2026 Best Value General Special Education Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general special education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Special Education Schools
For return on investment in general special education, no school beat University Of Illinois At Chicago this year. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Students borrow a median of $20,115 to complete the general special education program here. General Special Education graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $73,322 early in their careers. Set against $20,115 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Northern Illinois University one of the best values for general special education. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. In-state tuition and fees average $13,060. Students borrow a median of $21,452 to complete the general special education program here. Early-career general special education graduates make about $53,426. Set against $21,452 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Saint Xavier University earned it the #3 place for general special education. Set in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $38,945. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $25,735. General Special Education graduates of Saint Xavier University earn a median of $54,613 early in their careers. Set against $25,735 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general special education will find it at Northeastern Illinois University, which ranked #4. Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,383, while out-of-state students pay about $22,726. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $17,600. Early-career general special education graduates make about $69,073. Set against $17,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned it the #5 place for general special education. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Students borrow a median of $18,925 to complete the general special education program here. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value general special education schools. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,092. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $19,850. General Special Education graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of $44,205 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Eastern Illinois University came in at #7 for value in general special education this year. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,377, with out-of-state students paying around $15,859. Students borrow a median of $26,046 to complete the general special education program here. Early-career general special education graduates make about $43,955. Set against $26,046 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern Illinois University admits about 65% of applicants.
Dominican University landed the #8 spot for general special education value this year. Set in the suburb of River Forest, Dominican University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $38,828 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $26,236. Early-career general special education graduates make about $45,546. That is a strong return on a $26,236 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
National Louis University landed the #9 spot for general special education value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,245. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $29,242. General Special Education graduates of National Louis University earn a median of $57,644 early in their careers. Set against $29,242 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale placed #10 among the best values for general special education. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,334. Students borrow a median of $22,875 to complete the general special education program here. General Special Education graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $44,429 early in their careers. Set against $22,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Concordia University Chicago placed #11 among the best values for general special education. Located in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,488. Students borrow a median of $26,956 to complete the general special education program here. Early-career general special education graduates make about $64,673. Set against $26,956 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Trinity Christian College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value general special education schools. Set in the suburb of Palos Heights, Trinity Christian College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $20,605. Students borrow a median of $35,611 to complete the general special education program here. Early-career general special education graduates make about $48,840. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Lewis University placed #13 among the best values for general special education. Located in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $39,200. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $25,000. General Special Education graduates of Lewis University earn a median of $48,819 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Aurora University placed #14 among the best values for general special education. Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aurora. In-state tuition and fees average $29,170. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $24,507. General Special Education graduates of Aurora University earn a median of $56,992 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,507 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Illinois State University placed #15 among the best values for general special education. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $20,436. Early-career general special education graduates make about $52,626. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Illinois State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Roosevelt University placed #16 among the best values for general special education. Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,315. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $23,879. Early-career general special education graduates make about $50,101. Set against $23,879 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Olivet Nazarene University earned the #17 position for value in general special education this year. Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bourbonnais. In-state tuition and fees average $38,900. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $26,797 in student loans. Early-career general special education graduates make about $68,371. That is a strong return on a $26,797 median debt. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Depaul University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value general special education schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,405. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $25,310. Early-career general special education graduates make about $67,561. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Loyola University Chicago earned the #19 position for value in general special education this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $23,521. Early-career general special education graduates make about $58,568. Set against $23,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 35 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
[General Special Education](/majors/education/special-education/general-special-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general special education education at a price that pays off.
