2026 Best Value Child Advocacy & Policy Schools
[Child Advocacy & Policy](/majors/social-services-public-administration/social-work/child-advocacy-and-policy/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 41 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for child advocacy & policy students.
What’s on this page:
Finding the Best Value Child Advocacy & Policy School for You
Where you study child advocacy & policy affects both what you pay and what you earn. To help, we created our Best Value Child Advocacy & Policy Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Learn more about our methodology
Customizing Your List
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Child Advocacy & Policy Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
2026 Best Value Child Advocacy & Policy Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in child advocacy & policy, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Child Advocacy & Policy Schools
California State University Los Angeles tops our 2026 list of the best value child advocacy & policy schools in the United States. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,164, compared with $19,764 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for child advocacy & policy graduates is $11,000. Child Advocacy & Policy graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of $48,403 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny York College earned it the #2 place for child advocacy & policy. Located in the city of Jamaica, Cuny York College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,358, with out-of-state students paying around $15,308. Typical student debt for child advocacy & policy graduates is $9,500. Early-career child advocacy & policy graduates make about $49,559. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Capital Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value child advocacy & policy schools. Set in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,338, with out-of-state students paying around $15,596. Students borrow a median of $12,059 to complete the child advocacy & policy program here. Early-career child advocacy & policy graduates make about $43,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rhode Island College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in child advocacy & policy, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Providence, Rhode Island College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,300, with out-of-state students paying around $27,299. Students borrow a median of $24,100 to complete the child advocacy & policy program here. Child Advocacy & Policy graduates of Rhode Island College earn a median of $44,249 early in their careers. Set against $24,100 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in child advocacy & policy will find it at Highline Community College, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Des Moines, Highline Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,772, while out-of-state students pay about $5,332. Typical student debt for child advocacy & policy graduates is $8,958. Early-career child advocacy & policy graduates make about $55,459. Set against $8,958 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #6 spot for child advocacy & policy value this year. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Typical student debt for child advocacy & policy graduates is $17,396. Early-career child advocacy & policy graduates make about $65,681. Set against $17,396 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Eastern Kentucky University landed the #7 spot for child advocacy & policy value this year. Set in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,320, compared with $21,230 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $30,750 to complete the child advocacy & policy program here. Child Advocacy & Policy graduates of Eastern Kentucky University earn a median of $33,575 early in their careers. Set against $30,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Alabama earned the #8 position for value in child advocacy & policy this year. Set in the city of Florence, University Of North Alabama is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,120 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,320. Child Advocacy & Policy graduates carry a median of $30,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child advocacy & policy degree recipients from University Of North Alabama generally make around $36,948. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Purdue University Global placed #9 among the best values for child advocacy & policy. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,101 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,412. Typical student debt for child advocacy & policy graduates is $53,229. Soon after graduation, child advocacy & policy degree recipients from Purdue University Global generally make around $38,324. That is a strong return on a $53,229 median debt.
Wayne State University came in at #10 for value in child advocacy & policy this year. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Typical student debt for child advocacy & policy graduates is $28,012. Early-career child advocacy & policy graduates make about $55,469. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Alaska Anchorage came in at #11 for value in child advocacy & policy this year. University Of Alaska Anchorage is a large public school located in the city of Anchorage. In-state tuition and fees average $7,738, with out-of-state students paying around $21,322. Child Advocacy & Policy graduates carry a median of $31,750 in student loans. Child Advocacy & Policy graduates of University Of Alaska Anchorage earn a median of $54,550 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,750 median debt.
University Of Missouri Columbia placed #12 among the best values for child advocacy & policy. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,837, while out-of-state students pay about $36,056. Typical student debt for child advocacy & policy graduates is $23,119. Child Advocacy & Policy graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $53,134 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,119 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia State University came in at #13 for value in child advocacy & policy this year. Georgia State University is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. In-state tuition and fees average $8,664, compared with $24,840 for out-of-state students. Child Advocacy & Policy graduates carry a median of $30,533 in student loans. Child Advocacy & Policy graduates of Georgia State University earn a median of $51,103 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Colorado State University Fort Collins placed #14 among the best values for child advocacy & policy. Set in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,373, while out-of-state students pay about $35,061. Typical student debt for child advocacy & policy graduates is $23,387. Early-career child advocacy & policy graduates make about $44,925. That is a strong return on a $23,387 median debt. Colorado State University Fort Collins admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus landed the #15 spot for child advocacy & policy value this year. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Durham. In-state tuition and fees average $19,202, with out-of-state students paying around $39,852. Typical student debt for child advocacy & policy graduates is $27,000. Early-career child advocacy & policy graduates make about $52,064. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus admits about 88% of applicants.
Boston University placed #16 among the best values for child advocacy & policy. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,102. Typical student debt for child advocacy & policy graduates is $25,232. Early-career child advocacy & policy graduates make about $57,991. That is a strong return on a $25,232 median debt. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania landed the #17 spot for child advocacy & policy value this year. Located in the town of Shippensburg, Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $13,570 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,824. Students borrow a median of $26,982 to complete the child advocacy & policy program here. Child Advocacy & Policy graduates of Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $43,037 early in their careers. Set against $26,982 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Southeastern University placed #18 among the best values for child advocacy & policy. Set in the city of Lakeland, Southeastern University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,950. Students borrow a median of $24,923 to complete the child advocacy & policy program here. Soon after graduation, child advocacy & policy degree recipients from Southeastern University generally make around $48,071. That is a strong return on a $24,923 median debt. Southeastern University admits about 53% of applicants.
Nova Southeastern University earned the #19 position for value in child advocacy & policy this year. Located in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale, Nova Southeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $38,700. Child Advocacy & Policy graduates carry a median of $25,021 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child advocacy & policy degree recipients from Nova Southeastern University generally make around $44,652. Set against $25,021 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Catholic University Of America ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value child advocacy & policy schools. Located in the city of Washington, Catholic University Of America is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $58,378. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the child advocacy & policy program here. Soon after graduation, child advocacy & policy degree recipients from Catholic University Of America generally make around $59,489. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Texas Christian University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value child advocacy & policy schools. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $61,740 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the child advocacy & policy program here. Child Advocacy & Policy graduates of Texas Christian University earn a median of $42,142 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. Texas Christian University admits about 44% of applicants.
Loyola University Chicago earned the #22 position for value in child advocacy & policy this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. Child Advocacy & Policy graduates carry a median of $21,133 in student loans. Early-career child advocacy & policy graduates make about $51,834. Set against $21,133 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Loyola University Chicago admits about 82% of applicants.
Narrow Child Advocacy & Policy Schools by Region
View All Rankings >
Explore other best-value rankings in majors related to Child Advocacy & Policy. Browse the parent area of study.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 41 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
