2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Special Education (With Aid)
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 for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2019-2020, 33,249 people earned their degree in special education, making the major the 39th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, special education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $43,879 and had an average of $28,500 in loans still to pay off.
At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 19,550 special education graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 523 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in special education. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent special education programs, but they also cost less that 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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One Size Does Not Fit All
The special ed school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid”.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Special Education (With Aid)
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Hunter College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Hunter is a large public school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 315 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.
Hunter did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Hunter are $20,828, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Out of the 523 schools in the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Los Angeles landed the #2 spot on the list. Cal State LA is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 73 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on this list, Cal State LA is in the top on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Special Education at California State University - Los Angeles
Out of the 523 schools in the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Brooklyn College landed the #3 spot on the list. Brooklyn College is a fairly large public school situated in Brooklyn, New York. It awarded 171 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.
Brooklyn College also took the #11 spot in our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Brooklyn College are $20,952, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The City College of New York. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. CCNY is a public institution located in New York, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 54 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on this list, CCNY is in the top on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at CCNY are $20,832, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Special Education at The City College of New York
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Lehman College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid. This fairly large school is located in Bronx, New York, and it awarded 48 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.
Lehman also claimed a top spot on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Lehman are $21,000, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Queens College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. QC is a fairly large public school situated in Queens, New York. It awarded 62 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on this list, QC is in the top on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Average graduate tuition and fees at QC are $21,042, but some majors have different tuition rates.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. UT Rio Grande Valley is a public institution located in Edinburg, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 82 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Rio Grande Valley are $15,151, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Special Education Report
California State University - Dominguez Hills came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. California State University - Dominguez Hills is located in Carson, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 masters’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUDH are $17,884, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Special Education at California State University - Dominguez Hills
California State University - Fresno landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. California State University - Fresno is a large school located in Fresno, California that handed out 28 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fresno are $17,581, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Special Education at California State University - Fresno
With a ranking of #10, University of Washington - Seattle Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is a large public school situated in Seattle, Washington. It awarded 26 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UW Seattle is also in the top of our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Washington - Seattle Campus are $30,294, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Florida ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 34 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree special ed students with aid list, UF has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UF are $30,130.
Texas A&M International University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. Texas A&M International University is a medium-sized public school situated in Laredo, Texas. It awarded 18 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M International University are $15,106, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Special Education at Texas A&M International University
With a ranking of #13, The University of West Florida did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Pensacola, Florida is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s special ed degrees to 137 students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at The University of West Florida are $24,894.
The University of Texas of the Permian Basin landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Odessa, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s special ed degrees to 94 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Permian Basin are $6,900, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #15, College of Staten Island CUNY did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Staten Island, New York, and it awarded 46 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at College of Staten Island CUNY are $21,080, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Special Education at College of Staten Island CUNY
California State University - San Bernardino did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #16. California State University - San Bernardino is a fairly large school located in San Bernardino, California that handed out 62 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - San Bernardino are $17,936, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Special Education at California State University - San Bernardino
Western Governors University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Salt Lake City, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s special ed degrees to 337 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on this list, WGU is in the top on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. Average graduate tuition and fees at Western Governors University are $7,790, but some majors have different tuition rates.
California State University - Northridge landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Northridge, California, and it awarded 38 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Northridge are $17,955, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #19, California State University - Long Beach did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Long Beach, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s special ed degrees to 19 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Florida International University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Miami, Florida, this large public school handed out 65 diplomas to qualified masters’s special ed students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at FIU are $24,211.
Read more about Special Education at Florida International University
Ball State University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Ball State University is a public institution located in Muncie, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1,214 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ball State, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State are $26,204, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large public school awarded 62 diplomas to qualified masters’s special ed students in 2019-2020.
On top of its placing in this ranking, UIC also did well on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UIC are $27,036.
University of Wisconsin - Madison came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 11 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.
UW - Madison excels when it comes to special ed quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Special Education at University of Wisconsin - Madison
University of Central Florida did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #24. Located in Orlando, Florida, this large public school handed out 43 degrees to qualified masters’s special ed students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCF are $28,657.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s special ed degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.
On top of its placing in this ranking, UIUC also did well on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Rest of the Best 51 in Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid
Not only did these schools make the top 51 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid
While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | University of Alaska Fairbanks | Fairbanks, AK |
| 52 | University of Hawaii at Manoa | Honolulu, HI |
| 53 | University of Alaska Anchorage | Anchorage, AK |
| 54 | Texas Tech University | Lubbock, TX |
| 55 | Northeastern State University | Tahlequah, OK |
| 56 | Eastern Washington University | Cheney, WA |
| 57 | Texas A&M University - San Antonio | San Antonio, TX |
| 58 | St. Joseph’s College - New York | Brooklyn, NY |
| 59 | The University of Texas at Tyler | Tyler, TX |
| 60 | Truman State University | Kirksville, MO |
| 61 | University of Nebraska at Omaha | Omaha, NE |
| 61 | University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh | Oshkosh, WI |
| 63 | Fitchburg State University | Fitchburg, MA |
| 64 | Texas State University | San Marcos, TX |
| 65 | California State University - East Bay | Hayward, CA |
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 66 | Marshall University | Huntington, WV |
| 67 | Holy Family University | Philadelphia, PA |
| 68 | University of Missouri - St Louis | Saint Louis, MO |
| 69 | Saint Cloud State University | Saint Cloud, MN |
| 70 | Emporia State University | Emporia, KS |
| 71 | University of North Texas | Denton, TX |
| 72 | Montclair State University | Montclair, NJ |
| 73 | Governors State University | University Park, IL |
| 74 | Concordia College - New York | Bronxville, NY |
| 75 | University of Houston - Victoria | Victoria, TX |
| 76 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick | New Brunswick, NJ |
| 77 | University of Georgia | Athens, GA |
| 78 | University of Maryland - College Park | College Park, MD |
| 79 | Portland State University | Portland, OR |
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Notes and References
References
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
Footnotes
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
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