2026 Best Value Elementary Special Education Schools in Pennsylvania

[Elementary Special Education](/majors/education/special-education/elementary-special-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for elementary special education students.
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2026 Best Value Elementary Special Education Schools in Pennsylvania
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in elementary special education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Elementary Special Education Schools
For return on investment in elementary special education, no school beat La Salle University this year. La Salle University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. In-state tuition and fees average $37,800. Typical student debt for elementary special education graduates is $27,000. Elementary Special Education graduates of La Salle University earn a median of $48,302 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. La Salle University admits about 97% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Neumann University one of the best values for elementary special education. Set in the suburb of Aston, Neumann University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $39,100. Typical student debt for elementary special education graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, elementary special education degree recipients from Neumann University generally make around $42,488. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Chestnut Hill College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value elementary special education schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Chestnut Hill College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $39,870 in tuition and fees. Elementary Special Education graduates carry a median of $30,824 in student loans. Early-career elementary special education graduates make about $45,627. That is a strong return on a $30,824 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value elementary special education schools. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $21,926 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,430 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for elementary special education graduates is $24,958. Early-career elementary special education graduates make about $56,926. Set against $24,958 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
A rank of #5 makes Drexel University one of the best values for elementary special education. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,412. Students borrow a median of $28,838 to complete the elementary special education program here. Soon after graduation, elementary special education degree recipients from Drexel University generally make around $67,556. That is a strong return on a $28,838 median debt. Drexel University admits about 79% of applicants.
More Elementary Special Education Rankings
View All Elementary Special Education Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.