2023 Best Value Special Education Bachelor's Degree Schools
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Special Education Bachelor's Degree 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 Bachelor's Degree Schools ranking. This report analyzed 395 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best value bachelor's degree 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 for a Bachelor's in Special Education
Our 2023 rankings named Brigham Young University - Idaho the best value school in the United States for special education students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the town of Rexburg, BYU - I is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at BYU - I are $4,416 a year.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Brigham Young University - Provo. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. Located in the midsize city of Provo, BYU is a private not-for-profit college with a very large student population.
BYU undergraduate students pay an average of $6,120 in tuition and fees each year.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Western Governors University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. WGU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Salt Lake City.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at WGU are $7,452 a year. Special Ed majors at WGU take out an average of $28,370 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
WGU also claimed a spot on our Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools in this category.
Full Special Education at Western Governors University Report
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Out of the 395 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Minot State University landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the town of Minot, MSU is a public college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at MSU are $8,163 per year.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Chadron State College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. Chadron State College is a small public school located in the town of Chadron.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Chadron State College are $7,206 a year.
In addition to its great value ranking, Chadron State College is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools list.
Full Special Education at Chadron State College Report
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Wayne State College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools ranking. WSC is a small public school located in the distant town of Wayne.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WSC are $7,458 per year. The average amount in student loans that special ed majors at WSC take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $24,226.
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Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for special education students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the distant 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.
In addition to its great value ranking, CMU CGES is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools list.
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Southwest Minnesota State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for special education students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #8 on the list. Southwest Minnesota State University is a medium-sized public school located in the remote town of Marshall.
Southwest Minnesota State University undergraduate students pay an average of $9,482 in tuition and fees each year.
Southwest Minnesota State University also claimed a spot on our Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
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Broward College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. 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. Special Ed majors at BC take out an average of $17,294 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
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Dakota State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. Dakota State is a small public school located in the town of Madison.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Dakota State are $12,735 a year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Dakota State also did well on our Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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With a ranking of #11, Miami Dade College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for special education students working on their bachelor’s degree. MDC is a fairly large public school located in the city of Miami.
MDC undergraduate students pay an average of $9,661 in tuition and fees each year. On average, special ed graduates from MDC take out $18,141 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
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Northern State University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. NSU is a small public school located in the remote town of Aberdeen.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at NSU are $11,947 a year.
In addition to its great value ranking, NSU is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools list.
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Peru State College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree special education programs. Located in the rural area of Peru, Peru State is a public college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Peru State are $7,800 per year.
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Mayville State University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. Mayville State University is a small public school located in the rural area of Mayville.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Mayville State University are $10,756 a year.
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Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. Ship is a medium-sized public school located in the fringe town of Shippensburg.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Ship are $14,122 a year. Special Ed majors at Ship take out an average of $24,639 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
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Western Carolina University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. Located in the distant town of Cullowhee, WCU is a public school with a large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at WCU are $8,367 a year.
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Indian River State College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for special education students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #17 on the list. Indian River State College is a large public school located in the large suburb of Fort Pierce.
Indian River State College undergraduate students pay an average of $10,201 in tuition and fees each year.
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University of South Dakota landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree special education programs. USD is a medium-sized public school located in the town of Vermillion.
USD undergraduate students pay an average of $12,942 in tuition and fees each year.
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Granite State College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree special education programs. Located in the fringe town of Concord, GSC is a public college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at GSC are $9,015 per year. On average, special ed graduates from GSC take out $28,773 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
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With a ranking of #20, University of North Carolina at Pembroke did quite well on this year’s best value schools for special education students working on their bachelor’s degree. UNC Pembroke is a medium-sized public school located in the town of Pembroke.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UNC Pembroke are $7,495 per year.
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Central Michigan University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools ranking. Central Michigan is a fairly large public school located in the distant town of Mount Pleasant.
Central Michigan undergraduate students pay an average of $13,094 in tuition and fees each year. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $385, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Nicholls State University landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree special education programs. Nicholls State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the small city of Thibodaux.
Nicholls State University undergraduate students pay an average of $9,039 in tuition and fees each year.
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St Petersburg College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. Located in the large city of Clearwater, SPC is a public school with a very large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at SPC are $9,286 a year. The average amount in student loans that special ed majors at SPC take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $32,126.
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National University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. National University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of La Jolla.
National University undergraduate students pay an average of $13,320 in tuition and fees each year.
In addition to its great value ranking, National University is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools list.
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Kutztown University of Pennsylvania landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree special education programs. Located in the town of Kutztown, Kutztown University is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
Kutztown University undergraduate students pay an average of $15,170 in tuition and fees each year. Special Ed majors at Kutztown University take out an average of $25,733 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $277, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Special Education at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
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Remaining Award Winners
This list represents the remainder of the schools awarded a Best Value Special Education Bachelor's Degree Schools badge. Showing in this list means the college was ranked in the top 15% of the 395 different United States special education schools we analyzed.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Western Washington University | Bellingham, WA |
| 52 | Towson University | Towson, MD |
| 53 | University of Akron Main Campus | Akron, OH |
| 54 | University of Nebraska at Kearney | Kearney, NE |
| 55 | SUNY Geneseo | Geneseo, NY |
| 56 | Saint Cloud State University | Saint Cloud, MN |
| 57 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania | West Chester, PA |
| 58 | Ottawa University - Phoenix | Phoenix, AZ |
| 58 | Northwest Missouri State University | Maryville, MO |
Additional Noteworthy Schools
Here are some additional great value schools for Special Education students seeking value that almost earned our Best Value Special Education Bachelor's Degree Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania | Millersville, PA |
| 61 | Central Washington University | Ellensburg, WA |
| 62 | Illinois State University | Normal, IL |
| 63 | Florida International University | Miami, FL |
| 64 | Edinboro University of Pennsylvania | Edinboro, PA |
| 65 | Western Michigan University | Kalamazoo, MI |
| 66 | The University of West Florida | Pensacola, FL |
| 67 | Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ |
| 68 | Eastern Michigan University | Ypsilanti, MI |
| 69 | Daytona State College | Daytona Beach, FL |
| 69 | University of Southern Mississippi | Hattiesburg, MS |
| 71 | Lock Haven University | Lock Haven, PA |
| 72 | Weber State University | Ogden, UT |
| 73 | Medgar Evers College | Brooklyn, NY |
| 74 | The College of New Jersey | Ewing, NJ |
| 75 | SUNY Old Westbury | Old Westbury, NY |
| 76 | MSU Texas | Wichita Falls, TX |
| 77 | University of South Florida - Main Campus | Tampa, FL |
| 78 | East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | East Stroudsburg, PA |
| 79 | The University of Arizona Global Campus | San Diego, CA |
Special Education by Region
View the Best Value Special Education Bachelor's Degree 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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