2027 Best Value Child Development & Psychology Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Child Development & Psychology](/majors/psychology/child-development-psychology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong child development & psychology education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 159 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value child development & psychology schools.
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2027 Best Value Child Development & Psychology Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in child development & psychology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Child Development & Psychology Schools
Princeton University tops our 2027 list of the best value child development & psychology schools in the United States. Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Princeton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,688. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $10,888 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $47,050. That is a strong return on a $10,888 median debt. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,058, with out-of-state students paying around $34,484. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $24,323. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $83,560. Set against $24,323 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 14%.
Stanford University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $65,910. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes University Of California Merced one of the best values for child development & psychology. Set in the suburb of Merced, University Of California Merced is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,653, while out-of-state students pay about $46,541. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $18,318. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of California Merced earn a median of $42,071 early in their careers. Set against $18,318 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in child development & psychology will find it at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #5. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $18,708 in student loans. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $31,568 early in their careers. Set against $18,708 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California San Diego placed #6 among the best values for child development & psychology. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,788 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $23,420 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California San Diego admits about 27% of applicants.
University Of California Los Angeles earned the #7 position for value in child development & psychology this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,233, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,737 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $27,748. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Florida International University earned the #8 position for value in child development & psychology this year. Florida International University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Miami. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,565, while out-of-state students pay about $18,964. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $19,349. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $52,517. That is a strong return on a $19,349 median debt. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.
University Of California Berkeley earned the #9 position for value in child development & psychology this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $12,111. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $34,450 early in their careers. Set against $12,111 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Berkeley admits about 11% of applicants.
University Of Wyoming earned the #10 position for value in child development & psychology this year. Set in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,768, while out-of-state students pay about $24,178. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $20,283. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of Wyoming earn a median of $49,890 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wyoming admits about 97% of applicants.
University Of California Irvine ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. In-state tuition and fees average $14,752, compared with $46,640 for out-of-state students. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $29,830. That is a strong return on a $13,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 29%.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #12 among the best values for child development & psychology. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $15,754 in student loans. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $34,715. Set against $15,754 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Florida Atlantic University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,879, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $18,384 in student loans. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $23,981. That is a strong return on a $18,384 median debt. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Florida came in at #14 for value in child development & psychology this year. University Of North Florida is a large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. Students from in state pay about $5,964 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,407. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $18,750. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $30,816. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 53%.
University Of California Davis landed the #15 spot for child development & psychology value this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,804 in tuition and fees, compared with $47,692 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,219 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $32,301. Set against $13,219 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
American Public University System placed #16 among the best values for child development & psychology. American Public University System is a very large private for-profit school located in the town of Charles Town. Students from in state pay about $8,400 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $23,438. Child Development & Psychology graduates of American Public University System earn a median of $57,404 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bowdoin College came in at #17 for value in child development & psychology this year. Located in the town of Brunswick, Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,832. Students borrow a median of $20,658 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $58,938. That is a strong return on a $20,658 median debt. Bowdoin College admits about 7% of applicants.
University Of Chicago landed the #18 spot for child development & psychology value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $69,324. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $31,986. Set against $17,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #19 among the best values for child development & psychology. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $20,050. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $33,384 early in their careers. Set against $20,050 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Purdue University Main Campus earned the #20 position for value in child development & psychology this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $31,172. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
University Of Colorado Denver came in at #21 for value in child development & psychology this year. University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public school located in the city of Denver. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,383, with out-of-state students paying around $29,391. Students borrow a median of $21,878 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $35,155. That is a strong return on a $21,878 median debt. University Of Colorado Denver admits about 75% of applicants.
Western Kentucky University earned the #22 position for value in child development & psychology this year. Western Kentucky University is a large public school located in the city of Bowling Green. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,652, with out-of-state students paying around $27,000. Students borrow a median of $24,499 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Western Kentucky University earn a median of $44,778 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,499 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Murray State University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Set in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,900, compared with $19,836 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $20,500. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Murray State University earn a median of $23,674 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Riverside ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Located in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,636, with out-of-state students paying around $46,524. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of California Riverside generally make around $25,654. Set against $18,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
University Of Maryland College Park placed #25 among the best values for child development & psychology. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,809, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. Students borrow a median of $20,836 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $57,901. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Child Development & Psychology Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s child development & psychology value ranking:
Other Child Development & Psychology Degree Levels
Explore the best-value child development & psychology schools at other degree levels:
View All Child Development & Psychology Rankings >
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 · 159 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 159 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.
