2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Special Education (Income $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 has developed its “Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
In 2019-2020, 33,249 people earned their degree in special education, making the major the 39th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, special education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $43,879 and had an average of $28,500 in loans still to pay off.
At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 19,550 special education graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 517 colleges that offer 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.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the special education program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
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Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k
The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree special ed students whose families make $30-$48k.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Special Education (Income $30-$48k)
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Hunter College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k. Hunter is a public institution located in New York, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 315 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Hunter not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Hunter are $20,828, but some majors have different tuition rates.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Johns Hopkins University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k. This large school is located in Baltimore, Maryland, and it awarded 19 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Johns Hopkins, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Johns Hopkins are $59,425.
Out of the 517 schools in the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Vanderbilt University landed the #3 spot on the list. Vanderbilt University is located in Nashville, Tennessee and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 55 masters’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
Vanderbilt also took the #3 spot in our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Vanderbilt are $50,624.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Los Angeles. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s special ed degrees to 73 students in 2019-2020.
On top of its placing in this ranking, Cal State LA also did well on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Special Education at California State University - Los Angeles
Out of the 517 schools in the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Brooklyn College landed the #5 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Brooklyn, New York, and it awarded 171 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.
Brooklyn College also made our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #11. Average graduate tuition and fees at Brooklyn College are $20,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Florida did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. This large school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 34 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree special ed students whose families make $30-$48k list, UF has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UF are $30,130, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
The City College of New York did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. Located in New York, New York, this fairly large public school handed out 54 degrees to qualified masters’s special ed students in 2019-2020.
CCNY excels when it comes to special ed quality. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category. Average graduate tuition and fees at CCNY are $20,832, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Wisconsin - Madison came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s special ed degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.
UW - Madison excels when it comes to special ed quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523.
Queens College landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Queens College is a fairly large school located in Queens, New York that handed out 62 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.
On top of its placing in this ranking, QC also did well on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category. Average graduate tuition and fees at Queens College are $21,042, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Lehman College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Lehman College is a public institution located in Bronx, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 48 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Lehman is also in the top of our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category. Average graduate tuition and fees at Lehman College are $21,000, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #11, The University of West Florida did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. The University of West Florida is a fairly large school located in Pensacola, Florida that handed out 137 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of West Florida are $24,894, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Special Education at The University of West Florida
University of Washington - Seattle Campus came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is a large public school situated in Seattle, Washington. It awarded 26 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.
On top of its placing in this ranking, UW Seattle also did well on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Washington - Seattle Campus are $30,294, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Special Education at University of Washington - Seattle Campus
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Edinburg, Texas, this large public school handed out 82 degrees to qualified masters’s special ed students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Rio Grande Valley are $15,151, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Special Education at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
California State University - Fresno came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. California State University - Fresno is a public institution located in Fresno, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 28 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Fresno State are $17,581, but some majors have different tuition rates.
California State University - Dominguez Hills landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Carson, California, and it awarded 11 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSUDH are $17,884.
Florida International University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Florida International University is located in Miami, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 65 masters’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at FIU are $24,211, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Special Education at Florida International University
California State University - Long Beach did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. Located in Long Beach, California, this large public school awarded 19 degrees to qualified masters’s special ed students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Long Beach are $17,784.
Read more about Special Education at California State University - Long Beach
Texas A&M International University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #18. This medium-sized school is located in Laredo, Texas, and it awarded 18 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M International University are $15,106, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full Texas A&M International University Special Education Report
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s special ed degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UIUC is also in the top of our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Special Education at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
California State University - San Bernardino came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in San Bernardino, California, this fairly large public school handed out 62 degrees to qualified masters’s special ed students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - San Bernardino are $17,936.
Read more about Special Education at California State University - San Bernardino
University of Central Florida came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Orlando, Florida, this large public school awarded 43 degrees to qualified masters’s special ed students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Central Florida are $28,657.
California State University - Northridge did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #22. California State University - Northridge is a public institution located in Northridge, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 38 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Northridge are $17,955, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Special Education at California State University - Northridge
With a ranking of #23, Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s special ed degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.
On top of its placing in this ranking, IU Bloomington also did well on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338.
Read more about Special Education at Indiana University - Bloomington
College of Staten Island CUNY landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. CSI is a public institution located in Staten Island, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 46 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSI are $21,080.
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #25. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s special ed degrees to 35 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree special ed students whose families make $30-$48k list, UMN Twin Cities has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities are $28,845.
Rest of the Best 50 in Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s 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:
Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s 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 | Truman State University | Kirksville, MO |
| 52 | Oakland University | Rochester Hills, MI |
| 53 | MSU Texas | Wichita Falls, TX |
| 54 | Appalachian State University | Boone, NC |
| 55 | University of North Dakota | Grand Forks, ND |
| 56 | Rhode Island College | Providence, RI |
| 57 | University of Wisconsin - Whitewater | Whitewater, WI |
| 58 | Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis | Indianapolis, IN |
| 59 | Texas A&M University - College Station | College Station, TX |
| 60 | The College of New Jersey | Ewing, NJ |
| 61 | University of Missouri - Columbia | Columbia, MO |
| 61 | Arizona State University - Skysong | Scottsdale, AZ |
| 62 | George Washington University | Washington, DC |
| 63 | Holy Family University | Philadelphia, PA |
| 64 | Indiana University - South Bend | South Bend, IN |
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 65 | Arizona State University - Tempe | Tempe, AZ |
| 66 | Marshall University | Huntington, WV |
| 66 | University of Hawaii at Manoa | Honolulu, HI |
| 68 | Grand Valley State University | Allendale, MI |
| 69 | University of Houston | Houston, TX |
| 70 | Saint Cloud State University | Saint Cloud, MN |
| 71 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | Greensboro, NC |
| 72 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | Edwardsville, IL |
| 73 | Bemidji State University | Bemidji, MN |
| 74 | Eastern Illinois University | Charleston, IL |
| 75 | University of Houston - Victoria | Victoria, TX |
| 76 | Lehigh University | Bethlehem, PA |
| 77 | University of Alaska Fairbanks | Fairbanks, AK |
| 78 | Lamar University | Beaumont, TX |
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Notes and References
References
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
Footnotes
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
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