2027 Best Value Child Development & Psychology Schools in New York
[Child Development & Psychology](/majors/psychology/child-development-psychology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 18 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 New York
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 2027 list of the best value child development & psychology schools in New York. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,382, with out-of-state students paying around $15,332. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $11,091 in student loans. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $51,372 early in their careers. Set against $11,091 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Niagara University earned it the #2 place for child development & psychology. Niagara University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Niagara University. In-state tuition and fees average $39,345. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $26,623 in student loans. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $51,918. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Niagara University admits about 87% of applicants.
St Francis College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in child development & psychology, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, St Francis College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,775. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $24,966 in student loans. Child Development & Psychology graduates of St Francis College earn a median of $40,678 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,966 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Canisius College one of the best values for child development & psychology. Canisius College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Buffalo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,200. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $25,250. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Canisius College earn a median of $29,333 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Canisius College admits about 72% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in child development & psychology will find it at Columbia University In The City Of New York, which ranked #5. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $70,517. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $20,500. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $53,156 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Utica College landed the #6 spot for child development & psychology value this year. Utica College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Utica. In-state tuition and fees average $26,930. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the child development & psychology program here. 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%.
Cornell University placed #7 among the best values for child development & psychology. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. The acceptance rate is 9%.
New York Institute Of Technology came in at #8 for value in child development & psychology this year. New York Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Old Westbury. In-state tuition and fees average $46,560. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $25,435. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $61,734. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Colgate University earned the #9 position 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. Students from in state pay about $70,306 in tuition and fees. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $16,000 in student loans. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $41,883. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 14%.
Barnard College landed the #10 spot for child development & psychology value this year. Located in the city of New York, Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,888. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $17,000. 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. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Hamilton College landed the #11 spot for child development & psychology value this year. Set in the suburb of Clinton, Hamilton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,960 in tuition and fees. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $17,450 in student loans. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $39,880. That is a strong return on a $17,450 median debt. Hamilton College admits about 14% of applicants.
University Of Rochester came in at #12 for value in child development & psychology this year. Set in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,080. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $21,000. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $39,732. That is a strong return on a $21,000 median debt. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Pace University New York landed the #13 spot for child development & psychology value this year. Located in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $53,510 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,656 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Pace University New York generally make around $59,662. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Skidmore College came in at #14 for value in child development & psychology this year. Located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Skidmore College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,140. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $18,274. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Skidmore College generally make around $34,440. That is a strong return on a $18,274 median debt. Skidmore College admits about 21% of applicants.
Union College New York placed #15 among the best values for child development & psychology. Set in the city of Schenectady, Union College New York is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,039. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $25,062 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Union College New York generally make around $30,061. That is a strong return on a $25,062 median debt. Union College New York admits about 44% of applicants.
New York University landed the #16 spot for child development & psychology value this year. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $62,796. Students borrow a median of $21,499 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from New York University generally make around $43,236. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Vassar College earned the #17 position for value in child development & psychology this year. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Vassar College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $71,030 in tuition and fees. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $34,361. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 19%.
Fordham University ranked #18 on our 2027 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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,470. 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. Set against $25,643 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Fordham University admits about 59% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
