2026 Best Value Special Education Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the special education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Special Education Schools
Cuny Hunter College tops our 2026 list of the best value special education schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,382 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,332 for out-of-state students. Special Education graduates carry a median of $11,091 in student loans. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Cuny Hunter College generally make around $77,182. Set against $11,091 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny Hunter College admits about 54% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Brooklyn College earned it the #2 place for special education. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,452, with out-of-state students paying around $15,402. Students borrow a median of $13,303 to complete the special education program here. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Cuny Brooklyn College generally make around $77,678. That is a strong return on a $13,303 median debt. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Cuny Queens College one of the best values for special education. Located in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,538, while out-of-state students pay about $15,488. Typical student debt for special education graduates is $12,157. Early-career special education graduates make about $74,496. That is a strong return on a $12,157 median debt. Cuny Queens College admits about 64% of applicants.
Cuny City College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value special education schools. Cuny City College is a large public school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $7,340, compared with $15,290 for out-of-state students. Special Education graduates carry a median of $13,389 in student loans. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Cuny City College generally make around $76,836. That is a strong return on a $13,389 median debt. Cuny City College admits about 60% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Lehman College earned it the #5 place for special education. Cuny Lehman College is a large public school located in the city of Bronx. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,410, while out-of-state students pay about $15,360. Students borrow a median of $13,213 to complete the special education program here. Special Education graduates of Cuny Lehman College earn a median of $79,551 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,213 median debt. Cuny Lehman College admits about 57% of applicants.
Cuny College Of Staten Island landed the #6 spot for special education value this year. Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public school located in the city of Staten Island. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,490, compared with $15,440 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for special education graduates is $14,688. Early-career special education graduates make about $75,212. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny College Of Staten Island admits about 92% of applicants.
Cuny Medgar Evers College earned the #7 position for value in special education this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Medgar Evers College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,352 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,302. Special Education graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Cuny Medgar Evers College generally make around $49,413. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College At Old Westbury ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value special education schools. Located in the suburb of Old Westbury, Suny College At Old Westbury is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,372, with out-of-state students paying around $18,842. Students borrow a median of $24,145 to complete the special education program here. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Suny College At Old Westbury generally make around $38,978. That is a strong return on a $24,145 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Montclair State University came in at #9 for value in special education this year. Set in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,912, compared with $26,022 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for special education graduates is $25,286. Early-career special education graduates make about $69,017. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Kean University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value special education schools. Set in the suburb of Union, Kean University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,299, compared with $22,446 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the special education program here. Early-career special education graduates make about $57,320. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
University Of Maryland College Park earned the #11 position for value in special education this year. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. In-state tuition and fees average $11,809, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. Typical student debt for special education graduates is $20,836. Special Education graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $67,390 early in their careers. Set against $20,836 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Suny Empire State College came in at #12 for value in special education this year. Set in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,648, while out-of-state students pay about $17,558. Special Education graduates carry a median of $23,693 in student loans. Special Education graduates of Suny Empire State College earn a median of $58,140 early in their careers. Set against $23,693 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
New Jersey City University earned the #13 position for value in special education this year. New Jersey City University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Jersey City. In-state tuition and fees average $14,460. Typical student debt for special education graduates is $22,107. Special Education graduates of New Jersey City University earn a median of $65,141 early in their careers. Set against $22,107 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Holy Family University earned the #14 position for value in special education this year. Holy Family University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. In-state tuition and fees average $35,330. Students borrow a median of $26,562 to complete the special education program here. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Holy Family University generally make around $64,967. That is a strong return on a $26,562 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Towson University placed #15 among the best values for special education. Towson University is a very large public school located in the city of Towson. In-state tuition and fees average $11,728, compared with $29,820 for out-of-state students. Special Education graduates carry a median of $19,750 in student loans. Special Education graduates of Towson University earn a median of $59,077 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,750 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Delaware ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value special education schools. Set in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $16,810 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,400. Special Education graduates carry a median of $24,861 in student loans. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from University Of Delaware generally make around $59,316. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Delaware admits about 71% of applicants.
Northampton County Area Community College came in at #17 for value in special education this year. Northampton County Area Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Bethlehem. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,550, with out-of-state students paying around $15,270. Typical student debt for special education graduates is $18,900. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Northampton County Area Community College generally make around $35,960. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saint Peters College earned the #18 position for value in special education this year. Located in the city of Jersey City, Saint Peters College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,552. Typical student debt for special education graduates is $22,969. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Saint Peters College generally make around $59,785. That is a strong return on a $22,969 median debt. Saint Peters College admits about 90% of applicants.
Johns Hopkins University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value special education schools. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $64,730 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for special education graduates is $13,426. Early-career special education graduates make about $68,814. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Johns Hopkins University admits about 6% of applicants.
Wilmington University earned the #20 position for value in special education this year. Set in the suburb of New Castle, Wilmington University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,630. Typical student debt for special education graduates is $26,054. Special Education graduates of Wilmington University earn a median of $63,006 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Monroe College Main Campus landed the #21 spot for special education value this year. Monroe College Main Campus is a large private for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,464. Students borrow a median of $20,701 to complete the special education program here. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Monroe College Main Campus generally make around $40,329. Set against $20,701 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Monroe College Main Campus admits about 68% of applicants.
Mercy College placed #22 among the best values for special education. Mercy College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dobbs Ferry. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,880. Students borrow a median of $28,304 to complete the special education program here. Special Education graduates of Mercy College earn a median of $61,432 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,304 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value special education schools. Set in the town of East Stroudsburg, East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,236, while out-of-state students pay about $19,202. Special Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career special education graduates make about $54,009. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Suny College At Buffalo landed the #24 spot for special education value this year. Located in the city of Buffalo, Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,533, while out-of-state students pay about $19,653. Special Education graduates carry a median of $22,610 in student loans. Special Education graduates of Suny College At Buffalo earn a median of $35,330 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Fredonia placed #25 among the best values for special education. Located in the town of Fredonia, Suny At Fredonia is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,831, compared with $19,771 for out-of-state students. Special Education graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Suny At Fredonia generally make around $53,531. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Special Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s special education value ranking:
Narrow Special Education Schools by State
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 183 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 69 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Special Education](/majors/education/special-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
