by our College Data Analytics Team
[Child Development & Psychology](/majors/psychology/child-development-psychology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 21 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value child development & psychology schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the child development & psychology degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in child development & psychology, no school beat Pennsylvania State University Penn State Abington this year. Set in the suburb of Abington, Pennsylvania State University Penn State Abington is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,268, with out-of-state students paying around $25,664. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,435. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Abington admits about 97% of applicants.
Swarthmore College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Located in the suburb of Swarthmore, Swarthmore College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,494. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $19,500. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Swarthmore College earn a median of $66,971 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Swarthmore College admits about 8% of applicants.
Pennsylvania Western University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Pennsylvania Western University is a large public school located in the town of California. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,436, with out-of-state students paying around $16,054. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,295 ten years after entry. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Students looking for strong value in child development & psychology will find it at Haverford College, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Haverford, Haverford College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,398. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $79,966. Haverford College admits about 12% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in child development & psychology will find it at Thomas Jefferson University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,355. Students borrow a median of $32,256 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Thomas Jefferson University generally make around $64,243. That is a strong return on a $32,256 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
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University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #6 for value in child development & psychology this year. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Students from in state pay about $21,926 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $24,958. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $56,926. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Temple University came in at #7 for value in child development & psychology this year. Temple University is a very large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,005, while out-of-state students pay about $38,805. Students borrow a median of $26,259 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $54,642. Set against $26,259 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Gettysburg College came in at #8 for value in child development & psychology this year. Gettysburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Gettysburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,640. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Gettysburg College earn a median of $41,599 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pennsylvania ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,686. Students borrow a median of $18,125 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $45,674. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Lafayette College earned the #10 position for value in child development & psychology this year. Set in the suburb of Easton, Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $64,648. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $16,931. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Lafayette College earn a median of $59,513 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lafayette College admits about 31% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #11 for value in child development & psychology this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,644, while out-of-state students pay about $41,790. Median earnings reach $63,435 ten years out. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Lehigh University earned the #12 position for value in child development & psychology this year. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $64,980. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $23,008 in student loans. Child Development & 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 #13 among the best values for child development & psychology. Duquesne University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. In-state tuition and fees average $48,986. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $26,297 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Duquesne University generally make around $54,826. Set against $26,297 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Drexel University came in at #14 for value in child development & psychology this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $62,412. Students borrow a median of $28,838 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Drexel University generally make around $67,556. That is a strong return on a $28,838 median debt. Drexel University admits about 79% of applicants.
Villanova University earned the #15 position for value in child development & psychology this year. Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $67,776. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $26,250. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Villanova University generally make around $39,218. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.