2026 Best Value Elementary Special Education Schools in the New England Region

[Elementary Special Education](/majors/education/special-education/elementary-special-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong elementary special education education at a price that pays off.
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 the New England Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the elementary special education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Elementary Special Education Schools
Our analysis ranked Rhode Island College the best value for a degree in elementary special education in the New England Region. Set in the suburb of Providence, Rhode Island College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,300, while out-of-state students pay about $27,299. Typical student debt for elementary special education graduates is $29,851. Elementary Special Education graduates of Rhode Island College earn a median of $57,986 early in their careers. Set against $29,851 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in elementary special education will find it at Granite State College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Manchester, Granite State College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,724 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,284. Students borrow a median of $29,935 to complete the elementary special education program here. Elementary Special Education graduates of Granite State College earn a median of $55,121 early in their careers. Set against $29,935 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Simmons College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value elementary special education schools. Located in the city of Boston, Simmons College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $46,874. Students borrow a median of $26,740 to complete the elementary special education program here. Soon after graduation, elementary special education degree recipients from Simmons College generally make around $58,142. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Simmons College admits about 70% of applicants.
Merrimack College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in elementary special education, landing the #4 spot this year. Merrimack College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of North Andover. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,962. Elementary Special Education graduates carry a median of $26,913 in student loans. Elementary Special Education graduates of Merrimack College earn a median of $50,506 early in their careers. Set against $26,913 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Merrimack College admits about 70% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.