2026 Best Value Developmental & Child Psychology Schools in the Southeast Region
[Developmental & Child Psychology](/majors/psychology/child-development-psychology/developmental-and-child-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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 10 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for developmental & child psychology students.
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2026 Best Value Developmental & Child Psychology Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in developmental & child psychology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Developmental & Child Psychology Schools
West Virginia University earned the #1 spot for value among developmental & child psychology schools in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,104, with out-of-state students paying around $28,608. Developmental & Child Psychology graduates carry a median of $23,772 in student loans. Soon after graduation, developmental & child psychology degree recipients from West Virginia University generally make around $51,750. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Savannah State University earned it the #2 place for developmental & child psychology. Set in the city of Savannah, Savannah State University is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,750, compared with $19,043 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for developmental & child psychology graduates is $33,450. Developmental & Child Psychology graduates of Savannah State University earn a median of $27,763 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Vanderbilt University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value developmental & child psychology schools. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. Developmental & Child Psychology graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. Soon after graduation, developmental & child psychology degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
Eckerd College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in developmental & child psychology, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Saint Petersburg, Eckerd College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $51,884 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,980 to complete the developmental & child psychology program here. Soon after graduation, developmental & child psychology degree recipients from Eckerd College generally make around $31,596. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Eckerd College admits about 76% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
