2026 Best Value Child development Master’s Degree Schools
[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 279 schools to find the best return on investment for child development students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Child development Schools in the United States
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
Our analysis ranked Texas Womans University the best value for a degree in child development in the United States. Located in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,640 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,480. Students borrow a median of $24,170 to complete the child development program here. Early-career child development graduates make about $43,090. Set against $24,170 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas Womans University admits about 96% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in child development will find it at Eastern Washington University, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Cheney, Eastern Washington University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,586, with out-of-state students paying around $26,583. Typical student debt for child development graduates is $19,936. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Eastern Washington University generally make around $28,589. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Eastern Washington University admits about 91% of applicants.
Washington State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value child development schools. Located in the town of Pullman, Washington State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,391, with out-of-state students paying around $29,950. Child Development graduates carry a median of $24,019 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Washington State University generally make around $39,880. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Washington State University admits about 87% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in child development will find it at Towson University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,728, with out-of-state students paying around $29,820. Child Development graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Early-career child development graduates make about $50,370. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in child development, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,110, compared with $25,630 for out-of-state students. Child Development graduates carry a median of $23,858 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Oklahoma State University Main Campus generally make around $45,321. Set against $23,858 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Kansas State University came in at #6 for value in child development this year. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. In-state tuition and fees average $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Typical student debt for child development graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $51,067. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri State University Springfield placed #7 among the best values for child development. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the child development program here. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $32,769. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Vanderbilt University landed the #8 spot for child development value this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,498 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete the child development program here. Child Development graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $77,997 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Vanderbilt University admits about 6% of applicants.
Concordia University Saint Paul placed #9 among the best values for child development. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,600. Students borrow a median of $30,583 to complete the child development program here. Child Development graduates of Concordia University Saint Paul earn a median of $45,027 early in their careers. Set against $30,583 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Texas Tech University placed #10 among the best values for child development. Texas Tech University is a very large public school located in the city of Lubbock. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,852, while out-of-state students pay about $24,157. Child Development graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $39,096. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas Tech University admits about 73% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #11 for value in child development this year. 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, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the child development program here. Child Development graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $47,426 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Lee University landed the #12 spot for child development value this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,790. Child Development graduates carry a median of $26,422 in student loans. Child Development graduates of Lee University earn a median of $38,249 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,422 median debt. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Auburn University landed the #13 spot for child development value this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,890 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Child Development graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career child development graduates make about $30,502. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Erikson Institute landed the #14 spot for child development value this year. Erikson Institute is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Child Development graduates of Erikson Institute earn a median of $47,889 early in their careers.
University Of La Verne placed #15 among the best values for child development. Set in the suburb of La Verne, University Of La Verne is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $49,470 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for child development graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from University Of La Verne generally make around $35,364. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
University Of Rochester came in at #16 for value in child development this year. Located in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,080. Child Development graduates carry a median of $21,517 in student loans. Child Development graduates of University Of Rochester earn a median of $60,865 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Rochester admits about 40% of applicants.
Nova Southeastern University came in at #17 for value in child development this year. Nova Southeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale. Students from in state pay about $38,700 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,021 to complete the child development program here. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Nova Southeastern University generally make around $46,052. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned the #18 position for value in child development this year. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $20,644, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Median earnings reach $63,435 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Tufts University came in at #19 for value in child development this year. Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. In-state tuition and fees average $70,704. Typical student debt for child development graduates is $16,170. Child Development graduates of Tufts University earn a median of $45,105 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Tufts University admits about 12% of applicants.
Other Child development Degree Levels
Explore the best-value child development schools at other degree levels:
View All Child development Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 7 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.
