2026 Best Value Child Development & Psychology Master’s Degree Schools
[Child Development & Psychology](/majors/psychology/child-development-psychology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong child development & psychology education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 329 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for child development & psychology students.
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2026 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
Cuny Hunter College tops our 2026 list of the best value child development & psychology schools in the United States. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,382 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,332. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $11,091 in student loans. 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.
Stanford University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,910. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California State University San Bernardino earned it the #3 place for child development & psychology. Located in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,088 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,688. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $16,750. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $26,697. Set against $16,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned it the #4 place for child development & psychology. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 14%.
San Francisco State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in child development & psychology, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,846 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,446. Students borrow a median of $17,024 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Child Development & Psychology graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $50,955 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,024 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Georgia landed the #6 spot for child development & psychology value this year. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $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. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $53,546 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Florida landed the #7 spot for child development & psychology value this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,964 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,407. Students borrow a median of $18,750 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of North Florida earn a median of $30,816 early in their careers. Set against $18,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Florida admits about 53% of applicants.
New Mexico State University Main Campus came in at #8 for value in child development & psychology this year. Set in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,183, compared with $25,307 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,026 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Child Development & Psychology graduates of New Mexico State University Main Campus earn a median of $41,860 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. New Mexico State University Main Campus admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #9 for value in child development & psychology this year. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. Students from in state pay about $11,809 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,186. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $20,836 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $57,901. That is a strong return on a $20,836 median debt. University Of Maryland College Park admits about 45% of applicants.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $18,708. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $52,349. That is a strong return on a $18,708 median debt. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Riverside placed #11 among the best values for child development & psychology. University Of California Riverside is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. Students from in state pay about $14,636 in tuition and fees, 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. That is a strong return on a $18,500 median debt. University Of California Riverside admits about 76% of applicants.
Montclair State University earned the #12 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, with out-of-state students paying around $26,022. 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 Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #13 among the best values for child development & psychology. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Students borrow a median of $20,050 to complete the child development & psychology program here. 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.
University Of Nevada Reno earned the #14 position for value in child development & psychology this year. University Of Nevada Reno is a very large public school located in the city of Reno. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,578, compared with $27,720 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $19,918. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $69,459. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #15 for value in child development & psychology this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. Set against $21,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #16 position for value in child development & psychology this year. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Students borrow a median of $20,625 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $31,027. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #17 spot for child development & psychology value this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Students borrow a median of $22,053 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $91,275. Set against $22,053 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Johns Hopkins University earned the #18 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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,730. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $14,507. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $49,035. Set against $14,507 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Johns Hopkins University admits about 6% of applicants.
University Of Delaware came in at #19 for value in child development & psychology this year. University Of Delaware is a very large public school located in the suburb of Newark. Students from in state pay about $16,810 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,400 for out-of-state students. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $24,786 in student loans. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $31,532. That is a strong return on a $24,786 median debt. University Of Delaware admits about 71% of applicants.
Ball State University landed the #20 spot for child development & psychology value this year. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,082, while out-of-state students pay about $29,630. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $24,518 in student loans. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $47,863. Set against $24,518 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ball State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Bay Path College earned the #21 position for value in child development & psychology this year. Located in the suburb of Longmeadow, Bay Path College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $38,302 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,401 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Bay Path College earn a median of $23,898 early in their careers. Set against $29,401 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bay Path College admits about 85% of applicants.
Vanderbilt University earned the #22 position for value in child development & psychology this year. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,498. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $13,975. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $77,997 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Vanderbilt University admits about 6% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Dallas ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public school located in the city of Richardson. Students from in state pay about $14,644 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,144 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $51,067. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Texas State University San Marcos placed #24 among the best values for child development & psychology. Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $22,930. Students borrow a median of $23,659 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Texas State University San Marcos earn a median of $41,789 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,659 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Chicago earned the #25 position for value in child development & psychology this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,324. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $31,986. That is a strong return on a $17,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Child Development & Psychology Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in child development & psychology:
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
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 · 329 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 44 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.
