2027 Best Value Child development Master’s Degree Schools
[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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 15 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value child development schools.
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2027 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
Texas Womans University tops our 2027 list of the best value child development schools in the United States. Texas Womans University is a large public school located in the city of Denton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,640, compared with $18,480 for out-of-state students. Child Development graduates carry a median of $24,170 in student loans. Early-career child development graduates make about $43,090. Set against $24,170 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value child development schools. Set in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,228 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,248. Child Development graduates carry a median of $24,161 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point generally make around $41,256. That is a strong return on a $24,161 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Vanderbilt University earned it the #3 place for child development. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. 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. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in child development will find it at University Of Central Missouri, which ranked #4. University Of Central Missouri is a large public school located in the town of Warrensburg. Students from in state pay about $10,050 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,600 for out-of-state students. Child Development graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from University Of Central Missouri generally make around $39,959. Set against $24,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
A rank of #5 makes Utah State University one of the best values for child development. Located in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,560, with out-of-state students paying around $24,993. Child Development graduates carry a median of $16,573 in student loans. Early-career child development graduates make about $26,561. Set against $16,573 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Towson University earned the #6 position for value in child development this year. Located in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,728, while out-of-state students pay about $29,820. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the child development program here. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Towson University generally make around $50,370. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus placed #7 among the best values for child development. Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Stillwater. In-state tuition and fees average $10,110, with out-of-state students paying around $25,630. Typical student debt for child development graduates is $23,858. Early-career child development graduates make about $45,321. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Oklahoma State University Main Campus admits about 75% of applicants.
Kansas State University earned the #8 position for value in child development this year. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,221, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the child development program here. 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. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of La Verne came in at #9 for value in child development this year. 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. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the child development program here. Child Development graduates of University Of La Verne earn a median of $35,364 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. University Of La Verne admits about 71% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #10 for value in child development this year. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. In-state tuition and fees average $14,837, while out-of-state students pay about $36,056. Child Development graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career child development graduates make about $47,426. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Boston University earned the #11 position for value in child development this year. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,102. Typical student debt for child development graduates is $25,232. Early-career child development graduates make about $49,851. Set against $25,232 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Boston University admits about 11% of applicants.
Auburn University placed #12 among the best values for child development. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,890, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Typical student debt for child development graduates is $25,000. Child Development graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $30,502 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Erikson Institute ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value child development schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Erikson Institute is a small private not-for-profit university. Soon after graduation, child development degree recipients from Erikson Institute generally make around $47,889.
Nova Southeastern University came in at #14 for value in child development this year. Located in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale, Nova Southeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,700. Child Development graduates carry a median of $25,021 in student loans. Child Development graduates of Nova Southeastern University earn a median of $46,052 early in their careers. Set against $25,021 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Tufts University earned the #15 position 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. Child Development graduates carry a median of $16,170 in student loans. 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. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Other Child development Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Child development rankings across degree levels:
View All Child development Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
