2027 Best Value General Special Education Schools in Illinois
[General Special Education](/majors/education/special-education/general-special-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general special education education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 20 schools to find the best return on investment for general special education students.
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2027 Best Value General Special Education Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general special education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Special Education Schools
University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #1 spot for value among general special education schools in Illinois. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $20,115 in student loans. Early-career general special education graduates make about $73,322. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Saint Xavier University one of the best values for general special education. Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $38,945 in tuition and fees. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $25,735 in student loans. General Special Education graduates of Saint Xavier University earn a median of $54,613 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,735 median debt. Saint Xavier University admits about 84% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Dominican University one of the best values for general special education. Dominican University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest. Students from in state pay about $38,828 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,236 to complete the general special education program here. General Special Education graduates of Dominican University earn a median of $45,546 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,236 median debt. Dominican University admits about 90% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes National Louis University one of the best values for general special education. Located in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,245. Students borrow a median of $29,242 to complete the general special education program here. General Special Education graduates of National Louis University earn a median of $57,644 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Eastern Illinois University earned it the #5 place for general special education. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,377, while out-of-state students pay about $15,859. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $26,046 in student loans. General Special Education graduates of Eastern Illinois University earn a median of $43,955 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Eastern Illinois University admits about 65% of applicants.
Chicago State University landed the #6 spot for general special education value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Chicago State University is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,754, with out-of-state students paying around $12,757. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $43,322. General Special Education graduates of Chicago State University earn a median of $47,477 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $43,322 median debt. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
Western Illinois University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value general special education schools. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,572. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $25,986. General Special Education graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median of $46,729 early in their careers. Set against $25,986 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
University Of St Francis landed the #8 spot for general special education value this year. Located in the suburb of Joliet, University Of St Francis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,110. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $23,500. Early-career general special education graduates make about $45,323. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Illinois University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value general special education schools. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,060 in tuition and fees. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $21,452 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $53,426. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #10 spot for general special education value this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. In-state tuition and fees average $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 $57,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #11 spot for general special education value this year. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,334 in tuition and fees. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $22,875 in student loans. Early-career general special education graduates make about $44,429. That is a strong return on a $22,875 median debt. Southern Illinois University Carbondale admits about 87% of applicants.
Northeastern Illinois University earned the #12 position for value in general special education this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,383 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,726. Students borrow a median of $17,600 to complete the general special education program here. General Special Education graduates of Northeastern Illinois University earn a median of $69,073 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Lewis University came in at #13 for value in general special education this year. Located in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,200. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $25,000. Early-career general special education graduates make about $48,819. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lewis University admits about 71% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #14 for value in general special education this year. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville. Students from in state pay about $12,092 in tuition and fees. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $19,850 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville generally make around $44,205. That is a strong return on a $19,850 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Concordia University Chicago ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value general special education schools. Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest. Students from in state pay about $37,488 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $26,956. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Concordia University Chicago generally make around $64,673. That is a strong return on a $26,956 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Illinois State University earned the #16 position for value in general special education this year. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,410, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Students borrow a median of $20,436 to complete the general special education program here. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $52,626. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Trinity Christian College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value general special education schools. Trinity Christian College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Palos Heights. In-state tuition and fees average $20,605. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $35,611. Early-career general special education graduates make about $48,840. Set against $35,611 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Roosevelt University earned the #18 position for value in general special education this year. Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,315. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $23,879. Early-career general special education graduates make about $50,101. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Olivet Nazarene University earned the #19 position for value in general special education this year. Set in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $38,900 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,797 to complete the general special education program here. Early-career general special education graduates make about $68,371. That is a strong return on a $26,797 median debt. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Depaul University earned the #20 position for value in general special education this year. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,405. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $25,340. General Special Education graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $67,561 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
More General Special Education Rankings
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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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 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.
