2027 Best Value Child Development & Psychology Schools in the Southwest Region

[Child Development & Psychology](/majors/psychology/child-development-psychology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value child development & psychology schools.
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2027 Best Value Child Development & Psychology Schools in the Southwest 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
Our analysis ranked Arizona State University the best value for a degree in child development & psychology in the Southwest Region. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $21,842 in student loans. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $55,876. That is a strong return on a $21,842 median debt. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in child development & psychology will find it at Northeastern State University, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Tahlequah, Northeastern State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,810, compared with $17,290 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,029 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $32,440. That is a strong return on a $25,029 median debt. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Students looking for strong value in child development & psychology will find it at University Of Arizona, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Students borrow a median of $21,325 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $28,494. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Texas State University San Marcos one of the best values for child development & psychology. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,930 for out-of-state students. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $23,659 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos generally make around $41,789. That is a strong return on a $23,659 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in child development & psychology will find it at The University Of Texas At Dallas, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Richardson, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,644, with out-of-state students paying around $40,144. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Child Development & Psychology graduates of The University Of Texas At Dallas earn a median of $43,525 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. The University Of Texas At Dallas admits about 65% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #6 for value in child development & psychology this year. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,688 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. Students borrow a median of $21,275 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $57,819. That is a strong return on a $21,275 median debt. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants.
Texas A And M University College Station placed #7 among the best values for child development & psychology. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,995 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Students borrow a median of $20,031 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $64,891. Set against $20,031 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Southern Nazarene University earned the #8 position for value in child development & psychology this year. Set in the suburb of Bethany, Southern Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,190. Students borrow a median of $29,684 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Southern Nazarene University earn a median of $53,851 early in their careers. Set against $29,684 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Trinity University came in at #9 for value in child development & psychology this year. Trinity University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Antonio. In-state tuition and fees average $53,676. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $25,892. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $57,496. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Trinity University admits about 26% of applicants.
Letourneau University placed #10 among the best values for child development & psychology. Letourneau University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Longview. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,160. Students borrow a median of $32,086 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $53,569. Set against $32,086 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Christian University came in at #11 for value in child development & psychology this year. Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Worth. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,740. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $21,500. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Texas Christian University earn a median of $60,035 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas Christian University admits about 44% of applicants.
Southern Methodist University placed #12 among the best values for child development & psychology. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,040. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $20,712. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Southern Methodist University generally make around $70,632. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.