2026 Best Value Child development Schools in Massachusetts
[Child development](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/child-development/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for child development students.
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2026 Best Value Child development Schools in Massachusetts
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
Leading the list is Massasoit Community College, our #1 best value for child development in Massachusetts. Set in the suburb of Brockton, Massasoit Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,376, with out-of-state students paying around $10,320. Child Development graduates carry a median of $10,894 in student loans. Child Development graduates of Massasoit Community College earn a median of $42,938 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,894 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mount Wachusett Community College earned it the #2 place for child development. Located in the suburb of Gardner, Mount Wachusett Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,160 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,080. Typical student debt for child development graduates is $5,921. Child Development graduates of Mount Wachusett Community College earn a median of $27,078 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in child development will find it at Tufts University, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,704. Typical student debt for child development graduates is $16,170. Child Development graduates of Tufts University earn a median of $44,725 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,170 median debt. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Merrimack College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value child development schools. Set in the suburb of North Andover, Merrimack College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,962. Typical student debt for child development graduates is $27,000. Child Development graduates of Merrimack College earn a median of $50,506 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Merrimack College admits about 70% of applicants.
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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 · 5 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.
