2026 Best Value Special Education Schools in Mississippi
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in special education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Special Education Schools
University Of Mississippi Main Campus tops our 2026 list of the best value special education schools in Mississippi. University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of University. In-state tuition and fees average $9,772, while out-of-state students pay about $28,600. Students borrow a median of $22,444 to complete the special education program here. Early-career special education graduates make about $50,876. Set against $22,444 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Mississippi State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in special education, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,202, with out-of-state students paying around $27,637. Typical student debt for special education graduates is $22,302. Special Education graduates of Mississippi State University earn a median of $41,377 early in their careers. Set against $22,302 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
William Carey University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in special education, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Hattiesburg, William Carey University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $15,480 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,079 to complete the special education program here. Special Education graduates of William Carey University earn a median of $46,292 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mississippi College earned it the #4 place for special education. Set in the suburb of Clinton, Mississippi College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $23,500 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for special education graduates is $25,510. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Mississippi College generally make around $42,738. That is a strong return on a $25,510 median debt. The acceptance rate is 29%.
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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong special education education at a price that pays off.
