2026 Best Value Child development Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Child development](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/child-development/) 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 36 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for child development students.
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2026 Best Value Child development Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in child development, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Child development Schools
Leading the list is Northwestern Michigan College, our #1 best value for child development in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Traverse City, Northwestern Michigan College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,860, while out-of-state students pay about $13,476. Students borrow a median of $17,694 to complete the child development program here. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Northwestern Michigan College generally make around $49,210. Set against $17,694 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of Dupage earned it the #2 place for child development. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, with out-of-state students paying around $12,750. Typical student debt for child development graduates is $12,492. Early-career child development graduates make about $43,025. Set against $12,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Schoolcraft College earned it the #3 place for child development. Located in the city of Livonia, Schoolcraft College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,799, with out-of-state students paying around $6,501. Child Development graduates carry a median of $15,677 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Schoolcraft College generally make around $46,283. Set against $15,677 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Illinois At Chicago earned it the #4 place for child development. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Child Development graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans. Early-career child development graduates make about $46,199. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Chippewa Valley Technical College earned it the #5 place for child development. Located in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,844, with out-of-state students paying around $7,087. Child Development graduates carry a median of $14,234 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Chippewa Valley Technical College generally make around $45,531. Set against $14,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Eastern Gateway Community College landed the #6 spot for child development value this year. Set in the city of Steubenville, Eastern Gateway Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,225 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,071. Students borrow a median of $10,642 to complete the child development program here. Child Development graduates of Eastern Gateway Community College earn a median of $37,052 early in their careers. Set against $10,642 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Akron Main Campus landed the #7 spot for child development value this year. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,135, with out-of-state students paying around $20,815. Typical student debt for child development graduates is $31,000. Early-career child development graduates make about $30,835. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Akron Main Campus admits about 60% of applicants.
Central Michigan University earned the #8 position for value in child development this year. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,480 in tuition and fees. Child Development graduates carry a median of $27,209 in student loans. Early-career child development graduates make about $35,318. That is a strong return on a $27,209 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Baker College Of Flint earned the #9 position for value in child development this year. Baker College Of Flint is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Owosso. Students from in state pay about $13,000 in tuition and fees. Child Development graduates carry a median of $33,250 in student loans. Early-career child development graduates make about $29,526. Set against $33,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Baker College Of Flint admits about 82% of applicants.
Eastern Michigan University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value child development schools. Set in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,990. Students borrow a median of $33,885 to complete the child development program here. Early-career child development graduates make about $47,887. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Eastern Michigan University admits about 80% of applicants.
Western Michigan University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value child development schools. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,987 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,952. Typical student debt for child development graduates is $29,539. Early-career child development graduates make about $35,209. That is a strong return on a $29,539 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio University Main Campus placed #12 among the best values for child development. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for child development graduates is $19,343. Early-career child development graduates make about $49,736. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan State University placed #13 among the best values for child development. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Typical student debt for child development graduates is $29,750. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $31,434. Set against $29,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Olivet Nazarene University came in at #14 for value in child development this year. Located in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,900. Students borrow a median of $26,797 to complete the child development program here. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Olivet Nazarene University generally make around $48,505. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Olivet Nazarene University admits about 56% of applicants.
Franciscan University Of Steubenville earned the #15 position for value in child development this year. Located in the city of Steubenville, Franciscan University Of Steubenville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $34,100. Child Development graduates carry a median of $25,029 in student loans. Child Development graduates of Franciscan University Of Steubenville earn a median of $43,020 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 36 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
