2027 Best Value General Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools

[General Special Education](/majors/education/special-education/general-special-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general special education education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 154 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general special education students.
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2027 Best Value General Special Education Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general special education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Special Education Schools
Miami Dade College tops our 2027 list of the best value general special education schools in the United States. Located in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,838, with out-of-state students paying around $9,661. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $9,671. General Special Education graduates of Miami Dade College earn a median of $53,935 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Daytona State College earned it the #2 place for general special education. Set in the city of Daytona Beach, Daytona State College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,106 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,994. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $14,227 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Daytona State College generally make around $43,320. That is a strong return on a $14,227 median debt.
Florida State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general special education, landing the #3 spot this year. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,517, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $22,709 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $51,884. That is a strong return on a $22,709 median debt. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general special education will find it at University Of Nevada Las Vegas, which ranked #4. University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public school located in the city of Las Vegas. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,748, while out-of-state students pay about $27,411. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $11,000. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from University Of Nevada Las Vegas generally make around $49,827. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general special education will find it at Florida International University, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,565, while out-of-state students pay about $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 $36,598. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Florida earned the #6 position for value in general special education this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,964 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,407. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $13,509 in student loans. Early-career general special education graduates make about $47,734. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Florida admits about 53% of applicants.
University Of Central Florida earned the #7 position for value in general special education this year. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,368, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,620 to complete the general special education program here. General Special Education graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $48,147 early in their careers. Set against $21,620 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Central Florida admits about 40% of applicants.
Portland State University earned the #8 position for value in general special education this year. Set in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,118, with out-of-state students paying around $29,136. Students borrow a median of $26,475 to complete the general special education program here. Early-career general special education graduates make about $56,409. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Portland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Suny College At Old Westbury placed #9 among the best values for general special education. Located in the suburb of Old Westbury, Suny College At Old Westbury is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,372 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,842. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $24,145 in student loans. General Special Education graduates of Suny College At Old Westbury earn a median of $38,978 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,145 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Rhode Island College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value general special education schools. Located in the suburb of Providence, Rhode Island College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,300, while out-of-state students pay about $27,299. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $29,851 in student loans. General Special Education graduates of Rhode Island College earn a median of $50,060 early in their careers. Set against $29,851 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Rhode Island College admits about 92% of applicants.
Murray State University earned the #11 position for value in general special education this year. Murray State University is a large public school located in the town of Murray. In-state tuition and fees average $9,900, with out-of-state students paying around $19,836. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $20,775. Early-career general special education graduates make about $36,197. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earned the #12 position for value in general special education this year. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,661, while out-of-state students pay about $24,012. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $24,000. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro generally make around $42,967. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
The University Of West Florida placed #13 among the best values for general special education. Set in the rural area of Pensacola, The University Of West Florida is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,776, compared with $18,658 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $29,750. Early-career general special education graduates make about $46,643. That is a strong return on a $29,750 median debt. The University Of West Florida admits about 58% of applicants.
Suny College At Buffalo ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value general special education schools. Set in the city of Buffalo, Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,533, while out-of-state students pay about $19,653. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $22,610. General Special Education graduates of Suny College At Buffalo earn a median of $16,737 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value general special education schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,925 to complete the general special education program here. Early-career general special education graduates make about $51,922. That is a strong return on a $18,925 median debt. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Northern Illinois University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value general special education schools. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,060. Students borrow a median of $21,452 to complete the general special education program here. General Special Education graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $46,578 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,452 median debt. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Chadron State College landed the #17 spot for general special education value this year. Located in the town of Chadron, Chadron State College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,294. Students borrow a median of $22,912 to complete the general special education program here. Early-career general special education graduates make about $47,254. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Wyoming landed the #18 spot for general special education value this year. University Of Wyoming is a large public school located in the town of Laramie. In-state tuition and fees average $7,768, with out-of-state students paying around $24,178. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $20,283. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from University Of Wyoming generally make around $49,890. That is a strong return on a $20,283 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Georgia came in at #19 for value in general special education this year. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the general special education program here. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $43,137. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Western Governors University placed #20 among the best values for general special education. Western Governors University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Salt Lake City. In-state tuition and fees average $8,658. Students borrow a median of $25,158 to complete the general special education program here. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Western Governors University generally make around $46,271. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of West Alabama earned the #21 position for value in general special education this year. Set in the rural area of Livingston, University Of West Alabama is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,990, compared with $20,090 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $31,894. Early-career general special education graduates make about $56,329. That is a strong return on a $31,894 median debt. University Of West Alabama admits about 43% of applicants.
Morehead State University came in at #22 for value in general special education this year. Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Morehead. In-state tuition and fees average $10,024, compared with $14,980 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,878 to complete the general special education program here. General Special Education graduates of Morehead State University earn a median of $36,999 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,878 median debt. Morehead State University admits about 77% of applicants.
Granite State College placed #23 among the best values for general special education. Set in the city of Manchester, Granite State College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,724, with out-of-state students paying around $9,284. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $26,770 in student loans. Early-career general special education graduates make about $54,169. That is a strong return on a $26,770 median debt.
Holy Family University landed the #24 spot for general special education value this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Holy Family University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,330. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $26,562. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Holy Family University generally make around $64,967. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras earned the #25 position for value in general special education this year. Set in the city of San Juan, University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,324. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $5,673 in student loans. Early-career general special education graduates make about $24,881. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras admits about 55% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value General Special Education Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in general special education:
Other General Special Education Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value General Special Education rankings across degree levels:
View All General Special Education Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 154 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 154 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.