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2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

78 Ranked Colleges
2,688 Degrees Awarded
$21,700 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

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 a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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.

This year’s “Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking analyzed 78 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.

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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Special Education Schools

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 $48-$75k” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

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 $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Special Education (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region

#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. UW - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 masters’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

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.

Full UW - Madison Special Education Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 8 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 $48-$75k list, UIUC has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Special Education at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#3

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#8 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Bloomington. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Located in Bloomington, Indiana, this large public school handed out 3 diplomas to qualified masters’s special ed students in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 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 Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338.

Full IU Bloomington Special Education Report

Out of the 78 schools in the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #4 spot on the list. University of Illinois at Chicago is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 62 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIC, the school also landed the #10 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 University of Illinois at Chicago are $27,036.

Full UIC Special Education Report

#5

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ball State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Ball State University is located in Muncie, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1,214 masters’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree special ed students whose families make $48-$75k list, Ball State has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State are $26,204, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Special Education at Ball State

#6

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Oakland University is a fairly large public school situated in Rochester Hills, Michigan. It awarded 54 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Oakland University are $24,648, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Special Education at Oakland

#7

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

With a ranking of #7, Eastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Eastern Illinois University is located in Charleston, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 masters’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Eastern Illinois University are $20,761, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Special Education at EIU

#8

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

With a ranking of #8, Northern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. NIU is a public institution located in Dekalb, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 53 masters’s 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 Northern Illinois University are $11,086, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Special Education at Northern Illinois University

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is a fairly large school located in Whitewater, Wisconsin that handed out 32 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater are $19,200, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Special Education at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

#10

University of Wisconsin - Superior

Superior, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Superior 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 $48-$75k ranking. UW - Superior is located in Superior, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 48 masters’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Superior are $18,376, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Special Education at UW - Superior

#11

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan

Grand Valley State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Allendale, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s special ed degrees to 25 students in 2019-2020.

GVSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Grand Valley State University are $17,448, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full GVSU Special Education Report

#12

Lewis University

Romeoville, Illinois
#14 in overall quality

Lewis University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Romeoville, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 20 diplomas to qualified masters’s special ed students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lewis, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Lewis University are $14,780, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Special Education at Lewis

#13

Saint Xavier University

Chicago, Illinois

Saint Xavier University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Saint Xavier University is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 masters’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at SXU are $15,450, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Special Education at Saint Xavier University

University of Michigan - Dearborn did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #14. UM Dearborn is a medium-sized school located in Dearborn, Michigan that handed out 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.

Full University of Michigan - Dearborn Special Education Report

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Oshkosh, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s special ed degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW Oshkosh, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh are $18,744, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Special Education at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This fairly large school is located in Edwardsville, Illinois, and it awarded 5 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 SIUE are $9,300.

Full SIUE Special Education Report

#17

Indiana University - South Bend

South Bend, Indiana

Indiana University - South Bend came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Indiana University - South Bend is located in South Bend, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 masters’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - South Bend are $18,275.

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

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #18. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a public institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis are $26,013, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Special Education Report

#19

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan
#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, 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 $48-$75k list. Central Michigan University is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 masters’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

Central Michigan also made our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #18. Average graduate tuition and fees at Central Michigan University are $19,359, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Central Michigan University Special Education Report

#20

Aurora University

Aurora, Illinois

Aurora University landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Aurora University is located in Aurora, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 masters’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Aurora University are $13,200, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Aurora Special Education Report

#21

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 $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #21. Governors State University is located in University Park, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 masters’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

GSU 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 GSU are $14,674, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Special Education at GSU

Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a fairly large public school situated in Carbondale, Illinois. It awarded 1 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

SIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 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 SIUC are $32,928.

Full SIUC Special Education Report

#23

Ursuline College

Pepper Pike, Ohio

Ursuline College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Pepper Pike, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s special ed degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ursuline College, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ursuline College are $22,192, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Special Education at Ursuline College

#24

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, Michigan

Eastern Michigan University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #24. Eastern Michigan University is located in Ypsilanti, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 78 masters’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

Eastern Michigan also made our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #15. Average graduate tuition and fees at Eastern Michigan are $26,552, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Special Education at Eastern Michigan

#25

Saginaw Valley State University

University Center, Michigan

Saginaw Valley 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 $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #25. Saginaw Valley State University is a public institution located in University Center, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 11 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Saginaw Valley State University are $28,780, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Special Education at Saginaw Valley State University

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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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