2026 Best Value Educational Psychology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Educational Psychology](/majors/psychology/clinical-counseling-applied-psychology/educational-psychology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong educational psychology education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 20 schools to find the best return on investment for educational psychology students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Educational Psychology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the educational psychology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Educational Psychology Schools
For return on investment in educational psychology, no school beat Cuny Hunter College this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,382, with out-of-state students paying around $15,332. Students borrow a median of $11,091 to complete the educational psychology program here. Soon after graduation, educational psychology degree recipients from Cuny Hunter College generally make around $51,372. That is a strong return on a $11,091 median debt. Cuny Hunter College admits about 54% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at New Jersey City University earned it the #2 place for educational psychology. Set in the city of Jersey City, New Jersey City University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,460. Typical student debt for educational psychology graduates is $22,107. Educational Psychology graduates of New Jersey City University earn a median of $58,765 early in their careers. Set against $22,107 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. New Jersey City University admits about 98% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in educational psychology will find it at Kean University, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Union, Kean University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,299, with out-of-state students paying around $22,446. Typical student debt for educational psychology graduates is $26,703. Early-career educational psychology graduates make about $54,319. That is a strong return on a $26,703 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in educational psychology, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Indiana, Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,380, with out-of-state students paying around $16,297. Students borrow a median of $26,513 to complete the educational psychology program here. Soon after graduation, educational psychology degree recipients from Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus generally make around $68,244. That is a strong return on a $26,513 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Columbia University In The City Of New York earned it the #5 place for educational psychology. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,517. Educational Psychology graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Educational Psychology graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $86,770 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania Western University landed the #6 spot for educational psychology value this year. Set in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,436, compared with $16,054 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $47,295. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Albany came in at #7 for value in educational psychology this year. Suny At Albany is a very large public school located in the city of Albany. Students from in state pay about $10,601 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $30,991. Typical student debt for educational psychology graduates is $22,430. Early-career educational psychology graduates make about $41,739. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
University At Buffalo came in at #8 for value in educational psychology this year. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,936, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. Typical student debt for educational psychology graduates is $22,232. Soon after graduation, educational psychology degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $53,514. That is a strong return on a $22,232 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Rutgers University New Brunswick placed #9 among the best values for educational psychology. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public school located in the city of New Brunswick. In-state tuition and fees average $17,929, while out-of-state students pay about $37,441. Students borrow a median of $25,120 to complete the educational psychology program here. Educational Psychology graduates of Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of $53,209 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,120 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value educational psychology schools. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $21,926 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the educational psychology program here. Early-career educational psychology graduates make about $43,495. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus admits about 58% of applicants.
Marist College earned the #11 position for value in educational psychology this year. Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,620. Students borrow a median of $25,962 to complete the educational psychology program here. Educational Psychology graduates of Marist College earn a median of $60,521 early in their careers. Set against $25,962 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Fordham University landed the #12 spot for educational psychology value this year. Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. Students from in state pay about $64,470 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,643 to complete the educational psychology program here. Soon after graduation, educational psychology degree recipients from Fordham University generally make around $59,403. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 20 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.
