2027 Best Value Elementary Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Elementary Special Education](/majors/education/special-education/elementary-special-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong elementary special education education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value elementary special education schools.
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2027 Best Value Elementary Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in elementary special education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Elementary Special Education Schools
Ball State University earned the #1 spot for value among elementary special education schools in the Great Lakes Region. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. In-state tuition and fees average $11,082, while out-of-state students pay about $29,630. Elementary Special Education graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Early-career elementary special education graduates make about $54,096. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Spring Arbor University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in elementary special education, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Spring Arbor, Spring Arbor University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,014 in tuition and fees. Elementary Special Education graduates carry a median of $29,750 in student loans. Elementary Special Education graduates of Spring Arbor University earn a median of $50,637 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 52%.
Students looking for strong value in elementary special education will find it at Alma College, which ranked #3. Alma College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Alma. In-state tuition and fees average $49,552. Typical student debt for elementary special education graduates is $27,248. Soon after graduation, elementary special education degree recipients from Alma College generally make around $42,740. Set against $27,248 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Alma College admits about 57% of applicants.
Ohio Wesleyan University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value elementary special education schools. Ohio Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Delaware. In-state tuition and fees average $54,248. Typical student debt for elementary special education graduates is $26,868. Soon after graduation, elementary special education degree recipients from Ohio Wesleyan University generally make around $31,531. That is a strong return on a $26,868 median debt. Ohio Wesleyan University admits about 56% of applicants.
Marietta College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value elementary special education schools. Marietta College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Marietta. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,652. Elementary Special Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career elementary special education graduates make about $79,641. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
