2027 Best Value Child Development & Psychology Master’s Degree Schools
[Child Development & Psychology](/majors/psychology/child-development-psychology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 58 schools to find the best return on investment for child development & psychology students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Child Development & Psychology Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the child development & psychology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Child Development & Psychology Schools
Leading the list is Cuny Hunter College, our #1 best value for child development & psychology in the United States. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,382, compared with $15,332 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,091 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $51,372. That is a strong return on a $11,091 median debt. Cuny Hunter College admits about 54% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned it the #2 place for child development & psychology. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. Students from in state pay about $12,058 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,484. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $83,560. That is a strong return on a $24,323 median debt. The acceptance rate is 14%.
Students looking for strong value in child development & psychology will find it at California State University San Bernardino, which ranked #3. Set in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,088, with out-of-state students paying around $20,688. Students borrow a median of $16,750 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from California State University San Bernardino generally make around $26,697. Set against $16,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
San Francisco State University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,846, while out-of-state students pay about $20,446. Students borrow a median of $17,020 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Child Development & Psychology graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $49,716 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,020 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes University Of California San Diego one of 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. In-state tuition and fees average $15,788, compared with $47,676 for out-of-state students. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $23,420. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #6 position for value in child development & psychology this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Students borrow a median of $18,708 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $52,349 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Georgia came in at #7 for value in child development & psychology this year. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Students borrow a median of $21,792 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $53,546. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #8 for value in child development & psychology this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $15,754 in student loans. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $34,715. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. 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. That is a strong return on a $20,050 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
University Of North Florida placed #10 among the best values for child development & psychology. University Of North Florida is a large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,964, with out-of-state students paying around $19,407. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of North Florida generally make around $30,816. Set against $18,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 53% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Main Campus earned the #11 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, 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. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
Vanderbilt University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,498. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $13,975. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $77,997. Set against $13,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Vanderbilt University admits about 6% of applicants.
San Diego State University landed the #13 spot for child development & psychology value this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,728, with out-of-state students paying around $21,328. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $16,417. Child Development & Psychology graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $51,162 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,417 median debt. The acceptance rate is 36%.
University Of Maryland College Park ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,809, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. 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. Set against $20,836 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Riverside placed #15 among the best values for child development & psychology. University Of California Riverside is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. In-state tuition and fees average $14,636, while out-of-state students pay about $46,524. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $25,654. Set against $18,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #16 among the best values for child development & psychology. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $22,053 in student loans. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $91,275. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Montclair State University earned the #17 position for value in child development & psychology this year. Set in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,912, compared with $26,022 for out-of-state students. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $25,286 in student loans. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Montclair State University earn a median of $44,369 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,286 median debt. Montclair State University admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Nevada Reno earned the #18 position for value in child development & psychology this year. Set in the city of Reno, University Of Nevada Reno is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,578, compared with $27,720 for out-of-state students. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $19,918 in student loans. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of Nevada Reno earn a median of $69,459 early in their careers. Set against $19,918 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Ball State University placed #19 among the best values for child development & psychology. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,082, compared with $29,630 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $24,518. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $47,863 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ball State University admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,214 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $20,625. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $31,027. Set against $20,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #21 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. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,813 median debt. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Johns Hopkins University earned the #22 position for value in child development & psychology this year. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Students from in state pay about $64,730 in tuition and fees. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $14,507 in student loans. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $49,035. That is a strong return on a $14,507 median debt. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Harvard University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $61,676 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $41,501. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Texas State University San Marcos placed #24 among the best values for child development & psychology. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,930. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $23,659. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $41,789. That is a strong return on a $23,659 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Dallas earned the #25 position for value in child development & psychology this year. The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public school located in the city of Richardson. In-state tuition and fees average $14,644, while out-of-state students pay about $40,144. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $51,067. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Child Development & Psychology Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for child development & psychology this year:
Other Child Development & Psychology Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Child Development & Psychology rankings across degree levels:
View All Child Development & Psychology Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 58 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 58 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.
