2026 Best Value Child Development & Psychology Schools in New York
[Child Development & Psychology](/majors/psychology/child-development-psychology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong child development & psychology education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 35 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value child development & psychology schools.
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2026 Best Value Child Development & Psychology Schools in New York
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
Our analysis ranked Cuny Hunter College the best value for a degree in child development & psychology in New York. 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. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $11,091. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $51,372. That is a strong return on a $11,091 median debt. The acceptance rate is 54%.
Students looking for strong value in child development & psychology will find it at Canisius College, which ranked #2. Canisius College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Buffalo. Students from in state pay about $34,200 in tuition and fees. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Canisius College generally make around $29,333. That is a strong return on a $25,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Columbia University In The City Of New York is a great value for students pursuing a degree in child development & psychology, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,517. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $20,500. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $53,156. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
A rank of #4 makes Niagara University one of the best values for child development & psychology. Located in the suburb of Niagara University, Niagara University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,345. Students borrow a median of $26,623 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Niagara University generally make around $51,918. That is a strong return on a $26,623 median debt. Niagara University admits about 87% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes New York Institute Of Technology one of the best values for child development & psychology. Set in the rural area of Old Westbury, New York Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $46,560. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $25,435 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from New York Institute Of Technology generally make around $61,734. That is a strong return on a $25,435 median debt. New York Institute Of Technology admits about 81% of applicants.
St Francis College came in at #6 for value in child development & psychology this year. St Francis College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Brooklyn. In-state tuition and fees average $28,775. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $24,966. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $40,678. That is a strong return on a $24,966 median debt.
Utica College placed #7 among the best values for child development & psychology. Located in the city of Utica, Utica College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,930. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $31,695. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Colgate University came in at #8 for value in child development & psychology this year. Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Hamilton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,306. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $16,000. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Colgate University earn a median of $41,883 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,000 median debt. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
Hamilton College landed the #9 spot for child development & psychology value this year. Located in the suburb of Clinton, Hamilton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,960. Students borrow a median of $17,450 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Hamilton College earn a median of $39,880 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 14%.
University Of Rochester earned the #10 position for value in child development & psychology this year. Located in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,080 in tuition and fees. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $39,732. Set against $21,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Cornell University earned the #11 position for value in child development & psychology this year. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $69,314. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $15,005 in student loans. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $75,976. That is a strong return on a $15,005 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Pace University New York earned the #12 position for value in child development & psychology this year. Located in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,510. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $25,670. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $59,662. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Pace University New York admits about 76% of applicants.
Skidmore College placed #13 among the best values for child development & psychology. Skidmore College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,140. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $18,274 in student loans. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Skidmore College earn a median of $34,440 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,274 median debt. Skidmore College admits about 21% of applicants.
New York University placed #14 among the best values for child development & psychology. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,796. Students borrow a median of $21,499 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $43,236. That is a strong return on a $21,499 median debt. New York University admits about 9% of applicants.
Hofstra University came in at #15 for value in child development & psychology this year. Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hempstead. Students from in state pay about $57,660 in tuition and fees. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $24,848 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Hofstra University generally make around $55,705. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Hofstra University admits about 68% of applicants.
Union College New York landed the #16 spot for child development & psychology value this year. Located in the city of Schenectady, Union College New York is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $69,039 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $25,062. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $30,061. Set against $25,062 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 44% of applicants are accepted.
Vassar College landed the #17 spot for child development & psychology value this year. Set in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Vassar College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,030. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $19,000. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Vassar College generally make around $34,361. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Vassar College admits about 19% of applicants.
Barnard College earned the #18 position for value in child development & psychology this year. Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,888. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Barnard College earn a median of $44,055 early in their careers. Set against $17,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Barnard College admits about 9% of applicants.
Fordham University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. Students from in state pay about $64,470 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,643 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $57,989. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 35 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
