2027 Best Value Child Development & Psychology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 27 schools to find the best return on investment for child development & psychology students.
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2027 Best Value Child Development & Psychology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in child development & psychology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Child Development & Psychology Schools
Leading the list is University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, our #1 best value for child development & psychology in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $18,708. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $52,349. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 16%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Macomb Community College earned it the #2 place for child development & psychology. Located in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $9,862 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Macomb Community College generally make around $38,758. That is a strong return on a $9,862 median debt.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $20,050 in student loans. 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. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Students looking for strong value in child development & psychology will find it at Jackson Community College, which ranked #4. Located in the rural area of Jackson, Jackson Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,350, with out-of-state students paying around $10,200. Students borrow a median of $16,960 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Jackson Community College earn a median of $41,322 early in their careers. Set against $16,960 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $31,172 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 50%.
University Of Chicago landed the #6 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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. University Of Chicago admits about 4% of applicants.
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne landed the #7 spot for child development & psychology value this year. Set in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,532 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,887. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $20,487. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne earn a median of $32,031 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,487 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee landed the #8 spot for child development & psychology value this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,398, while out-of-state students pay about $22,398. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $26,657. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee generally make around $46,561. Set against $26,657 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee admits about 91% of applicants.
Ohio State University Newark Campus came in at #9 for value in child development & psychology this year. Located in the suburb of Newark, Ohio State University Newark Campus is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,488, while out-of-state students pay about $36,266. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $22,056 in student loans. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $35,090. That is a strong return on a $22,056 median debt.
Albion College placed #10 among the best values for child development & psychology. Set in the town of Albion, Albion College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,950. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $23,906. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #11 among the best values for child development & psychology. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $22,053. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $91,275. Set against $22,053 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Ball State University placed #12 among the best values for child development & psychology. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,082, with out-of-state students paying around $29,630. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $24,518. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $47,863. Set against $24,518 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Toledo came in at #13 for value in child development & psychology this year. Located in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,157 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,517. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $24,923 in student loans. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $52,675. That is a strong return on a $24,923 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Bloomington ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $31,129. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #15 position for value in child development & psychology this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $21,813. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $59,877. Set against $21,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois Institute Of Technology ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $52,202 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,774 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Illinois Institute Of Technology earn a median of $71,315 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,774 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
The College Of Wooster landed the #17 spot for child development & psychology value this year. Located in the town of Wooster, The College Of Wooster is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,640. Students borrow a median of $25,936 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $32,382. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Wabash College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Set in the town of Crawfordsville, Wabash College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $50,800. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Wabash College generally make around $40,138. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wabash College admits about 63% of applicants.
Knox College placed #19 among the best values for child development & psychology. Located in the town of Galesburg, Knox College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,903. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $27,822. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Earlham College landed the #20 spot for child development & psychology value this year. Set in the town of Richmond, Earlham College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $53,930 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Earlham College generally make around $43,038. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.
University Of Notre Dame earned the #21 position for value in child development & psychology this year. University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Notre Dame. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,025. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $19,891 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of Notre Dame generally make around $69,494. Set against $19,891 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Notre Dame admits about 11% of applicants.
Tiffin University came in at #22 for value in child development & psychology this year. Set in the town of Tiffin, Tiffin University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,790. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $30,977. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Tiffin University generally make around $51,326. That is a strong return on a $30,977 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Baldwin Wallace College placed #23 among the best values for child development & psychology. Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Berea. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,832. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $27,307. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Baldwin Wallace College earn a median of $46,668 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,307 median debt. Baldwin Wallace College admits about 76% of applicants.
Lake Forest College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Located in the suburb of Lake Forest, Lake Forest College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $56,402. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $26,839. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Lake Forest College earn a median of $41,168 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,839 median debt. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Northwestern University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,322 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $16,616. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $78,551. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 27 Best Value Child Development & Psychology Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for child development & psychology this year:
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More Child Development & Psychology Rankings
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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 · 27 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 27 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.
