2026 Best Value Child Development & Psychology Schools in California
[Child Development & Psychology](/majors/psychology/child-development-psychology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 29 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value child development & psychology schools.
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2026 Best Value Child Development & Psychology Schools in California
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
California State University San Bernardino earned the #1 spot for value among child development & psychology schools in California. Located in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,088, while out-of-state students pay about $20,688. Students borrow a median of $16,750 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Child Development & Psychology graduates of California State University San Bernardino earn a median of $26,697 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
A rank of #2 makes Stanford University one of the best values for child development & psychology. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,910. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $10,492. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California San Diego is a great value for students pursuing a degree in child development & psychology, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,788 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $15,500. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $23,420. Set against $15,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 27%.
Students looking for strong value in child development & psychology will find it at University Of California Merced, which ranked #4. University Of California Merced is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Merced. In-state tuition and fees average $14,653, while out-of-state students pay about $46,541. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $18,318. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $42,071. That is a strong return on a $18,318 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of California Irvine one of the best values for child development & psychology. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. In-state tuition and fees average $14,752, while out-of-state students pay about $46,640. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $13,000. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $29,830. Set against $13,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.
San Francisco State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,846, while out-of-state students pay about $20,446. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $17,024 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $50,955. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. San Francisco State University admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of California Santa Barbara ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,444, compared with $47,332 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $15,000. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $34,431 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 33% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Riverside placed #8 among the best values for child development & psychology. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,636, with out-of-state students paying around $46,524. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $18,500. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $25,654. Set against $18,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
University Of California Los Angeles earned the #9 position for value in child development & psychology this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $16,737 in student loans. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $27,748. That is a strong return on a $16,737 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Berkeley ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,377, compared with $47,265 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,111 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $34,450 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,111 median debt. The acceptance rate is 11%.
University Of California Davis placed #11 among the best values for child development & psychology. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,804, with out-of-state students paying around $47,692. Students borrow a median of $13,219 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $32,301. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Pomona College came in at #12 for value in child development & psychology this year. Pomona College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Claremont. In-state tuition and fees average $65,420. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $75,954. Roughly 7% of applicants are accepted.
Claremont Mckenna College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Claremont Mckenna College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Claremont. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,980. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Claremont Mckenna College earn a median of $66,028 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. Claremont Mckenna College admits about 10% of applicants.
Pitzer College came in at #14 for value in child development & psychology this year. Pitzer College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Claremont. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,192. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $18,125 in student loans. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Pitzer College earn a median of $40,668 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Pitzer College admits about 25% of applicants.
University Of Southern California ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $71,647. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Child Development & Psychology graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $75,677 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,625 median debt. The acceptance rate is 10%.
Scripps College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Set in the suburb of Claremont, Scripps College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,950. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $77,539. Scripps College admits about 38% of applicants.
Occidental College earned the #17 position for value in child development & psychology this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Occidental College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,274. Students borrow a median of $22,967 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Occidental College earn a median of $41,514 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Occidental College admits about 44% of applicants.
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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 · 29 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.
