2026 Best Value Developmental & Child Psychology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Developmental & Child Psychology](/majors/psychology/child-development-psychology/developmental-and-child-psychology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong developmental & child psychology education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 23 schools to find the best return on investment for developmental & child psychology students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Developmental & Child Psychology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in developmental & child psychology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Developmental & Child Psychology Schools
Leading the list is University Of Maryland College Park, our #1 best value for developmental & child psychology in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,809, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. Typical student debt for developmental & child psychology graduates is $20,836. Developmental & Child Psychology graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $57,901 early in their careers. Set against $20,836 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Maryland College Park admits about 45% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Montclair State University earned it the #2 place for developmental & child psychology. Set in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,912 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $26,022. Typical student debt for developmental & child psychology graduates is $25,286. Soon after graduation, developmental & child psychology degree recipients from Montclair State University generally make around $44,369. Set against $25,286 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Montclair State University admits about 88% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Johns Hopkins University one of the best values for developmental & child psychology. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,730. Students borrow a median of $14,507 to complete the developmental & child psychology program here. Early-career developmental & child psychology graduates make about $49,035. That is a strong return on a $14,507 median debt. The acceptance rate is 6%.
A rank of #4 makes Columbia University In The City Of New York one of the best values for developmental & child psychology. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,517. Typical student debt for developmental & child psychology graduates is $20,500. Developmental & Child Psychology graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $53,156 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earned it the #5 place for developmental & child psychology. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,926, with out-of-state students paying around $41,430. Typical student debt for developmental & child psychology graduates is $24,958. Soon after graduation, developmental & child psychology degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $56,926. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Utica College placed #6 among the best values for developmental & child psychology. Utica College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Utica. Students from in state pay about $26,930 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the developmental & child psychology program here. Soon after graduation, developmental & child psychology degree recipients from Utica College generally make around $31,695. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of Rochester landed the #7 spot for developmental & child psychology value this year. Located in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,080. Developmental & Child Psychology graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, developmental & child psychology degree recipients from University Of Rochester generally make around $39,732. That is a strong return on a $21,000 median debt. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Pace University New York landed the #8 spot for developmental & child psychology value this year. Set in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $53,510. Developmental & Child Psychology graduates carry a median of $25,670 in student loans. Early-career developmental & child psychology graduates make about $59,662. That is a strong return on a $25,670 median debt. Pace University New York admits about 76% of applicants.
University Of Pennsylvania ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value developmental & child psychology schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,686. Typical student debt for developmental & child psychology graduates is $18,125. Developmental & Child Psychology graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $45,674 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Cornell University came in at #10 for value in developmental & child psychology this year. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $69,314 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for developmental & child psychology graduates is $15,005. Soon after graduation, developmental & child psychology degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $75,976. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Lehigh University earned the #11 position for value in developmental & child psychology this year. Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. Students from in state pay about $64,980 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,008 to complete the developmental & child psychology program here. Developmental & Child Psychology graduates of Lehigh University earn a median of $70,321 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 26%.
Duquesne University placed #12 among the best values for developmental & child psychology. Duquesne University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,986. Developmental & Child Psychology graduates carry a median of $26,297 in student loans. Developmental & Child Psychology graduates of Duquesne University earn a median of $54,826 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,297 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
New York University placed #13 among the best values for developmental & child psychology. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $62,796. Students borrow a median of $21,499 to complete the developmental & child psychology program here. Early-career developmental & child psychology graduates make about $43,236. That is a strong return on a $21,499 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Fordham University placed #14 among the best values for developmental & child psychology. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $64,470. Developmental & Child Psychology graduates carry a median of $25,643 in student loans. Developmental & Child Psychology graduates of Fordham University earn a median of $57,989 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 59%.
Narrow Developmental & Child Psychology Schools by State
More Developmental & Child Psychology Rankings
View All Developmental & Child Psychology Rankings >
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 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.
