2026 Best Value Elementary Special Education Schools in the Southeast Region
[Elementary Special Education](/majors/education/special-education/elementary-special-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools to find the best return on investment for elementary special education students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Elementary Special Education Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the elementary special education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Elementary Special Education Schools
Shorter University earned the #1 spot for value among elementary special education schools in the Southeast Region. Set in the city of Rome, Shorter University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $24,630. Elementary Special Education graduates carry a median of $31,037 in student loans. Early-career elementary special education graduates make about $44,407. Set against $31,037 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Shorter University admits about 96% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Winthrop University earned it the #2 place for elementary special education. Located in the city of Rock Hill, Winthrop University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,678, while out-of-state students pay about $28,676. Students borrow a median of $26,717 to complete the elementary special education program here. Soon after graduation, elementary special education degree recipients from Winthrop University generally make around $39,378. Set against $26,717 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Students looking for strong value in elementary special education will find it at Lee University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Cleveland, Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,790. Typical student debt for elementary special education graduates is $26,422. Early-career elementary special education graduates make about $38,249. Set against $26,422 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
College Of William And Mary came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value elementary special education schools. Set in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $25,734, with out-of-state students paying around $51,038. Students borrow a median of $18,935 to complete the elementary special education program here. Soon after graduation, elementary special education degree recipients from College Of William And Mary generally make around $53,338. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. College Of William And Mary admits about 34% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
