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2023 Best Value Colleges for Special Education (Income $30-$48k)

593 Ranked Colleges
36,792 Degrees Awarded
$6,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Special Ed Schools For Those Making $30-$48k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Special Ed Schools For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 36,792 people earned their degree in special education, making the major the 29th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, special education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $45,679 and had an average of $24,977 in loans still to pay off.

This year’s “Best Value Special Ed Schools For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 593 colleges that offered a degree in special education. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great special education programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the special education program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Special Ed Schools For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Special Ed Schools For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Special Ed Schools For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Special Education (Income $30-$48k)

1
Hunter crest
Hunter College
New York, New York

Out of the 593 schools in the Best Value Special Ed Schools For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Hunter College landed the #1 spot on the list. Hunter is a large school located in New York, New York that handed out 360 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our special ed students whose families make $30-$48k list, Hunter has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Special Education Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Hunter College is $2,135 for Special Ed students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Hunter Special Education Report

2
Brooklyn College crest
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, New York

Out of the 593 schools in the Best Value Special Ed Schools For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Brooklyn College landed the #2 spot on the list. Brooklyn College is located in Brooklyn, New York and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 244 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

Brooklyn College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Special Education Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Brooklyn College is $3,105 for special ed students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Brooklyn College Special Education Report

3
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The City College of New York
New York, New York

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The City College of New York. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 143 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, CCNY is also in the top of our “Best Special Education Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend CCNY is $3,035 for special ed students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Special Education at CCNY

4
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Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Vanderbilt University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Special Ed Schools For Those Making $30-$48k. Vanderbilt University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Nashville, Tennessee. It awarded 54 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Vanderbilt, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Special Education Schools” ranking. It costs about $4,652 for Special Ed students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Vanderbilt.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Special Education at Vanderbilt University

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Los Angeles. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Special Ed Schools For Those Making $30-$48k. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 84 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on this list, Cal State LA is in the top on our “Best Special Education Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $2,701 for special ed students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State University - Los Angeles.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Special Education at California State University - Los Angeles

6
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Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland

Johns Hopkins University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. This large school is located in Baltimore, Maryland, and it awarded 47 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

Johns Hopkins did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Special Education Schools” list. It costs about $4,859 for special ed students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Johns Hopkins University.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Johns Hopkins University Special Education Report

7
QC crest
Queens College
Queens, New York

Queens College landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Queens, New York, this fairly large public school awarded 111 diplomas to qualified ’s special ed students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, QC is also in the top of our “Best Special Education Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $3,524 for Special Ed students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend QC.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Queens College Special Education Report

8
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University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

University of Florida ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Gainesville, Florida, this large public school handed out 87 degrees to qualified ’s special ed students in 2020-2021.

On top of its placing in this ranking, UF also did well on our “Best Special Education Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend University of Florida is $2,857 for special ed students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read full report on Special Education at University of Florida

9
Lehman crest
Lehman College
Bronx, New York

With a ranking of #9, Lehman College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Bronx, New York is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 87 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Lehman is also in the top of our “Best Special Education Schools” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Special Education Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Lehman College is $3,381 for special ed students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Special Education at Lehman

10

University of Wisconsin - Madison did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. UW - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 69 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - Madison did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Special Education Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison is $4,788 for Special Ed students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.

Read more about Special Education at University of Wisconsin - Madison

11
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Indiana University - Bloomington
Bloomington, Indiana

Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. IU Bloomington is a public institution located in Bloomington, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 38 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

IU Bloomington also made our “Best Special Education Schools” list, coming in at #21. The yearly cost to attend IU Bloomington is $7,061 for special ed students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read more about Special Education at IU Bloomington

12

University of Washington - Seattle Campus ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Seattle, Washington, this large public school awarded 32 diplomas to qualified ’s special ed students in 2020-2021.

UW Seattle also took the #16 spot in our “Best Special Education Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW Seattle is $6,399 for Special Ed students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Special Education at University of Washington - Seattle Campus

13
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Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Purdue is located in West Lafayette, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 27 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

Purdue excels when it comes to special ed quality. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue is $5,853 for special ed students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Special Education at Purdue University - Main Campus

14

The University of West Florida ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Pensacola, Florida is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 303 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UWF is $3,827 for Special Ed students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Special Education at The University of West Florida

15

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 84 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

UMN Twin Cities also took the #20 spot in our “Best Special Education Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UMN Twin Cities is $8,609 for special ed students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Read full report on Special Education at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

16

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 52 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our special ed students whose families make $30-$48k list, UIUC has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Special Education Schools” ranking. It costs about $8,036 for special ed students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Special Education at UIUC

17
Florida State crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida

Florida State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Florida State is a public institution located in Tallahassee, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 30 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Florida State is also in the top of our “Best Special Education Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Florida State is $7,349 for special ed students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Special Education at Florida State University

18
Ball State crest
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana

Ball State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Ball State University is a large school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 1,870 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

Ball State also made our “Best Special Education Schools” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend Ball State University is $10,786 for Special Ed students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Special Education at Ball State University

19

University of South Florida - Main Campus came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. USF Tampa is located in Tampa, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 42 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $5,632 for Special Ed students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend USF Tampa.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Special Education at USF Tampa

20
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Western Governors University
Salt Lake City, Utah

Western Governors University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Western Governors University is a large school located in Salt Lake City, Utah that handed out 1,256 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

On top of its placing in this ranking, WGU also did well on our “Best Special Education Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Western Governors University is $8,387 for special ed students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Special Education at Western Governors University

21

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #21. UT Rio Grande Valley is a public institution located in Edinburg, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 142 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UT Rio Grande Valley is $2,912 for Special Ed students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UT Rio Grande Valley Special Education Report

22

California State University - Fresno ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Fresno, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 42 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $4,655 for Special Ed students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State University - Fresno.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Special Education at California State University - Fresno

23
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Towson University
Towson, Maryland

Towson University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Towson, Maryland is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 231 students in 2020-2021.

Towson also took the #4 spot in our “Best Special Education Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Towson University is $12,452 for special ed students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read more about Special Education at Towson

24
UGA crest
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

With a ranking of #24, University of Georgia did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Georgia is a large school located in Athens, Georgia that handed out 75 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our special ed students whose families make $30-$48k list, UGA has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Special Education Schools” ranking. It costs about $10,688 for Special Ed students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UGA.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Full UGA Special Education Report

25
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Western Washington University
Bellingham, Washington

With a ranking of #25, Western Washington University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Western Washington University is a public institution located in Bellingham, Washington. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 93 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

WWU also made our “Best Special Education Schools” list, coming in at #15. It costs about $11,357 for Special Ed students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend WWU.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Special Education at WWU

Rest of the Best 50 in Best Value Special Ed Schools For Those Making $30-$48k

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
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University of North Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
27
28
Indian River State College crest
Indian River State College
Fort Pierce, Florida
29
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Miami Dade College
Miami, Florida
30
31
32
33
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Minot State University
Minot, North Dakota
34
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College of Staten Island CUNY
Staten Island, New York
35
36
37
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Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, Arizona
38
39
40
41
42
Boston U crest
Boston University
Boston, Massachusetts
43
43
Illinois State crest
Illinois State University
Normal, Illinois
45
46
47
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Washington State University
Pullman, Washington
48
Appalachian State crest
Appalachian State University
Boone, North Carolina
49
50

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Best Value Special Ed Schools For Those Making $30-$48k

While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

Rank College Location
51 Minnesota State University - Mankato Mankato, MN
52 St Petersburg College Clearwater, FL
53 Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FL
54 College of Southern Nevada Las Vegas, NV
55 Central Washington University Ellensburg, WA
56 New Mexico State University - Main Campus Las Cruces, NM
57 Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OH
58 Oakland University Rochester Hills, MI
59 University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NC
60 University of North Texas Denton, TX
61 University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC
62 Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud, MN
63 Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights, KY
64 University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND
65 Medgar Evers College Brooklyn, NY
Rank College Location
66 University of Wisconsin - Stout Menomonie, WI
67 Indiana University - South Bend South Bend, IN
68 The College of New Jersey Ewing, NJ
69 University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago, IL
70 Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL
71 University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lincoln, NE
72 Rhode Island College Providence, RI
73 Arizona State University - Skysong Scottsdale, AZ
74 Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers, FL
75 University of Missouri - St Louis Saint Louis, MO
76 East Carolina University Greenville, NC
76 University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MO
78 University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks, AK
78 Eastern Washington University Cheney, WA
80 Augusta University Augusta, GA
81 University of Arizona Tucson, AZ
82 Northeastern State University Tahlequah, OK
83 Northwest Missouri State University Maryville, MO
83 Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI
85 Youngstown State University Youngstown, OH
86 The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, TX
87 SUNY Old Westbury Old Westbury, NY
88 Lamar University Beaumont, TX
89 Georgia State University Atlanta, GA

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