduate programs may prefer or require test scores on one or more admission exams. The general Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is common, but some schools may use the subject-specific GRE test in psychology instead.
International applicants and candidates who speak English as a second language must also submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores.
- Step 2: Ask professors and employers for recommendation letters
Schools often include multiple letters of recommendation in their application requirements for graduate programs. These letters must typically come from qualified individuals with firsthand knowledge of your strengths as a candidate.
Past professors, working psychology professionals, and current or past employers are all good sources of academic recommendations.
- Step 3: Order transcripts
All graduate schools require applicants to submit academic transcripts covering all their college-level coursework. These documents verify your educational background and help admission officials confirm that you meet their qualification requirements.
In most cases, you can have your previous school(s) submit your transcripts electronically on your behalf. However, you may need to obtain sealed hard copies and submit them with your other application materials.
- Step 4: Prepare your admissions essay
Schools often request an essay or statement of purpose, in which you will explain your background, the basis of your interest in the program, and how the program fits into your plans. This component can carry significant weight, especially in competitive admission situations.
Personalize your essay. Be specific, highlight key achievements, and ensure you fully address any prompts the school provides.
- Step 5: Complete and submit your application
Before sending your application, perform a final review to ensure its completeness. Proofread everything one last time, and make sure your materials arrive well ahead of the application deadline, if your school specifies one.
Frequently Asked Questions
While it depends on what you do with your degree, pediatric psychologists generally report high levels of career satisfaction, according to a 2015 study. A master’s degree is also an essential step toward a doctorate, which you will require if you plan to become licensed.
