Developmental Psychology (PhD)

Tuition fees are 29,500 USD per year.

This PhD program in Developmental Psychology prepares students for academic and research careers. It focuses on four broadly defined areas: development, cognition, neuroscience, and social and personality psychology. Students develop an individualized program of study and research in consultation with a special committee. The program explicitly does not prepare students for clinical or school psychology roles.

Focus areas include Aging and health, Cognitive development, Developmental psychopathology, Ecology of human development, Law, psychology and human development, Social and personality development.

Graduates enter careers in academic life, research programs of governmental agencies, and roles in community agencies and private enterprise.

Applicants must meet all Graduate School requirements, including English language proficiency, and submit three recommendations. While an undergraduate major in a social science field is common for successful applicants, students of high ability may be admitted regardless of their undergraduate background.

In Person, typically taking four years to complete. For international students, tuition is above the median for US programmes. The institution admits about 8% of applicants.

Cornell University, founded in 1865 in Ithaca, New York, is an Ivy League research university that blends rigorous scholarship with broad public engagement. As both a privately endowed institution and New York State's statutory land-grant university, Cornell brings together liberal arts, engineering, agriculture, and professional schools to offer wide academic choice across more than twenty colleges and programs. Its historic mission emphasizes teaching, research, and service, making Cornell a global destination for students seeking depth and interdisciplinary opportunity.

Academically, Cornell is known for high-impact research across the sciences, humanities, and applied fields. With about 25,582 students and over 6,200 international learners, the campus provides extensive resources including research centers, interdisciplinary institutes, and industry partnerships that support undergraduate and graduate training. Students benefit from hands-on learning, internship networks, and faculty mentorship that often include international collaborations and community-engaged projects.

Life in Ithaca balances scenic natural spaces with a lively arts and dining scene and strong student services, from career counseling to study abroad advising. Residential options, student clubs, and entrepreneurial hubs help newcomers settle in and build professional pathways both in the United States and abroad. For international applicants seeking world-class research, wide program choice, and a community that values public service and innovation, Cornell offers a supportive and stimulating environment.