2026 Best Value Child Development & Psychology Schools in Minnesota

[Child Development & Psychology](/majors/psychology/child-development-psychology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong child development & psychology education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 9 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 Minnesota
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
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities tops our 2026 list of the best value child development & psychology schools in Minnesota. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,214, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. Students borrow a median of $20,625 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Early-career child development & psychology graduates make about $31,027. Set against $20,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Capella University earned it the #2 place for child development & psychology. Capella University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $14,400. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $35,998. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Capella University earn a median of $45,399 early in their careers. Set against $35,998 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Metropolitan State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in child development & psychology, landing the #3 spot this year. Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul. Students from in state pay about $9,840 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $28,375. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Metropolitan State University earn a median of $36,600 early in their careers. Set against $28,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
A rank of #4 makes St Olaf College one of the best values for child development & psychology. Set in the town of Northfield, St Olaf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $59,760. Child Development & Psychology graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from St Olaf College generally make around $35,070. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. St Olaf College admits about 48% of applicants.
Carleton College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value child development & psychology schools. Carleton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Northfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,892. Typical student debt for child development & psychology graduates is $16,700. Child Development & Psychology graduates of Carleton College earn a median of $39,238 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,700 median debt. Roughly 20% of applicants are accepted.
Macalester College landed the #6 spot for child development & psychology value this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Macalester College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,104. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the child development & psychology program here. Soon after graduation, child development & psychology degree recipients from Macalester College generally make around $38,027. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 28% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.