2026 Best Value Special Education Schools in Oregon
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the special education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Special Education Schools
Our analysis ranked Portland State University the best value for a degree in special education in Oregon. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,118, compared with $29,136 for out-of-state students. Special Education graduates carry a median of $26,475 in student loans. Early-career special education graduates make about $56,409. Set against $26,475 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Chemeketa Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value special education schools. Chemeketa Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Salem. Students from in state pay about $6,345 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,040. Students borrow a median of $24,087 to complete the special education program here. Early-career special education graduates make about $32,829. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Western Oregon University earned it the #3 place for special education. Western Oregon University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Monmouth. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,514, while out-of-state students pay about $32,169. Typical student debt for special education graduates is $24,166. Special Education graduates of Western Oregon University earn a median of $61,018 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western Oregon University admits about 98% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in special education will find it at University Of Oregon, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,320, while out-of-state students pay about $42,516. Students borrow a median of $22,034 to complete the special education program here. Early-career special education graduates make about $54,866. Set against $22,034 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Pacific University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value special education schools. Located in the suburb of Forest Grove, Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,374. Typical student debt for special education graduates is $26,170. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Pacific University generally make around $53,398. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
[Special Education](/majors/education/special-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
