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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Special Education (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

78 Ranked Colleges
2,688 Degrees Awarded
$20,500 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.

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.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 5,757 special education graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,366 and $28,924 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 2,688 special education graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 78 colleges that offer a degree in special education. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent special education programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the special education program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Special Education (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

#2 in overall quality

Out of the 78 schools in the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #1 spot on the list. UW - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 11 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523.

Read more about Special Education at UW - Madison

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. UIUC is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 8 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC also took the #3 spot in our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Special Education Report

#3

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#8 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Indiana University - Bloomington is a large public school situated in Bloomington, Indiana. It awarded 3 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree special ed students whose families make $30-$48k list, IU Bloomington has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338.

Full Indiana University - Bloomington Special Education Report

#4

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana

Out of the 78 schools in the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Ball State University landed the #4 spot on the list. Ball State is a large school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 1,214 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

Ball State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State are $26,204.

Read full report on Special Education at Ball State University

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Chicago. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Illinois at Chicago is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 62 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

UIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UIC are $27,036.

Full University of Illinois at Chicago Special Education Report

#6

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Oakland is a public institution located in Rochester Hills, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 54 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 Oakland University are $24,648.

Full Oakland Special Education Report

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, and it awarded 32 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater are $19,200, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Special Education Report

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. IUPUI is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 3 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis are $26,013, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Special Education at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

#9

Indiana University - South Bend

South Bend, Indiana

Indiana University - South Bend came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. South Bend, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s special ed degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - South Bend are $18,275, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Special Education at Indiana University - South Bend

#10

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan

Grand Valley State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Allendale, Michigan, and it awarded 25 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

GVSU also took the #23 spot in our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at GVSU are $17,448.

Read full report on Special Education at GVSU

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a fairly large school located in Edwardsville, Illinois that handed out 5 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at SIUE are $9,300, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Special Education at SIUE

#12

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. Charleston, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s special ed degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at EIU are $20,761, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Special Education at EIU

#13

University of Wisconsin - Superior

Superior, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Superior did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. UW - Superior is a small school located in Superior, Wisconsin that handed out 48 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Superior are $18,376, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Special Education at UW - Superior

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school handed out 2 diplomas to qualified masters’s special ed students in 2019-2020.

UW Oshkosh also took the #0 spot in our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW Oshkosh are $18,744, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Special Education Report

#15

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

Northern Illinois University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. NIU is a fairly large public school situated in Dekalb, Illinois. It awarded 53 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

NIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at NIU are $11,086, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Special Education at Northern Illinois University

#16

Purdue University Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Purdue University Fort Wayne ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, this medium-sized public school awarded 8 degrees to qualified masters’s special ed students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at PFW are $14,618, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Purdue University Fort Wayne Special Education Report

#17

Saint Xavier University

Chicago, Illinois

Saint Xavier University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 19 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 SXU are $15,450.

Full Saint Xavier University Special Education Report

#18

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan
#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, Central Michigan University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and it awarded 16 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

Central Michigan also made our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #18. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Central Michigan University are $19,359.

Read more about Special Education at Central Michigan University

#19

Governors State University

University Park, Illinois

Governors State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #19. Located in University Park, Illinois, this small public school awarded 2 diplomas to qualified masters’s special ed students in 2019-2020.

GSU also made our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #0. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Governors State University are $14,674.

Read more about Special Education at GSU

University of Michigan - Flint came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Flint, Michigan, and it awarded 9 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Flint are $18,202, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Michigan - Flint Special Education Report

With a ranking of #21, University of Michigan - Dearborn did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Michigan - Dearborn is a medium-sized public school situated in Dearborn, Michigan. It awarded 3 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UM Dearborn are $25,072, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Special Education at University of Michigan - Dearborn

#22

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

Western Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #22. Macomb, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s special ed degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Western Illinois University are $11,996.

Full Western Illinois University Special Education Report

#23

Lewis University

Romeoville, Illinois
#14 in overall quality

Lewis University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #23. Romeoville, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s special ed degrees to 20 students in 2019-2020.

Lewis did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Lewis are $14,780, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Lewis Special Education Report

#24

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois

With a ranking of #24, Illinois State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Normal, Illinois, this large public school awarded 19 degrees to qualified masters’s special ed students in 2019-2020.

Illinois State also made our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State University are $11,069, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Illinois State University Special Education Report

#25

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan

With a ranking of #25, Michigan State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Michigan State is located in East Lansing, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 32 masters’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

Michigan State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State are $37,056.

Read full report on Special Education at Michigan State

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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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