2023 Best Value Special Education Schools
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Special Education School for You
In 2020-2021, 36,792 people earned a degree or certificate in special education, making the major the #29 most popular in the United States.
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for students. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Value Special Education Schools ranking. This report analyzed 694 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best value programs for special ed students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality in Special Education
Our analysis found La Salle University to be the best value school for special education students who want to pursue a degree in the United States. La Salle is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Philadelphia.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at La Salle are $33,150 a year. While working on their degree, special ed majors at La Salle accumulate an average of around $27,000 in student debt.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Cabrini University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Special Education Schools list. Located in the large suburb of Radnor, Cabrini University is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Cabrini University are $33,845 a year. While working on their degree, special ed majors at Cabrini University accumulate an average of around $27,000 in student debt.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Santa Fe Community College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Special Education Schools list. SFCC is a small public school located in the small suburb of Santa Fe.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SFCC are $4,995 per year.
Read full report on Special Education at Santa Fe Community College
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The excellent programs at Northwestern College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best special education schools in the United States. NWC is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Orange City.
NWC undergraduate students pay an average of $33,590 in tuition and fees each year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, NWC also did well on our Best Special Education Schools list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Full Special Education at Northwestern College Report
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Out of the 694 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Brigham Young University - Idaho landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the town of Rexburg, BYU - I is a private not-for-profit school with a very large student population.
BYU - I undergraduate students pay an average of $4,416 in tuition and fees each year.
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Brigham Young University - Provo ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Special Education Schools list. Located in the midsize city of Provo, BYU is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
BYU undergraduate students pay an average of $6,120 in tuition and fees each year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, BYU also is in the top 20% of our Best Special Education Schools ranking.
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Western Governors University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value special education programs. WGU is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Salt Lake City.
WGU undergraduate students pay an average of $7,452 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that special ed majors at WGU take out is $26,383.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, WGU also is in the top 10% of our Best Special Education Schools ranking.
Full Special Education at Western Governors University Report
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Chadron State College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value special education programs. Chadron State College is a small public school located in the town of Chadron.
Chadron State College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,206 in tuition and fees each year.
Full Special Education at Chadron State College Report
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University of the Cumberlands did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for special education students. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in the town of Williamsburg, Cumberlands is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Cumberlands are $9,875 per year.
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Morningside College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for special education students. It came in at #10 on the list. Morningside is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Sioux City.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Morningside are $35,270 per year.
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Itawamba Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for special education students. It came in at #11 on the list. ICC is a small public school located in the remote town of Fulton.
ICC undergraduate students pay an average of $5,360 in tuition and fees each year.
Full Special Education at Itawamba Community College Report
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Minot State University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Special Education Schools list. Located in the remote town of Minot, MSU is a public school with a small student population.
MSU undergraduate students pay an average of $8,163 in tuition and fees each year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, MSU also is in the top 20% of our Best Special Education Schools ranking.
Full Special Education at Minot State University Report
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Worcester State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for special education students. It came in at #13 on the list. Worcester State is a medium-sized public school located in the midsize city of Worcester.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Worcester State are $16,666 a year.
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Pima Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Special Education Schools list. Located in the large city of Tucson, Pima County Community College District is a public school with a large student population.
Pima County Community College District undergraduate students pay an average of $7,566 in tuition and fees each year. Special Ed majors at Pima County Community College District take out an average of $15,125 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Waukesha County Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for special education students. It came in at #15 on the list. WCTC is a medium-sized public school located in the suburb of Pewaukee.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at WCTC are $6,603 a year.
Full Special Education at Waukesha County Technical College Report
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With a ranking of #16, Concordia University, Irvine did quite well on this year’s best value schools for special education students. Located in the large city of Irvine, Concordia University, Irvine is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Concordia University, Irvine are $38,740 per year.
Concordia University, Irvine also claimed a spot on our Best Special Education Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
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Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Education Schools ranking. Located in the town of Fayette, CMU CGES is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
CMU CGES undergraduate students pay an average of $6,720 in tuition and fees each year.
CMU CGES also claimed a spot on our Best Special Education Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
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Minnesota State University - Mankato landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value special education programs. Located in the small city of Mankato, Minnesota State Mankato is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Minnesota State Mankato undergraduate students pay an average of $18,200 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, special ed graduates from Minnesota State Mankato carry an average student debtload of $27,000.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Minnesota State Mankato also did well on our Best Special Education Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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Wayne State College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Education Schools ranking. WSC is a small public school located in the town of Wayne.
WSC undergraduate students pay an average of $7,458 in tuition and fees each year.
WSC excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Special Education Schools list.
Read full report on Special Education at Wayne State College
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With a ranking of #20, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for special education students. Located in the city of Green Bay, NWTC is a public school with a large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at NWTC are $6,849 a year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, NWTC also did well on our Best Special Education Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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With a ranking of #21, Broward College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for special education students. Located in the city of Fort Lauderdale, BC is a public college with a fairly large student population.
BC undergraduate students pay an average of $8,952 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that special ed majors at BC take out is $15,237.
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Southwest Minnesota State University landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value special education programs. Southwest Minnesota State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Marshall.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Southwest Minnesota State University are $9,482 a year.
Full Special Education at Southwest Minnesota State University Report
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With a ranking of #23, Hamline University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for special education students. Hamline is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Hamline are $46,221 per year.
In addition to its great value ranking, Hamline is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Special Education Schools list.
Full Special Education at Hamline University Report
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With a ranking of #24, Fitchburg State University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for special education students. Fitchburg State is a medium-sized public school located in the suburb of Fitchburg.
Fitchburg State undergraduate students pay an average of $16,735 in tuition and fees each year.
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University of Scranton ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Special Education Schools list. University of Scranton is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Scranton.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at University of Scranton are $48,462 a year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, University of Scranton also is in the top 10% of our Best Special Education Schools ranking.
Read full report on Special Education at University of Scranton
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Remaining Award Winners
This section shows the rest of the schools awarded a Best Value Special Education Schools badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 694 different United States special education schools we analyzed.
Additional Noteworthy Schools
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Special Education Schools award.
Special Education by Region
View the Best Value Special Education Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
More Special Education Rankings
Special Education Related Majors for Special Ed
Special Education is one of 14 different types of programs to choose from.
Most Popular Majors Related to Special Ed
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Teacher Education Grade Specific | 110,226 |
| Educational Administration | 46,469 |
| Teacher Education Subject Specific | 43,297 |
| General Education | 29,810 |
| Curriculum & Instruction | 19,832 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 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 the rest 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).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to woodleywonderworks.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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