2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
103
Ranked Colleges
6,264
Degrees Awarded
$9,200
Avg Net Price*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
Special Education is the 29th most popular major in the country with 36,792 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, special education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $45,679 and had an average of $24,977 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 6,264 special education graduates with average earnings and debt of $42,394 and $26,337 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 103 colleges that offer a degree in special education. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality special education programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the special education program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Special Education (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, this large public school handed out 69 degrees to qualified ’s special ed students in 2020-2021.
UW - Madison also took the #3 spot in our “Best Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UW - Madison is $3,981 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Special Education at University of Wisconsin - Madison
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Bloomington. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Indiana University - Bloomington is a large public school situated in Bloomington, Indiana. It awarded 38 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Bloomington is $5,752 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Special Education at IU Bloomington
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 52 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region special ed students whose families make $0-$30k list, UIUC has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $4,858 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Special Education Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University - Main Campus. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. West Lafayette, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 27 students in 2020-2021.
Purdue also took the #10 spot in our “Best Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue is $5,995 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Special Education at Purdue
Out of the 103 schools in the Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Ball State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Ball State is a large school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 1,870 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
Ball State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $8,273 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ball State University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Ball State Special Education Report
Michigan State University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in East Lansing, Michigan, and it awarded 90 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
Michigan State also took the #11 spot in our “Best Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $6,927 for great lakes region special ed students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Michigan State University.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Special Education at Michigan State
Illinois State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Illinois State is a large school located in Normal, Illinois that handed out 214 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Illinois State, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $13,783 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Illinois State University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Special Education at Illinois State
Ohio State University - Main Campus ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ohio State is a large school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 37 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Ohio State is $7,068 for great lakes region special ed students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Special Education at Ohio State University - Main Campus
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. UW - Eau Claire is a fairly large school located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin that handed out 133 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Eau Claire did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is $9,547 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Special Education at UW - Eau Claire
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Edwardsville, Illinois, and it awarded 32 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $8,047 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Special Education at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
With a ranking of #11, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 69 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
UIC also took the #25 spot in our “Best Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $10,549 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UIC.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Special Education at UIC
Oakland University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Oakland is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 63 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $8,949 for great lakes region special ed students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Oakland University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Oakland University Special Education Report
With a ranking of #13, University of Wisconsin - Stout did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Menomonie, Wisconsin, and it awarded 20 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $10,074 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UW - Stout.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Special Education at University of Wisconsin - Stout
With a ranking of #14, Central Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Central Michigan is a fairly large public school situated in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. It awarded 59 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
Central Michigan not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Central Michigan University is $10,805 for great lakes region special ed students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Central Michigan Special Education Report
Youngstown State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Youngstown State University is a fairly large school located in Youngstown, Ohio that handed out 84 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Youngstown State University is $9,175 for great lakes region special ed students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Youngstown State University Special Education Report
Bowling Green State University - Main Campus landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. BGSU is a public institution located in Bowling Green, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 256 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
BGSU also made our “Best Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $14,079 for great lakes region special ed students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Bowling Green State University - Main Campus.
Read full report on Special Education at BGSU
Indiana University - South Bend did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. This small school is located in South Bend, Indiana, and it awarded 9 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $5,504 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Indiana University - South Bend.
Read full report on Special Education at Indiana University - South Bend
University of Southern Indiana ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Southern Indiana is a public institution located in Evansville, Indiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 16 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $7,815 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend USI.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Special Education at University of Southern Indiana
Wayne State University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Detroit, Michigan, this large public school awarded 33 diplomas to qualified ’s special ed students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Wayne State is $11,060 for great lakes region special ed students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Wayne State University Special Education Report
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school awarded 28 degrees to qualified ’s special ed students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is $7,903 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Special Education at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
Lewis University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Lewis is a private not-for-profit institution located in Romeoville, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 50 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Lewis also took the #19 spot in our “Best Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lewis University is $13,284 for great lakes region special ed students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Special Education at Lewis University
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. UW Oshkosh is a fairly large public school situated in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It awarded 61 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $9,499 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh.
Read full report on Special Education at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
Grand Valley State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Grand Valley State University is located in Allendale, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 77 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend GVSU is $10,259 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Special Education at GVSU
University of Michigan - Dearborn did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. Located in Dearborn, Michigan, this medium-sized public school awarded 4 diplomas to qualified ’s special ed students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $9,113 for great lakes region special ed students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Michigan - Dearborn.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Special Education at UM Dearborn
Hope College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Hope is located in Holland, Michigan and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 28 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
Hope did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Hope College is $17,553 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Hope College Special Education Report
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