[General Special Education](/majors/education/special-education/general-special-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 813 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general special education students.
Finding the Best Value General Special Education School for You
The right general special education school can pay off for years to come. That is why we built our Best Value General Special Education Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value General Special Education Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
For return on investment in general special education, no school beat California State University Fullerton this year. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. Students from in state pay about $7,470 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,070. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $15,525 in student loans. General Special Education graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $79,384 early in their careers. Set against $15,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Fullerton admits about 90% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California State University Los Angeles earned it the #2 place for general special education. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,164, with out-of-state students paying around $19,764. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $14,430. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from California State University Los Angeles generally make around $83,983. That is a strong return on a $14,430 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Hunter College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value general special education schools. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,382 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,332. Students borrow a median of $11,091 to complete the general special education program here. Early-career general special education graduates make about $51,372. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Cuny Brooklyn College one of the best values for general special education. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,452, compared with $15,402 for out-of-state students. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $13,303 in student loans. Early-career general special education graduates make about $40,843. Set against $13,303 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Cuny Queens College one of the best values for general special education. Cuny Queens College is a very large public school located in the city of Queens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,538, compared with $15,488 for out-of-state students. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $12,157 in student loans. Early-career general special education graduates make about $41,847. That is a strong return on a $12,157 median debt. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Cuny City College placed #6 among the best values for general special education. Located in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,340 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,290. Students borrow a median of $13,389 to complete the general special education program here. General Special Education graduates of Cuny City College earn a median of $53,154 early in their careers. Set against $13,389 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny City College admits about 60% of applicants.
California State University San Bernardino landed the #7 spot for general special education value this year. Located in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,088, compared with $20,688 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $15,149. General Special Education graduates of California State University San Bernardino earn a median of $42,421 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University San Bernardino admits about 94% of applicants.
California State University Dominguez Hills came in at #8 for value in general special education this year. California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public school located in the city of Carson. Students from in state pay about $7,454 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,054. Students borrow a median of $15,886 to complete the general special education program here. General Special Education graduates of California State University Dominguez Hills earn a median of $74,460 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,886 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
California State University Bakersfield landed the #9 spot for general special education value this year. Set in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,087, compared with $20,687 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $59,009 ten years after entry. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Lehman College came in at #10 for value in general special education this year. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,360. Students borrow a median of $13,213 to complete the general special education program here. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Cuny Lehman College generally make around $54,729. That is a strong return on a $13,213 median debt. The acceptance rate is 57%.
California State University Fresno ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value general special education schools. California State University Fresno is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,341, with out-of-state students paying around $19,941. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $15,598. Early-career general special education graduates make about $71,787. Set against $15,598 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Miami Dade College earned the #12 position for value in general special education this year. Set in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,838, with out-of-state students paying around $9,661. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $9,671 in student loans. Early-career general special education graduates make about $53,935. That is a strong return on a $9,671 median debt.
College Of Southern Nevada earned the #13 position for value in general special education this year. Set in the city of Las Vegas, College Of Southern Nevada is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,358, with out-of-state students paying around $13,024. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $9,250 in student loans. General Special Education graduates of College Of Southern Nevada earn a median of $35,850 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,250 median debt.
California State University Long Beach placed #14 among the best values for general special education. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,374, with out-of-state students paying around $19,974. Students borrow a median of $15,671 to complete the general special education program here. Early-career general special education graduates make about $77,631. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
University Of Florida came in at #15 for value in general special education this year. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete the general special education program here. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $51,147. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 24%.
California State University Northridge placed #16 among the best values for general special education. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,458, compared with $20,058 for out-of-state students. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $16,202 in student loans. General Special Education graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $68,093 early in their careers. Set against $16,202 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Northridge admits about 93% of applicants.
Cuny College Of Staten Island came in at #17 for value in general special education this year. Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public school located in the city of Staten Island. In-state tuition and fees average $7,490, compared with $15,440 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $14,688. General Special Education graduates of Cuny College Of Staten Island earn a median of $75,212 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny College Of Staten Island admits about 92% of applicants.
Santa Ana College earned the #18 position for value in general special education this year. Santa Ana College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Ana. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,756. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $11,196. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Santa Ana College generally make around $39,633. That is a strong return on a $11,196 median debt.
Florida State University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value general special education schools. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,517, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $22,709. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $51,884. Set against $22,709 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida State University admits about 24% of applicants.
Texas A And M International University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value general special education schools. Texas A And M International University is a large public school located in the city of Laredo. Students from in state pay about $7,894 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,454. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $18,229 in student loans. General Special Education graduates of Texas A And M International University earn a median of $53,256 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 44%.
Santiago Canyon College placed #21 among the best values for general special education. Located in the city of Orange, Santiago Canyon College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,164, compared with $9,612 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the general special education program here. Early-career general special education graduates make about $34,100. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
West Valley College placed #22 among the best values for general special education. West Valley College is a large public school located in the suburb of Saratoga. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $0, with out-of-state students paying around $9,320. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $14,308 in student loans. Early-career general special education graduates make about $25,378. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
St Petersburg College placed #23 among the best values for general special education. Set in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,682, with out-of-state students paying around $9,286. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $24,385. Early-career general special education graduates make about $48,218. That is a strong return on a $24,385 median debt.
Florida International University landed the #24 spot for general special education value this year. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,565, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $20,031. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Florida International University generally make around $49,081. That is a strong return on a $20,031 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Sacramento ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value general special education schools. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,018 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,618 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,750 to complete the general special education program here. General Special Education graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $33,783 early in their careers. Set against $16,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Sacramento admits about 94% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value General Special Education Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for general special education this year:
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 · 813 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 277 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).
[General Special Education](/majors/education/special-education/general-special-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
