2023 Best Value Colleges for Special Education in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)
103
Ranked Colleges
6,264
Degrees Awarded
$15,300
Avg Net Price*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Special Education is the 29th most popular major in the country with 36,792 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. 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.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 6,264 special education graduates with average earnings and debt of $42,394 and $26,337 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 103 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
More Ways to Rank Special Education Schools
The special ed school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid”.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region special ed students with aid.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Special Education in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)
Out of the 103 schools in the Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Ball State University landed the #1 spot on the list. Muncie, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 1,870 students in 2020-2021.
Ball State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Ball State University is $14,765 for great lakes region special ed students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Special Education at Ball State
Out of the 103 schools in the Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #2 spot on the list. Indiana University - Bloomington is a large school located in Bloomington, Indiana that handed out 38 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Bloomington is $14,619 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Special Education at IU Bloomington
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Purdue University - Main Campus. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, this large public school handed out 27 degrees to qualified ’s special ed students in 2020-2021.
Purdue also made our “Best Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend Purdue is $13,377 for great lakes region special ed students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 Purdue University - Main Campus
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 69 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Madison did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UW - Madison is $17,234 for great lakes region special ed students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 more about Special Education at UW - Madison
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 52 students in 2020-2021.
UIUC also took the #5 spot in our “Best Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $14,321 for great lakes region special ed students with aid per year to attend UIUC.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Special Education at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 133 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
UW - Eau Claire also took the #9 spot in our “Best Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $16,051 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students with aid per year to attend UW - Eau Claire.
Read more about Special Education at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 69 students in 2020-2021.
UIC also took the #25 spot in our “Best Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Chicago is $13,214 for great lakes region special ed students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Illinois at Chicago Special Education Report
Illinois State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Normal, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 214 students in 2020-2021.
Illinois State also took the #1 spot in our “Best Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $20,830 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students with aid per year to attend Illinois State University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Special Education at Illinois State
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 61 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is $14,687 for great lakes region special ed students with aid.
Read full report on Special Education at UW Oshkosh
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UW - Stevens Point is a public institution located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 28 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is $13,346 for great lakes region special ed students with aid.
Read more about Special Education at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Whitewater, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 72 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UW - Whitewater is $14,417 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students with aid.
Read full report on Special Education at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
Youngstown State University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Youngstown, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 84 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Youngstown State University is $12,225 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students with aid.
Read full report on Special Education at Youngstown State University
Bowling Green State University - Main Campus ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Bowling Green, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 256 students in 2020-2021.
BGSU also took the #8 spot in our “Best Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for BGSU is $18,558 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students with aid.
Full Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Special Education Report
Central Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #14. Central Michigan University is a fairly large school located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan that handed out 59 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Central Michigan, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $16,007 for great lakes region special ed students with aid per year to attend Central Michigan University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Special Education at Central Michigan
Michigan State University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Michigan State University is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 90 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Michigan State, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State is $19,058 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Special Education at Michigan State University
University of Wisconsin - Stout came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Wisconsin - Stout is a public institution located in Menomonie, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 20 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Stout is $15,589 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Special Education at University of Wisconsin - Stout
Wayne State University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Wayne State is a large public school situated in Detroit, Michigan. It awarded 33 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Wayne State University is $13,962 for great lakes region special ed students with aid.
Read full report on Special Education at Wayne State University
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. SIUC is a fairly large public school situated in Carbondale, Illinois. It awarded 26 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region special ed students with aid list, SIUC has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SIUC is $16,285 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students with aid.
Full Southern Illinois University Carbondale Special Education Report
Eastern Michigan University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Eastern Michigan is a public institution located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 101 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Eastern Michigan also made our “Best Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #23. It costs about $15,127 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students with aid per year to attend Eastern Michigan.
Read more about Special Education at Eastern Michigan
Eastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. Charleston, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 38 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $13,098 for great lakes region special ed students with aid per year to attend Eastern Illinois University.
Read more about Special Education at Eastern Illinois University
Oakland University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, and it awarded 63 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Oakland is $13,449 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students with aid.
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 Oakland University
With a ranking of #22, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is a large school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 49 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UWM is $17,486 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students with aid.
Full University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Special Education Report
Indiana University - South Bend came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Indiana University - South Bend is a small public school situated in South Bend, Indiana. It awarded 9 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - South Bend is $9,646 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students with aid.
Full Indiana University - South Bend Special Education Report
National Louis University landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 127 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend NLU is $14,584 for great lakes region special ed students with aid.
Read more about Special Education at NLU
With a ranking of #25, Western Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 36 diplomas to qualified ’s special ed students in 2020-2021.
WMU also made our “Best Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #22. It costs about $20,371 for great lakes region special ed students with aid per year to attend WMU.
Read full report on Special Education at Western Michigan University
