2027 Best Value Child Development & Psychology Schools in Missouri
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 10 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 Missouri
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 Ozarks Technical Community College the best value for a degree in child development & psychology in Missouri. Set in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,256 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,040. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $15,866 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Ozarks Technical Community College generally make around $36,644. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Missouri Southern State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in child development & psychology, landing the #2 spot this year. Missouri Southern State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Joplin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,600, with out-of-state students paying around $18,300. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $22,241 in student loans. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $39,434. That is a strong return on a $22,241 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Cottey College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Cottey College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Nevada. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,562. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Median earnings reach $35,422 ten years out. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
University Of Central Missouri is a great value for students pursuing a degree in child development & psychology, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,050 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,600 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $20,810. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of Central Missouri earn a median of $34,822 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,810 median debt. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Northwest Missouri State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in child development & psychology, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,611, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,540 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Northwest Missouri State University generally make around $35,556. That is a strong return on a $25,540 median debt. Northwest Missouri State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Missouri State University Springfield earned the #6 position for value in child development & psychology this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,502, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $24,408. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $59,052 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,408 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #7 spot for child development & psychology value this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,818 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $53,134. That is a strong return on a $21,818 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Park University earned the #8 position for value in child development & psychology this year. Located in the suburb of Parkville, Park University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,116. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $22,660 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Park University generally make around $40,313. Set against $22,660 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Washington University In St Louis placed #9 among the best values for child development & psychology. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. Students from in state pay about $65,790 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $15,450 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $37,377 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,450 median debt. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis came in at #10 for value in child development & psychology this year. Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,166. Students borrow a median of $24,499 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Maryville University Of Saint Louis generally make around $67,909. Set against $24,499 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
