2027 Best Value Child development Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Child development](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/child-development/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong child development education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find the best return on investment for child development students.
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2027 Best Value Child development Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the child development degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Child development Schools
For return on investment in child development, no school beat Schoolcraft College this year. 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. Typical student debt for child development graduates is $15,677. Child Development graduates of Schoolcraft College earn a median of $46,283 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ivy Tech Community College earned it the #2 place for child development. Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $5,154, with out-of-state students paying around $9,935. Students borrow a median of $11,889 to complete the child development program here. Child Development graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $40,734 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,889 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Illinois At Chicago one of the best values for child development. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete the child development program here. Child Development graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $46,199 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Students looking for strong value in child development will find it at Chippewa Valley Technical College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,844 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,087. Students borrow a median of $14,234 to complete the child development program here. Early-career child development graduates make about $45,531. That is a strong return on a $14,234 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point one of the best values for child development. Located in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,228, while out-of-state students pay about $18,248. Child Development graduates carry a median of $24,161 in student loans. Early-career child development graduates make about $41,256. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of Akron Main Campus earned the #6 position for value in child development this year. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,135, while out-of-state students pay about $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. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Baker College Of Flint came in at #7 for value in child development this year. Located in the town of Owosso, Baker College Of Flint is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $13,000 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $33,250 to complete the child development program here. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Baker College Of Flint generally make around $29,526. Set against $33,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Western Michigan University landed the #8 spot for child development value this year. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,987, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. Child Development graduates carry a median of $29,539 in student loans. Child Development graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $35,209 early in their careers. Set against $29,539 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Central Michigan University landed the #9 spot for child development value this year. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,480. Students borrow a median of $27,209 to complete the child development program here. Child Development graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of $35,318 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,209 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Michigan State University placed #10 among the best values for child development. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Students borrow a median of $29,750 to complete the child development program here. 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 #11 for value in child development this year. Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bourbonnais. In-state tuition and fees average $38,900. Students borrow a median of $26,797 to complete the child development program here. Child Development graduates of Olivet Nazarene University earn a median of $48,505 early in their careers. Set against $26,797 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #12 for value in child development this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,343 to complete the child development program here. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $30,748. That is a strong return on a $19,343 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Franciscan University Of Steubenville ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value child development schools. Located in the city of Steubenville, Franciscan University Of Steubenville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,100. Typical student debt for child development graduates is $25,029. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Franciscan University Of Steubenville generally make around $43,020. Set against $25,029 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Franciscan University Of Steubenville admits about 58% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
