2026 Best Value Child Development & Psychology Schools in the New England Region
[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 38 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for child development & psychology students.
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2026 Best Value Child Development & Psychology Schools in the New England Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in child development & psychology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Child Development & Psychology Schools
Harvard University earned the #1 spot for value among child development & psychology schools in the New England Region. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $61,676. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $16,616. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $41,501. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Williams College one of the best values for child development & psychology. Set in the town of Williamstown, Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,560. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $12,615 in student loans. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Williams College earn a median of $53,652 early in their careers. Set against $12,615 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Williams College admits about 8% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Amherst College earned it the #3 place for child development & psychology. Set in the city of Amherst, Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,480. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $10,800 in student loans. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Amherst College earn a median of $45,786 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Massachusetts Boston one of the best values for child development & psychology. Set in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,898, with out-of-state students paying around $38,115. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $26,236 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Boston generally make around $52,885. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bowdoin College earned it the #5 place for child development & psychology. Set in the town of Brunswick, Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,832. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $20,658. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Bowdoin College generally make around $58,938. That is a strong return on a $20,658 median debt. Bowdoin College admits about 7% of applicants.
Colby College placed #6 among the best values for child development & psychology. Colby College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Waterville. Students from in state pay about $69,600 in tuition and fees. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $22,016 in student loans. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Colby College earn a median of $46,772 early in their careers. Set against $22,016 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Colby College admits about 7% of applicants.
University Of Connecticut earned the #7 position for value in child development & psychology this year. Set in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $21,044 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $43,712. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $23,199 in student loans. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $58,784. That is a strong return on a $23,199 median debt. University Of Connecticut admits about 52% of applicants.
Bay Path College came in at #8 for value in child development & psychology this year. Set in the suburb of Longmeadow, Bay Path College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $38,302 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,401 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Bay Path College generally make around $23,898. Set against $29,401 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Wellesley College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Located in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,176. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $12,500. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $36,283. That is a strong return on a $12,500 median debt. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
Middlebury College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Set in the town of Middlebury, Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,600. Students borrow a median of $15,948 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $54,713. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Gordon College landed the #11 spot for child development & psychology value this year. Set in the rural area of Wenham, Gordon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $30,700. Students borrow a median of $25,612 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $37,097. That is a strong return on a $25,612 median debt. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Brown University came in at #12 for value in child development & psychology this year. Brown University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,312. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $15,110. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Brown University earn a median of $39,493 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,110 median debt. Brown University admits about 5% of applicants.
Smith College earned the #13 position for value in child development & psychology this year. Set in the city of Northampton, Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $65,178 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $19,000. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Smith College generally make around $43,717. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. Roughly 21% of applicants are accepted.
Yale University earned the #14 position for value in child development & psychology this year. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. In-state tuition and fees average $67,250. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $14,357. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $47,874. Set against $14,357 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Yale University admits about 4% of applicants.
Wesleyan University came in at #15 for value in child development & psychology this year. Located in the city of Middletown, Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $70,042. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $16,125. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Wesleyan University earn a median of $39,764 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,125 median debt. The acceptance rate is 16%.
Dartmouth College came in at #16 for value in child development & psychology this year. Set in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,019. Students borrow a median of $18,194 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $42,947. That is a strong return on a $18,194 median debt. Dartmouth College admits about 5% of applicants.
Bates College placed #17 among the best values for child development & psychology. Located in the city of Lewiston, Bates College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,590. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Bates College earn a median of $47,376 early in their careers. Set against $13,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bates College admits about 13% of applicants.
Mount Holyoke College placed #18 among the best values for child development & psychology. Located in the suburb of South Hadley, Mount Holyoke College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,018 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $24,250. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $32,439. That is a strong return on a $24,250 median debt. Mount Holyoke College admits about 36% of applicants.
Emmanuel College Massachusetts came in at #19 for value in child development & psychology this year. Set in the city of Boston, Emmanuel College Massachusetts is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,550. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $27,000. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $36,603. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Emmanuel College Massachusetts admits about 76% of applicants.
Northeastern University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,162. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $38,463. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Northeastern University admits about 5% of applicants.
Southern New Hampshire University came in at #21 for value in child development & psychology this year. Southern New Hampshire University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Manchester. Students from in state pay about $17,200 in tuition and fees. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $29,103 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Southern New Hampshire University generally make around $53,211. That is a strong return on a $29,103 median debt. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Brandeis University placed #22 among the best values for child development & psychology. Set in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,080 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,787 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $37,494. That is a strong return on a $26,787 median debt. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Trinity College earned the #23 position for value in child development & psychology this year. Set in the city of Hartford, Trinity College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $70,770. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $23,667. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Trinity College generally make around $52,927. Set against $23,667 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Trinity College admits about 29% of applicants.
Tufts University came in at #24 for value in child development & psychology this year. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $70,704. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $15,875 in student loans. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Tufts University earn a median of $56,504 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,875 median debt. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Quinnipiac University earned the #25 position for value in child development & psychology this year. Set in the suburb of Hamden, Quinnipiac University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $55,480. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $26,500. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Quinnipiac University earn a median of $62,573 early in their careers. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Rest of the Top 27 Best Value Child Development & Psychology Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in child development & psychology:
Narrow Child Development & Psychology Schools by State
More Child Development & Psychology Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 38 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
