2026 Best Value Child development Schools in Ohio
[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 15 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for child development students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Child development Schools in Ohio
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in child development, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Child development Schools
Eastern Gateway Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value child development schools in Ohio. Located in the city of Steubenville, Eastern Gateway Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,225, compared with $6,071 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,642 to complete the child development program here. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Eastern Gateway Community College generally make around $37,052. That is a strong return on a $10,642 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Akron Main Campus earned it the #2 place for child development. University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Akron. In-state tuition and fees average $13,135, compared with $20,815 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for child development graduates is $31,000. Child Development graduates of University Of Akron Main Campus earn a median of $30,835 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Akron Main Campus admits about 60% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value child development schools. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Typical student debt for child development graduates is $19,343. Early-career child development graduates make about $49,736. That is a strong return on a $19,343 median debt. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Franciscan University Of Steubenville one of the best values for child development. Set in the city of Steubenville, Franciscan University Of Steubenville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. Franciscan University Of Steubenville admits about 58% of applicants.
More Child development Rankings
View All Child development Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
