2023 Best Value Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Special Education Graduate Certificate 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 assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Value Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools ranking. Our analysis looked at 187 schools in the United States to see which graduate certificate programs offered the best value experiences for special ed students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
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 Postbaccalaureate Certificates in Special Education
Our analysis found Minnesota State University - Mankato to be the best value school for special education students who want to pursue a graduate certificate in the United States. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State Mankato is a public school with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Minnesota State Mankato are $9,308 a year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Minnesota State Mankato also is in the top 10% of our Best Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools ranking.
Full Special Education at Minnesota State University - Mankato Report
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Out of the 187 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Worcester State University landed the # 2 spot on the list. Worcester State is a medium-sized public school located in the midsize city of Worcester.
Worcester State graduate students pay an average of $5,796 in tuition and fees each year.
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Out of the 187 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Viterbo University landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the city of La Crosse, Viterbo is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
Viterbo graduate students pay an average of $9,488 in tuition and fees each year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Viterbo also did well on our Best Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Minot State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools list. Located in the town of Minot, MSU is a public school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at MSU are $10,263 a year.
Full Special Education at Minot State University Report
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Concordia University, Nebraska. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools list. Concordia University, Nebraska is a small private not-for-profit school located in the distant town of Seward.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Concordia University, Nebraska are $8,650 per year.
Full Special Education at Concordia University, Nebraska Report
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With a ranking of #6, Concordia University, Saint Paul did quite well on this year’s best value schools for special education students working on their graduate certificate. Concordia University, Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Saint Paul.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Concordia University, Saint Paul are $8,550 per year.
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Hamline University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools list. Hamline is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Saint Paul.
Hamline graduate students pay an average of $10,402 in tuition and fees each year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Hamline also did well on our Best Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Full Special Education at Hamline University Report
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Illinois State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools list. Illinois State is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Illinois State are $11,773 per year.
Full Special Education at Illinois State University Report
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Olivet Nazarene University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for special education students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in the small suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Olivet Nazarene are $12,190 a year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Olivet Nazarene also did well on our Best Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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With a ranking of #10, Fitchburg State University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for special education students working on their graduate certificate. Fitchburg State is a moderately-sized public school located in the midsize suburb of Fitchburg.
Fitchburg State graduate students pay an average of $6,012 in tuition and fees each year.
Full Special Education at Fitchburg State University Report
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McDaniel College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools ranking. McDaniel is a small private not-for-profit school located in the small suburb of Westminster.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at McDaniel are $9,568 per year.
In addition to its great value ranking, McDaniel is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools list.
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Winona State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for special education students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #12 on the list. Located in the town of Winona, Winona State is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
Winona State graduate students pay an average of $12,836 in tuition and fees each year.
Winona State excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools list.
Full Special Education at Winona State University Report
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Baldwin Wallace University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools list. Baldwin Wallace College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Berea.
Baldwin Wallace College graduate students pay an average of $11,363 in tuition and fees each year.
Read full report on Special Education at Baldwin Wallace University
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Alverno College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools list. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Alverno is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Alverno are $10,402 a year.
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With a ranking of #15, Whitworth University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for special education students working on their graduate certificate. Whitworth is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Spokane.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Whitworth are $12,456 a year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Whitworth also did well on our Best Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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Arizona State University - Skysong ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools list. Located in the midsize city of Scottsdale, ASU - Skysong is a public school with a very large student population.
ASU - Skysong graduate students pay an average of $9,982 in tuition and fees each year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, ASU - Skysong also is in the top 10% of our Best Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools ranking.
Full Special Education at Arizona State University - Skysong Report
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Granite State College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value graduate certificate special education programs. Located in the fringe town of Concord, GSC is a public college with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at GSC are $10,620 a year.
Full Special Education at Granite State College Report
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The College of New Jersey came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools ranking. Located in the suburb of Ewing, TCNJ is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
TCNJ graduate students pay an average of $15,031 in tuition and fees each year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, TCNJ also did well on our Best Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Read full report on Special Education at The College of New Jersey
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Montclair State University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools list. Located in the large suburb of Montclair, Montclair State is a public college with a very large student population.
Montclair State graduate students pay an average of $13,519 in tuition and fees each year.
Read full report on Special Education at Montclair State University
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Liberty University landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value graduate certificate special education programs. Liberty University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Lynchburg.
Liberty University graduate students pay an average of $8,360 in tuition and fees each year.
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With a ranking of #21, Clarion University of Pennsylvania did quite well on this year’s best value schools for special education students working on their graduate certificate. Located in the remote town of Clarion, Clarion University is a public school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Clarion University are $13,862 a year.
Read full report on Special Education at Clarion University of Pennsylvania
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Midland University landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value graduate certificate special education programs. Located in the distant town of Fremont, Midland U is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
Midland U graduate students pay an average of $14,613 in tuition and fees each year.
Midland U excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools list.
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Mount St. Joseph University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools ranking. Located in the large suburb of Cincinnati, Mount St. Joe is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Mount St. Joe graduate students pay an average of $13,700 in tuition and fees each year.
Read full report on Special Education at Mount St. Joseph University
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Saint Cloud State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools ranking. Located in the small city of Saint Cloud, St. Cloud State University is a public college with a large student population.
St. Cloud State University graduate students pay an average of $13,412 in tuition and fees each year.
Full Special Education at Saint Cloud State University Report
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Notre Dame of Maryland University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for special education students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #25 on the list. Located in the city of Baltimore, NDMU is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
NDMU graduate students pay an average of $13,711 in tuition and fees each year.
Full Special Education at Notre Dame of Maryland University Report
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Additional Noteworthy Schools
Here are some additional great value schools for Special Education students seeking value that almost earned our Best Value Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | Arkansas State University - Main Campus | Jonesboro, AR |
| 29 | University of Lynchburg | Lynchburg, VA |
| 31 | National University | La Jolla, CA |
| 32 | Missouri State University - Springfield | Springfield, MO |
| 33 | Henderson State University | Arkadelphia, AR |
| 34 | University of West Alabama | Livingston, AL |
| 35 | Niagara University | Niagara University, NY |
| 35 | Mount Saint Mary’s University | Los Angeles, CA |
| 37 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania | West Chester, PA |
| 37 | Towson University | Towson, MD |
Special Education by Region
View the Best Value Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
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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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