2027 Best Value General Special Education Schools in Ohio
[General Special Education](/majors/education/special-education/general-special-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general special education education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general special education students.
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2027 Best Value General Special Education Schools in Ohio
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general special education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Special Education Schools
Leading the list is Central State University, our #1 best value for general special education in Ohio. Set in the rural area of Wilberforce, Central State University is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,058, compared with $10,058 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $31,318. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Central State University generally make around $27,388. That is a strong return on a $31,318 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Youngstown State University earned it the #2 place for general special education. Located in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,926, with out-of-state students paying around $10,286. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $29,125 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Youngstown State University generally make around $40,042. That is a strong return on a $29,125 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Students looking for strong value in general special education will find it at University Of Akron Main Campus, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,135 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,815 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $26,000. General Special Education graduates of University Of Akron Main Campus earn a median of $40,389 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Akron Main Campus admits about 60% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general special education will find it at College Of Mount St Joseph, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Cincinnati, College Of Mount St Joseph is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,150. Students borrow a median of $28,273 to complete the general special education program here. Early-career general special education graduates make about $69,964. Set against $28,273 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ohio State University Main Campus earned it the #5 place for general special education. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $26,899 in student loans. Early-career general special education graduates make about $45,213. Set against $26,899 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Toledo ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value general special education schools. Set in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,157 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,517 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,073 to complete the general special education program here. Early-career general special education graduates make about $47,722. That is a strong return on a $22,073 median debt. University Of Toledo admits about 92% of applicants.
Ohio Wesleyan University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value general special education schools. Located in the suburb of Delaware, Ohio Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $54,248. Students borrow a median of $26,868 to complete the general special education program here. General Special Education graduates of Ohio Wesleyan University earn a median of $31,531 early in their careers. Set against $26,868 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Kent State University At Kent placed #8 among the best values for general special education. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,220 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $43,217. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #9 for value in general special education this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $26,950 in student loans. Early-career general special education graduates make about $43,944. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Ashland University placed #10 among the best values for general special education. Set in the town of Ashland, Ashland University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $31,210 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Ashland University generally make around $48,852. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University landed the #11 spot for general special education value this year. Located in the town of Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $27,193 in tuition and fees. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $26,602 in student loans. General Special Education graduates of Mount Vernon Nazarene University earn a median of $46,853 early in their careers. Set against $26,602 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Lourdes College came in at #12 for value in general special education this year. Lourdes College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Sylvania. In-state tuition and fees average $28,370. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $29,668 in student loans. General Special Education graduates of Lourdes College earn a median of $75,250 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,668 median debt. Lourdes College admits about 74% of applicants.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus earned the #13 position for value in general special education this year. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,912, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. Students borrow a median of $26,313 to complete the general special education program here. General Special Education graduates of Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of $47,648 early in their careers. Set against $26,313 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Rio Grande placed #14 among the best values for general special education. University Of Rio Grande is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Rio Grande. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,560. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $27,044. General Special Education graduates of University Of Rio Grande earn a median of $46,611 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,044 median debt.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #15 spot for general special education value this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,363, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $24,742. General Special Education graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $51,104 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,742 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Miami University Oxford landed the #16 spot for general special education value this year. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,519 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,965 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $46,559. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Miami University Oxford admits about 75% of applicants.
University Of Dayton placed #17 among the best values for general special education. University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dayton. Students from in state pay about $49,140 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $20,612 to complete the general special education program here. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from University Of Dayton generally make around $45,260. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Dayton admits about 65% of applicants.
Xavier University placed #18 among the best values for general special education. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $49,425 in tuition and fees. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $26,614 in student loans. General Special Education graduates of Xavier University earn a median of $52,643 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,614 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 18 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.
