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2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

78 Ranked Colleges
2,688 Degrees Awarded
$21,200 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 5,757 special education graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,366 and $28,924 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 2,688 special education graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 78 colleges that offered a degree 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Special Education Schools

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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Special Education in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

#1

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ball State University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Muncie, Indiana, this large public school awarded 1,214 degrees to qualified masters’s special ed students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ball State, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State are $26,204, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Special Education at Ball State University

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Chicago. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. UIC is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 62 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

UIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Chicago are $27,036, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Special Education at University of Illinois at Chicago

#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 11 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree special ed students with aid list, UW - Madison has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Special Education Report

Out of the 78 schools in the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #4 spot on the list. UIUC is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 8 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree special ed students with aid list, UIUC has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083.

Full UIUC Special Education Report

#5

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#8 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Bloomington. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 3 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Special Education at IU Bloomington

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Whitewater, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s special ed degrees to 32 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Whitewater are $19,200, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Special Education Report

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school handed out 2 degrees to qualified masters’s special ed students in 2019-2020.

UW Oshkosh did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UW Oshkosh are $18,744.

Read full report on Special Education at UW Oshkosh

#8

Governors State University

University Park, Illinois

Governors State University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in University Park, Illinois, this small public school handed out 2 diplomas to qualified masters’s special ed students in 2019-2020.

GSU also made our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #0. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at GSU are $14,674.

Full Governors State University Special Education Report

#9

Indiana University - South Bend

South Bend, Indiana

With a ranking of #9, Indiana University - South Bend did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Indiana University - South Bend is a small school located in South Bend, Indiana that handed out 3 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - South Bend are $18,275, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Indiana University - South Bend Special Education Report

#10

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

With a ranking of #10, Northern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Dekalb, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s special ed degrees to 53 students in 2019-2020.

NIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northern Illinois University are $11,086, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Special Education at NIU

#11

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. Charleston, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s special ed degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at EIU are $20,761.

Read more about Special Education at EIU

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s special ed degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis are $26,013, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Special Education at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

#13

University of Wisconsin - Superior

Superior, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Superior came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Wisconsin - Superior is a small school located in Superior, Wisconsin that handed out 48 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Superior are $18,376, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Special Education at University of Wisconsin - Superior

#14

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. East Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s special ed degrees to 32 students in 2019-2020.

Michigan State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State University are $37,056.

Read more about Special Education at Michigan State

#15

Chicago State University

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. CSU is a small public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 10 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSU are $15,056.

Full CSU Special Education Report

#16

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #16. Rochester Hills, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s special ed degrees to 54 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Oakland University are $24,648, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Oakland Special Education Report

University of Michigan - Dearborn landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UM Dearborn is a medium-sized public school situated in Dearborn, Michigan. It awarded 3 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Dearborn are $25,072.

Full UM Dearborn Special Education Report

#18

Saint Xavier University

Chicago, Illinois

Saint Xavier University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 19 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Saint Xavier University are $15,450, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full SXU Special Education Report

#19

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan
#18 in overall quality

Central Michigan University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #19. This fairly large school is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and it awarded 16 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Central Michigan, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Central Michigan are $19,359, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Special Education at Central Michigan University

#20

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s special ed degrees to 15 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee are $25,295.

Full UWM Special Education Report

#21

Purdue University Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Purdue University Fort Wayne ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, this medium-sized public school awarded 8 degrees to qualified masters’s special ed students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University Fort Wayne are $14,618, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Special Education at Purdue University Fort Wayne

#22

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan

Grand Valley State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #22. Allendale, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s special ed degrees to 25 students in 2019-2020.

GVSU also made our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #23. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at GVSU are $17,448.

Full Grand Valley State University Special Education Report

#23

National Louis University

Chicago, Illinois

National Louis University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. National Louis University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 55 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at National Louis University are $12,096.

Full NLU Special Education Report

#24

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

Western Illinois University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Western Illinois University is a medium-sized school located in Macomb, Illinois that handed out 8 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at WIU are $11,996.

Full WIU Special Education Report

Northeastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #25. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized public school awarded 40 diplomas to qualified masters’s special ed students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern Illinois University are $17,032, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Special Education at Northeastern Illinois University

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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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