2027 Best Value Child Development & Psychology Schools in the Southeast Region
[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.
College Factual analyzed 32 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value child development & psychology schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Child Development & Psychology Schools in the Southeast Region
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
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned the #1 spot for value among child development & psychology schools in the Southeast Region. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,058, while out-of-state students pay about $34,484. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $24,323. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $83,560. Set against $24,323 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus admits about 14% of applicants.
Florida International University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in child development & psychology, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,565, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $19,349 in student loans. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $52,517. Set against $19,349 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.
Florida Atlantic University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,879, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Students borrow a median of $18,384 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of $23,981 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
American Public University System came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Located in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,400. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $23,438. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from American Public University System generally make around $57,404. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Georgia came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $21,792. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $53,546 early in their careers. Set against $21,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 38%.
University Of North Florida came in at #6 for value in child development & psychology this year. 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. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $18,750. 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. The acceptance rate is 53%.
Murray State University came in at #7 for value in child development & psychology this year. Set in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,900, with out-of-state students paying around $19,836. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Murray State University earn a median of $23,674 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Georgia landed the #8 spot for child development & psychology value this year. Located in the town of Dahlonega, University Of North Georgia is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,444 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,956. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $22,749 in student loans. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $30,389. That is a strong return on a $22,749 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Western Kentucky University landed the #9 spot for child development & psychology value this year. Located in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,652, with out-of-state students paying around $27,000. Students borrow a median of $24,499 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Western Kentucky University earn a median of $44,778 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,499 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Vanderbilt University came in at #10 for value in child development & psychology this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $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.
University Of North Alabama ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Set in the city of Florence, University Of North Alabama is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,120, compared with $22,320 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,750 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $20,182. That is a strong return on a $21,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
East Carolina University placed #12 among the best values for child development & psychology. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,361, compared with $23,638 for out-of-state students. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $24,747 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $51,931. Set against $24,747 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Davidson College came in at #13 for value in child development & psychology this year. Set in the suburb of Davidson, Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,430. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $19,906 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Davidson College generally make around $41,505. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 13% of applicants are accepted.
Savannah State University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Savannah State University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Savannah. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,750, compared with $19,043 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $33,450. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Savannah State University generally make around $27,763. Set against $33,450 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Coastal Georgia placed #15 among the best values for child development & psychology. Located in the city of Brunswick, College Of Coastal Georgia is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,616, compared with $10,936 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,240 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from College Of Coastal Georgia generally make around $40,858. That is a strong return on a $19,240 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tennessee came in at #16 for value in child development & psychology this year. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,812, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $22,859 in student loans. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $49,826. Set against $22,859 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Lindsey Wilson College earned the #17 position for value in child development & psychology this year. Located in the town of Columbia, Lindsey Wilson College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $27,808. Students borrow a median of $24,119 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Lindsey Wilson College generally make around $37,808. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Stetson University came in at #18 for value in child development & psychology this year. Stetson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of DeLand. In-state tuition and fees average $57,410. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $25,382. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Stetson University generally make around $38,839. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
University Of Virginia Main Campus ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $23,118 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $61,591. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $18,627. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $69,126. That is a strong return on a $18,627 median debt. The acceptance rate is 17%.
Oglethorpe University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Located in the suburb of Atlanta, Oglethorpe University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,590. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $26,800 in student loans. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Oglethorpe University earn a median of $34,113 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia College And State University landed the #21 spot for child development & psychology value this year. Set in the town of Milledgeville, Georgia College And State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,186, compared with $29,512 for out-of-state students. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Georgia College And State University generally make around $32,149. Set against $24,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Centre College earned the #22 position for value in child development & psychology this year. Set in the town of Danville, Centre College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $52,820. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $32,327. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 54%.
Berry College came in at #23 for value in child development & psychology this year. Berry College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Mount Berry. In-state tuition and fees average $41,486. Students borrow a median of $24,797 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Berry College generally make around $50,785. That is a strong return on a $24,797 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Charleston ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Set in the city of Charleston, University Of Charleston is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $22,617 in tuition and fees. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $22,646 in student loans. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of Charleston earn a median of $64,407 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,646 median debt. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Carolina Columbia landed the #25 spot for child development & psychology value this year. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,688, with out-of-state students paying around $36,298. Students borrow a median of $24,250 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Columbia generally make around $29,350. That is a strong return on a $24,250 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 32 Best Value Child Development & Psychology Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s child development & psychology value ranking:
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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 · 32 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 32 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.
