2027 Best Value Elementary Special Education Schools in the The Plains States 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 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for elementary special education students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Elementary Special Education Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in elementary special education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Elementary Special Education Schools
For return on investment in elementary special education, no school beat University Of Northern Iowa this year. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,936 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,712 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,635 to complete the elementary special education program here. Early-career elementary special education graduates make about $60,588. That is a strong return on a $22,635 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a great value for students pursuing a degree in elementary special education, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,434, compared with $28,584 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the elementary special education program here. Soon after graduation, elementary special education degree recipients from University Of Nebraska Lincoln generally make around $49,528. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Buena Vista University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in elementary special education, landing the #3 spot this year. Buena Vista University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Storm Lake. In-state tuition and fees average $41,798. Typical student debt for elementary special education graduates is $29,317. Soon after graduation, elementary special education degree recipients from Buena Vista University generally make around $44,780. That is a strong return on a $29,317 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Upper Iowa University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in elementary special education, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Fayette, Upper Iowa University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,475. Students borrow a median of $35,455 to complete the elementary special education program here. Elementary Special Education graduates of Upper Iowa University earn a median of $50,052 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $35,455 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
