2026 Best Value Child Advocacy & Policy Master’s Degree Schools
[Child Advocacy & Policy](/majors/social-services-public-administration/social-work/child-advocacy-and-policy/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong child advocacy & policy education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 41 schools to find the best return on investment for child advocacy & policy students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Child Advocacy & Policy Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the child advocacy & policy degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Child Advocacy & Policy Schools
California State University Los Angeles earned the #1 spot for value among child advocacy & policy schools in the United States. California State University Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,164, while out-of-state students pay about $19,764. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the child advocacy & policy program here. Child Advocacy & Policy graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of $48,403 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny York College earned it the #2 place for child advocacy & policy. Set in the city of Jamaica, Cuny York College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,358 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,308 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the child advocacy & policy program here. Child Advocacy & Policy graduates of Cuny York College earn a median of $49,559 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Rhode Island College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in child advocacy & policy, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Providence, Rhode Island College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,300, while out-of-state students pay about $27,299. Child Advocacy & Policy graduates carry a median of $24,100 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child advocacy & policy degree recipients from Rhode Island College generally make around $54,937. Set against $24,100 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Rhode Island College admits about 92% of applicants.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value child advocacy & policy schools. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Students borrow a median of $17,396 to complete the child advocacy & policy program here. Soon after graduation, child advocacy & policy degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $65,681. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Eastern Kentucky University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value child advocacy & policy schools. Eastern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the town of Richmond. Students from in state pay about $10,320 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,230 for out-of-state students. Child Advocacy & Policy graduates carry a median of $30,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child advocacy & policy degree recipients from Eastern Kentucky University generally make around $33,575. Set against $30,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Alabama placed #6 among the best values for child advocacy & policy. Located in the city of Florence, University Of North Alabama is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,120, compared with $22,320 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $30,500 to complete the child advocacy & policy program here. Early-career child advocacy & policy graduates make about $36,948. Set against $30,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Wayne State University came in at #7 for value in child advocacy & policy this year. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. Students from in state pay about $16,159 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,650. Typical student debt for child advocacy & policy graduates is $28,012. Soon after graduation, child advocacy & policy degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $55,469. Set against $28,012 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Alaska Anchorage placed #8 among the best values for child advocacy & policy. University Of Alaska Anchorage is a large public school located in the city of Anchorage. Students from in state pay about $7,738 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,322. Typical student debt for child advocacy & policy graduates is $31,750. Soon after graduation, child advocacy & policy degree recipients from University Of Alaska Anchorage generally make around $63,535. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Georgia State University placed #9 among the best values for child advocacy & policy. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,664, with out-of-state students paying around $24,840. Child Advocacy & Policy graduates carry a median of $30,533 in student loans. Early-career child advocacy & policy graduates make about $51,103. Set against $30,533 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado State University Fort Collins came in at #10 for value in child advocacy & policy this year. Set in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,373, while out-of-state students pay about $35,061. Child Advocacy & Policy graduates carry a median of $23,387 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child advocacy & policy degree recipients from Colorado State University Fort Collins generally make around $51,716. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Graduate School And University Center placed #11 among the best values for child advocacy & policy. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,235, while out-of-state students pay about $15,185. Students borrow a median of $17,921 to complete the child advocacy & policy program here. Child Advocacy & Policy graduates of Cuny Graduate School And University Center earn a median of $72,222 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,921 median debt. Cuny Graduate School And University Center admits about 68% of applicants.
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus came in at #12 for value in child advocacy & policy this year. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Durham. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,202, compared with $39,852 for out-of-state students. Child Advocacy & Policy graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child advocacy & policy degree recipients from University Of New Hampshire Main Campus generally make around $52,064. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Boston University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value child advocacy & policy schools. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,102. Students borrow a median of $25,232 to complete the child advocacy & policy program here. Child Advocacy & Policy graduates of Boston University earn a median of $57,991 early in their careers. Set against $25,232 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value child advocacy & policy schools. Set in the town of Shippensburg, Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,570, while out-of-state students pay about $15,824. Child Advocacy & Policy graduates carry a median of $26,982 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child advocacy & policy degree recipients from Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $48,868. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania admits about 86% of applicants.
Southeastern University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value child advocacy & policy schools. Located in the city of Lakeland, Southeastern University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $32,950 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for child advocacy & policy graduates is $24,923. Soon after graduation, child advocacy & policy degree recipients from Southeastern University generally make around $48,071. Set against $24,923 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southeastern University admits about 53% of applicants.
Nova Southeastern University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value child advocacy & policy schools. Nova Southeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale. In-state tuition and fees average $38,700. Child Advocacy & Policy graduates carry a median of $25,021 in student loans. Early-career child advocacy & policy graduates make about $44,652. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Catholic University Of America placed #17 among the best values for child advocacy & policy. Catholic University Of America is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Students from in state pay about $58,378 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the child advocacy & policy program here. Early-career child advocacy & policy graduates make about $59,489. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Christian University earned the #18 position for value in child advocacy & policy this year. Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Worth. Students from in state pay about $61,740 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for child advocacy & policy graduates is $24,000. Early-career child advocacy & policy graduates make about $50,464. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas Christian University admits about 44% of applicants.
Loyola University Chicago earned the #19 position for value in child advocacy & policy this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. Child Advocacy & Policy graduates carry a median of $21,133 in student loans. Child Advocacy & Policy graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $51,834 early in their careers. Set against $21,133 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Other Child Advocacy & Policy Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Child Advocacy & Policy rankings across degree levels:
View All Child Advocacy & Policy Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 41 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
