2027 Best Value General Special Education Schools in Massachusetts

[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 17 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 Massachusetts
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general special education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Special Education Schools
Worcester State University tops our 2027 list of the best value general special education schools in Massachusetts. Worcester State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Worcester. Students from in state pay about $11,786 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,866. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $24,451 in student loans. Early-career general special education graduates make about $45,297. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Fitchburg State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general special education, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Fitchburg, Fitchburg State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,346, while out-of-state students pay about $17,426. Students borrow a median of $25,840 to complete the general special education program here. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Fitchburg State University generally make around $59,740. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Fitchburg State University admits about 87% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general special education will find it at Salem State University, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,338 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,531. Students borrow a median of $27,176 to complete the general special education program here. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Salem State University generally make around $58,024. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Framingham State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general special education, landing the #4 spot this year. Framingham State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Framingham. Students from in state pay about $11,920 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,000. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $25,872. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Framingham State University generally make around $49,006. That is a strong return on a $25,872 median debt. Framingham State University admits about 84% of applicants.
Bridgewater State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value general special education schools. Bridgewater State University is a large public school located in the suburb of Bridgewater. In-state tuition and fees average $11,734, with out-of-state students paying around $17,874. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. General Special Education graduates of Bridgewater State University earn a median of $53,911 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Westfield State University came in at #6 for value in general special education this year. Westfield State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Westfield. Students from in state pay about $12,179 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,259 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 Westfield State University generally make around $48,579. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
University Of Massachusetts Boston landed the #7 spot for general special education value this year. Located in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,898, with out-of-state students paying around $38,115. Students borrow a median of $26,236 to complete the general special education program here. General Special Education graduates of University Of Massachusetts Boston earn a median of $65,431 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,236 median debt. University Of Massachusetts Boston admits about 84% of applicants.
Boston University earned the #8 position for value in general special education this year. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,102 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $27,000. General Special Education graduates of Boston University earn a median of $59,238 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Boston University admits about 11% of applicants.
College Of Our Lady Of The Elms landed the #9 spot for general special education value this year. College Of Our Lady Of The Elms is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Chicopee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,325. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $27,854 in student loans. General Special Education graduates of College Of Our Lady Of The Elms earn a median of $57,569 early in their careers. Set against $27,854 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Simmons College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value general special education schools. Set in the city of Boston, Simmons College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $46,874. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $26,740. General Special Education graduates of Simmons College earn a median of $58,142 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Regis College landed the #11 spot for general special education value this year. Set in the suburb of Weston, Regis College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $49,680 in tuition and fees. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $27,441 in student loans. General Special Education graduates of Regis College earn a median of $50,691 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Assumption College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value general special education schools. Located in the city of Worcester, Assumption College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $51,356. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $26,995 in student loans. Early-career general special education graduates make about $55,180. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Cambridge College placed #13 among the best values for general special education. Set in the city of Boston, Cambridge College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $18,378 in tuition and fees. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $29,776 in student loans. General Special Education graduates of Cambridge College earn a median of $50,666 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,776 median debt.
Lesley University placed #14 among the best values for general special education. Located in the city of Cambridge, Lesley University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $34,256 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general special education graduates is $24,818. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Lesley University generally make around $58,625. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Stonehill College placed #15 among the best values for general special education. Stonehill College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Easton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,370. Students borrow a median of $25,603 to complete the general special education program here. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Stonehill College generally make around $45,704. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Merrimack College landed the #16 spot for general special education value this year. Set in the suburb of North Andover, Merrimack College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,962. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $26,913 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Merrimack College generally make around $50,506. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Merrimack College admits about 70% of applicants.
Boston College earned the #17 position for value in general special education this year. Boston College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chestnut Hill. Students from in state pay about $70,702 in tuition and fees. General Special Education graduates carry a median of $18,101 in student loans. General Special Education graduates of Boston College earn a median of $59,583 early in their careers. Set against $18,101 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 16%.
More General Special Education Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.