2026 Best Value General Special Education Schools in Rhode Island

[General Special Education](/majors/education/special-education/general-special-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general special education education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for general special education students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value General Special Education Schools in Rhode Island
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
Community College Of Rhode Island earned the #1 spot for value among general special education schools in Rhode Island. Community College Of Rhode Island is a large public school located in the city of Warwick. Students from in state pay about $5,550 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,834. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $13,940. General Special Education graduates of Community College Of Rhode Island earn a median of $39,680 early in their careers. Set against $13,940 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rhode Island College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value general special education schools. Set in the suburb of Providence, Rhode Island College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,300, while out-of-state students pay about $27,299. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $29,851. General 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. Rhode Island College admits about 92% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Salve Regina University earned it the #3 place for general special education. Set in the suburb of Newport, Salve Regina University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $50,100 in tuition and fees. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Salve Regina University generally make around $51,308. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Providence College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general special education, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Providence, Providence College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $63,550. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Providence College generally make around $49,664. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 51% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.