2026 Best Value Special Education Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Special Education associate’s degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 1022 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor analyzed schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Special Education Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Itawamba Community College earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. Set in Fulton, MS, Itawamba Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,420, compared with $5,820 for out-of-state students. The median Special Education program debt is $10,942. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $32,912. Set against $10,942 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about Itawamba Community College
Out of the 1022 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Miami Dade College landed the #2 spot. Set in Miami, FL, Miami Dade College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,838, compared with $9,661 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,671 to complete their Special Education program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $40,654. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on Miami Dade College
Out of the 1022 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Lehigh Carbon Community College landed the #3 spot. Located in Schnecksville, PA, Lehigh Carbon Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,280, with out-of-state students paying around $13,270. The median Special Education program debt is $14,450. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,436. Set against $14,450 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Lehigh Carbon Community College
You'll get strong value at Stark State College, which ranked #4 this year. This public school is set in North Canton, OH. In-state tuition and fees average $4,790, while out-of-state students pay about $7,886. The median Special Education program debt is $17,349. Median earnings reach $34,661 ten years out. Set against $17,349 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full Stark State College profile
You'll get strong value at University Of Cincinnati Clermont College, which ranked #5 this year. Located in Batavia, OH, University Of Cincinnati Clermont College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,639 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,871 for out-of-state students. University Of Cincinnati Clermont College Special Education students take on a median of $19,525 in debt. Median earnings reach $54,810 ten years out. Set against $19,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on University Of Cincinnati Clermont College
College Of Southern Nevada landed the #6 spot for value in the United States this year. Located in Las Vegas, NV, College Of Southern Nevada is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,358, with out-of-state students paying around $13,024. Graduates carry a median of $9,250 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,087 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on College Of Southern Nevada
Florida State College At Jacksonville offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. Based in Jacksonville, FL, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,657 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,631 for out-of-state students. Florida State College At Jacksonville Special Education students take on a median of $19,139 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,244 ten years after entry. Set against $19,139 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about Florida State College At Jacksonville
Gloucester County College offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. Located in Sewell, NJ, Gloucester County College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,160, with out-of-state students paying around $6,000. Graduates carry a median of $13,236 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $41,751. Set against $13,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Gloucester County College
Salem State University landed the #9 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Salem State University report
Texas A And M University Corpus Christi ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value Special Education schools. Read more about Texas A And M University Corpus Christi
University Of California Los Angeles offered strong value this year, earning the #11 position. Get the full University Of California Los Angeles report
Western Oregon University offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. Get the full Western Oregon University report
Bethel University Minnesota ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Special Education schools. Read more about Bethel University Minnesota
St Cloud Technical And Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Special Education schools. See the full St Cloud Technical And Community College profile
Suny At Binghamton offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. More on Suny At Binghamton
University Of Southern California came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of Southern California
Eastern Oregon University came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Eastern Oregon University
Elmira College
Elmira College offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. Read the full report on Elmira College
Elon University
Elon University offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. Read the full report on Elon University
Lancaster Bible College placed #20 among the best-value Special Education schools in the United States. Read the full report on Lancaster Bible College
Utah Valley University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best-value Special Education schools. Get the full Utah Valley University report
Bowling Green State University Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. See the full Bowling Green State University Main Campus profile
Georgia Southwestern State University offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. Get the full Georgia Southwestern State University report
Martin Luther College offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. Read more about Martin Luther College
Millikin University landed the #25 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Millikin University report
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Special Education Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Rivier College
Rivier College came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Rivier College
Sacramento City College landed the #27 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Sacramento City College
Southern Wesleyan University offered strong value this year, earning the #28 position. Read more about Southern Wesleyan University
Universidad Adventista De Las Antillas landed the #29 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Universidad Adventista De Las Antillas
Vanguard University Of Southern California landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Vanguard University Of Southern California
Wayne State College landed the #31 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Wayne State College
William Woods University landed the #32 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full William Woods University report
Colorado Christian University ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best-value Special Education schools. More on Colorado Christian University
Oklahoma Baptist University placed #34 among the best-value Special Education schools in the United States. Read the full report on Oklahoma Baptist University
Tennessee Technological University ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best-value Special Education schools. Get the full Tennessee Technological University report
Canisius College
Canisius College offered strong value this year, earning the #36 position. See the full Canisius College profile
Citrus College
Citrus College placed #37 among the best-value Special Education schools in the United States. See the full Citrus College profile
Coppin State University offered strong value this year, earning the #38 position. More on Coppin State University
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best-value Special Education schools. More on Cuny Bernard M Baruch College
Liberty University landed the #40 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Liberty University profile
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College offered strong value this year, earning the #41 position. Read more about Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College
Metropolitan College Of New York ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best-value Special Education schools. See the full Metropolitan College Of New York profile
Moorpark College
Moorpark College offered strong value this year, earning the #43 position. Get the full Moorpark College report
Southern University At New Orleans ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best-value Special Education schools. Read more about Southern University At New Orleans
Stephen F Austin State University placed #45 among the best-value Special Education schools in the United States. Read more about Stephen F Austin State University
Tennessee State University placed #46 among the best-value Special Education schools in the United States. Read more about Tennessee State University
Trevecca Nazarene University ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best-value Special Education schools. Read the full report on Trevecca Nazarene University
Virginia Union University landed the #48 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Virginia Union University profile
Cuny Lehman College came in at #49 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Cuny Lehman College report
Eastern Illinois University placed #50 among the best-value Special Education schools in the United States. See the full Eastern Illinois University profile
Related Special Education Value Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Value Special Education Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Special Education Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Special Education Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Special Education Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Special Education Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Special Education Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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 · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 1022 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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