by our College Data Analytics Team
[Child development](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/child-development/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 279 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value child development schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in child development, balancing cost against outcomes.
Fresno City College earned the #1 spot for value among child development schools in the United States. Located in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,378, compared with $8,638 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for child development graduates is $8,000. Early-career child development graduates make about $37,470. Set against $8,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in child development will find it at Mt San Antonio College, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for child development graduates is $9,384. Child Development graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $44,391 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
El Centro College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in child development, landing the #3 spot this year. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,730, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Child Development graduates carry a median of $14,557 in student loans. Child Development graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $41,295 early in their careers. Set against $14,557 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in child development will find it at South Texas College, which ranked #4. South Texas College is a very large public school located in the city of McAllen. Students from in state pay about $4,920 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,620. Child Development graduates carry a median of $6,868 in student loans. Early-career child development graduates make about $19,971. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Victor Valley College earned it the #5 place for child development. Victor Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Victorville. In-state tuition and fees average $1,425, while out-of-state students pay about $10,125. Typical student debt for child development graduates is $7,995. Child Development graduates of Victor Valley College earn a median of $37,755 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,995 median debt.
College Of The Redwoods landed the #6 spot for child development value this year. College Of The Redwoods is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Eureka. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,196, while out-of-state students pay about $8,852. Child Development graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. Early-career child development graduates make about $98,703. Set against $20,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Dyersburg State Community College earned the #7 position for value in child development this year. Located in the town of Dyersburg, Dyersburg State Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,758, with out-of-state students paying around $18,060. Typical student debt for child development graduates is $10,611. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Dyersburg State Community College generally make around $41,177. Set against $10,611 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Yuba College landed the #8 spot for child development value this year. Set in the suburb of Marysville, Yuba College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,128, with out-of-state students paying around $8,208. Child Development graduates carry a median of $8,729 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Yuba College generally make around $89,816. That is a strong return on a $8,729 median debt.
Butte College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value child development schools. Butte College is a large public school located in the rural area of Oroville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,356, with out-of-state students paying around $9,276. Typical student debt for child development graduates is $13,302. Child Development graduates of Butte College earn a median of $67,048 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Del Mar College came in at #10 for value in child development this year. Set in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,500, compared with $6,050 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,476 to complete the child development program here. Early-career child development graduates make about $40,661. That is a strong return on a $7,476 median debt.
Mission College landed the #11 spot for child development value this year. Mission College is a large public school located in the city of Santa Clara. In-state tuition and fees average $1,438, compared with $12,500 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,223 to complete the child development program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $50,936. Set against $17,223 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oklahoma City Community College earned the #12 position for value in child development this year. Oklahoma City Community College is a large public school located in the city of Oklahoma City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,059, with out-of-state students paying around $9,810. Students borrow a median of $13,919 to complete the child development program here. Early-career child development graduates make about $39,848. That is a strong return on a $13,919 median debt.
West Virginia University At Parkersburg landed the #13 spot for child development value this year. Located in the rural area of Parkersburg, West Virginia University At Parkersburg is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,476 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,424 for out-of-state students. Child Development graduates carry a median of $15,595 in student loans. Child Development graduates of West Virginia University At Parkersburg earn a median of $45,400 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Woodland Community College came in at #14 for value in child development this year. Set in the suburb of Woodland, Woodland Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,124 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,656 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,042.
Tulsa Community College earned the #15 position for value in child development this year. Located in the city of Tulsa, Tulsa Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,792, with out-of-state students paying around $9,720. Child Development graduates carry a median of $15,287 in student loans. Early-career child development graduates make about $33,103. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saint Louis Community College placed #16 among the best values for child development. Located in the suburb of Bridgeton, Saint Louis Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, while out-of-state students pay about $6,990. Typical student debt for child development graduates is $11,424. Early-career child development graduates make about $26,593. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northwestern Michigan College placed #17 among the best values for child development. Set in the city of Traverse City, Northwestern Michigan College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,860, while out-of-state students pay about $13,476. Child Development graduates carry a median of $17,694 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Northwestern Michigan College generally make around $49,210. That is a strong return on a $17,694 median debt.
El Paso Community College came in at #18 for value in child development this year. Set in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,274 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,314 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for child development graduates is $8,542. Child Development graduates of El Paso Community College earn a median of $29,086 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Amarillo College earned the #19 position for value in child development this year. Amarillo College is a large public school located in the city of Amarillo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,136, with out-of-state students paying around $4,704. Child Development graduates carry a median of $15,720 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Amarillo College generally make around $41,053. That is a strong return on a $15,720 median debt.
Schoolcraft College placed #20 among the best values for child development. Set in the city of Livonia, Schoolcraft College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,799, while out-of-state students pay about $6,501. Child Development graduates carry a median of $15,677 in student loans. Early-career child development graduates make about $46,283. That is a strong return on a $15,677 median debt.
Tarrant County College District earned the #21 position for value in child development this year. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,863, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for child development graduates is $15,148. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Tarrant County College District generally make around $45,158. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Antonio College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value child development schools. San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. In-state tuition and fees average $3,412, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for child development graduates is $11,839. Early-career child development graduates make about $37,855. Set against $11,839 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Roane State Community College landed the #23 spot for child development value this year. Roane State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Harriman. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,998, compared with $18,630 for out-of-state students. Child Development graduates carry a median of $9,408 in student loans. Early-career child development graduates make about $36,933. Set against $9,408 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Redlands Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value child development schools. Redlands Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of El Reno. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,385, with out-of-state students paying around $7,951. Students borrow a median of $14,682 to complete the child development program here. Child Development graduates of Redlands Community College earn a median of $45,166 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Miracosta College placed #25 among the best values for child development. Miracosta College is a large public school located in the suburb of Oceanside. In-state tuition and fees average $1,158, while out-of-state students pay about $9,750. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $43,845.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in child development:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Child development rankings across degree levels:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 279 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.