2026 Best Value Child Development & Psychology Schools in Massachusetts
[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 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 23 schools to find the best return on investment for child development & psychology students.
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2026 Best Value Child Development & Psychology Schools in Massachusetts
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 Williams College the best value for a degree in child development & psychology in Massachusetts. Set in the town of Williamstown, Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,560. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $12,615. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $53,652. That is a strong return on a $12,615 median debt. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Harvard University came in at #2 on our 2026 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. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $41,501. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Harvard University admits about 4% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in child development & psychology will find it at Amherst College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Amherst, Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $70,480 in tuition and fees. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $10,800 in student loans. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $45,786. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Bay Path College one of the best values for child development & psychology. Bay Path College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Longmeadow. In-state tuition and fees average $38,302. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $29,401. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Bay Path College earn a median of $23,898 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,401 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Students looking for strong value in child development & psychology will find it at University Of Massachusetts Boston, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,898, compared with $38,115 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,236 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Boston generally make around $52,885. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Wellesley College placed #6 among the best values for child development & psychology. Set in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,176 in tuition and fees. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $12,500 in student loans. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Wellesley College earn a median of $36,283 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,500 median debt. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
Gordon College placed #7 among the best values for child development & psychology. Located in the rural area of Wenham, Gordon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,700. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $25,612. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Gordon College earn a median of $37,097 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Smith College landed the #8 spot for child development & psychology value this year. Set in the city of Northampton, Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,178. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $19,000. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Smith College generally make around $43,717. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 21% of applicants are accepted.
Mount Holyoke College landed the #9 spot for child development & psychology value this year. Located in the suburb of South Hadley, Mount Holyoke College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,018. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $32,439. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 36%.
Emmanuel College Massachusetts earned the #10 position for value in child development & psychology this year. Set in the city of Boston, Emmanuel College Massachusetts is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,550. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Emmanuel College Massachusetts generally make around $36,603. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Northeastern University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Set in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,162. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Northeastern University generally make around $38,463. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Brandeis University came in at #12 for value in child development & psychology this year. Located in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,080. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $26,787. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Brandeis University earn a median of $37,494 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Tufts University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $70,704. Students borrow a median of $15,875 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $56,504. That is a strong return on a $15,875 median debt. The acceptance rate is 12%.
Boston College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Located in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $70,702 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $18,101 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Boston College generally make around $66,132. Set against $18,101 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 16%.
More Child Development & Psychology Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
