Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Special Education

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s

409 Ranked Colleges
9,071 Degrees Awarded
$15,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor's

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 Bachelor’s” 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.

At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 9,071 special education graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,303 and $24,501 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s” ranking, we looked at 409 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.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the special education program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Special Education Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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 for a Bachelor’s

The colleges and universities below are the best for bachelor’s degree special ed students.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Special Education

Out of the 409 schools in the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Brigham Young University - Provo landed the #1 spot on the list. BYU is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Provo, Utah. It awarded 35 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, BYU is in the top on our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend Brigham Young University - Provo is $13,322 for Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Special Education at BYU

#2

Western Governors University

Salt Lake City, Utah

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Western Governors University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s list. This large school is located in Salt Lake City, Utah, and it awarded 769 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, WGU is in the top on our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend Western Governors University is $9,805 for Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Western Governors University Special Education Report

#3

Minot State University

Minot, North Dakota
Top 25% in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Minot State University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s. Minot, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s special ed degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend MSU is $11,898 for Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students.

Full MSU Special Education Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school handed out 84 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s special ed students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our bachelor’s degree special ed students list, UW - Eau Claire has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $16,020 for Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students per year to attend UW - Eau Claire.

Read more about Special Education at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

#5

Dakota State University

Madison, South Dakota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Dakota State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Madison, South Dakota, this small public school awarded 24 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s special ed students in 2019-2020.

Dakota State excels when it comes to special ed quality. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $17,691 for bachelor’s degree special ed students per year to attend Dakota State.

Read more about Special Education at Dakota State

#6

Martin Luther College

New Ulm, Minnesota
Top 15% in overall quality

Martin Luther College landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. New Ulm, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s special ed degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

MLC excels when it comes to special ed quality. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for Martin Luther College is $19,703 for bachelor’s degree special ed students.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 0.5% 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 Martin Luther College Special Education Report

With a ranking of #7, Brigham Young University - Idaho did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s list. BYU - I is a large school located in Rexburg, Idaho that handed out 35 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for BYU - I is $7,167 for bachelor’s degree special ed students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Special Education at BYU - I

#8

Chadron State College

Chadron, Nebraska

Chadron State College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Chadron State College is located in Chadron, Nebraska and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 bachelors’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Chadron State College is $14,268 for Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students.

Full Chadron State College Special Education Report

#8

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota

Winona State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Winona, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school handed out 40 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s special ed students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Winona State is also in the top of our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $17,656 for bachelor’s degree special ed students per year to attend Winona State University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Special Education at Winona State University

#10

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is a medium-sized public school situated in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. It awarded 98 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, SRU is also in the top of our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend SRU is $19,926 for bachelor’s degree special ed students.

Read full report on Special Education at SRU

#11

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

Whitewater, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. UW - Whitewater is a fairly large public school situated in Whitewater, Wisconsin. It awarded 48 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, UW - Whitewater is in the top on our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend UW - Whitewater is $15,249 for Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students.

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

#12

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, South Dakota

University of South Dakota landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, this medium-sized public school handed out 24 degrees to qualified bachelors’s special ed students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of South Dakota is $18,555 for Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full USD Special Education Report

With a ranking of #13, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 58 degrees to qualified bachelors’s special ed students in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, UW Oshkosh also did well on our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is $15,463 for Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students.

Read more about Special Education at UW Oshkosh

#14

Northern State University

Aberdeen, South Dakota

Northern State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #14. Northern State University is a small public school situated in Aberdeen, South Dakota. It awarded 12 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $15,851 for bachelor’s degree special ed students per year to attend Northern State University.

Read more about Special Education at Northern State University

#15

Wayne State College

Wayne, Nebraska

Wayne State College landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Wayne, Nebraska is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s special ed degrees to 31 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend WSC is $13,765 for Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students.

Read more about Special Education at Wayne State College

#16

University of Wisconsin - Stout

Menomonie, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Stout ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s list. This medium-sized school is located in Menomonie, Wisconsin, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Stout also claimed a top spot on our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. It costs about $15,839 for Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Stout.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UW - Stout Special Education Report

Southwest Minnesota State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Southwest Minnesota State University is located in Marshall, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 bachelors’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Southwest Minnesota State University is $14,397 for bachelor’s degree special ed students.

Read full report on Special Education at Southwest Minnesota State University

#18

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Kutztown, Pennsylvania

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #18. Kutztown University is a public institution located in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 111 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, Kutztown University is in the top on our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend Kutztown University is $22,422 for Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students.

Read more about Special Education at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

#19

SUNY Cortland

Cortland, New York

With a ranking of #19, SUNY Cortland did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s list. SUNY Cortland is located in Cortland, New York and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 71 bachelors’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SUNY Cortland, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $18,705 for bachelor’s degree special ed students per year to attend SUNY Cortland.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full SUNY Cortland Special Education Report

#20

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Shippensburg, Pennsylvania

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Located in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized public school handed out 32 degrees to qualified bachelors’s special ed students in 2019-2020.

Ship excels when it comes to special ed quality. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Ship is $22,054 for bachelor’s degree special ed students.

Read more about Special Education at Ship

#20

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois

With a ranking of #20, Illinois State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Illinois State University is a large public school situated in Normal, Illinois. It awarded 156 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Illinois State is $20,895 for bachelor’s degree special ed students.

The low student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 Illinois State University

#22

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s list. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 32 bachelors’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

UW - Stevens Point also claimed a top spot on our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. It costs about $14,465 for Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students per year to attend UW - Stevens Point.

Full University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Special Education Report

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s list. This fairly large school is located in Edwardsville, Illinois, and it awarded 21 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for SIUE is $14,423 for Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students.

Full Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Special Education Report

With a ranking of #24, Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Minnesota State Mankato is a fairly large public school situated in Mankato, Minnesota. It awarded 39 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

Minnesota State Mankato also claimed a top spot on our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. It costs about $16,221 for bachelor’s degree special ed students per year to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Minnesota State University - Mankato Special Education Report

#25

Broward College

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Broward College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, this large public school awarded 46 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s special ed students in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, BC also did well on our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. It costs about $12,649 for bachelor’s degree special ed students per year to attend Broward College.

Read more about Special Education at Broward College

Rest of the Best 50 in Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#26

Miami Dade College

Miami, Florida
#27

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois
#29

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois
#30

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#31

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota
#32

Nicholls State University

Thibodaux, Louisiana
#33

Mayville State University

Mayville, North Dakota
#34

Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, North Carolina
#35

Westfield State University

Westfield, Massachusetts
#36

Nevada State College

Henderson, Nevada
#37

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan
#39

University of Mary

Bismarck, North Dakota
#40

Black Hills State University

Spearfish, South Dakota
#42

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida
#45

Georgia Gwinnett College

Lawrenceville, Georgia
#45

Western Washington University

Bellingham, Washington
#47

Indian River State College

Fort Pierce, Florida
#48

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

West Chester, Pennsylvania
#49

University of Memphis

Memphis, Tennessee
#50

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, Ohio

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s

While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

Rank College Location
51 Fitchburg State University Fitchburg, MA
52 Kean University Union, NJ
53 Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ
54 York College of Pennsylvania York, PA
55 Towson University Towson, MD
55 Northwestern Oklahoma State University Alva, OK
57 Northwest Missouri State University Maryville, MO
58 Peru State College Peru, NE
59 Lock Haven University Lock Haven, PA
60 Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI
61 Northeastern State University Tahlequah, OK
61 SUNY Geneseo Geneseo, NY

Switch to a More Focused Major

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.

Credits

Featured Special Education Schools

Find Schools Near You