2023 Best Value Colleges for Special Education in the Great Lakes Region
103
Ranked Colleges
6,264
Degrees Awarded
$17,000
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.
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.
This year’s “Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking looked at 103 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list to help you make the college decision.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. 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 in the Great Lakes Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region special ed students.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Special Education in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 103 schools in the Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 133 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Eau Claire, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $16,051 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire.
Read more about Special Education at UW - Eau Claire
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Illinois State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region. Normal, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 214 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region special ed students list, Illinois State has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Illinois State is $20,830 for great lakes region special ed students.
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 University
Out of the 103 schools in the Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Central Michigan University landed the #3 spot on the list. Central Michigan University is a public institution located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 59 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Central Michigan did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Central Michigan is $16,007 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Special Education at Central Michigan University
Out of the 103 schools in the Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Youngstown State University landed the #4 spot on the list. Youngstown State University is located in Youngstown, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 84 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $12,225 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students per year to attend Youngstown State University.
Read full report on Special Education at Youngstown State University
Out of the 103 schools in the Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #5 spot on the list. SIUC is a fairly large public school situated in Carbondale, Illinois. It awarded 26 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region special ed students list, SIUC has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $16,285 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students per year to attend SIUC.
Full SIUC Special Education Report
Carroll University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Carroll University is located in Waukesha, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 36 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
Carroll U not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Carroll University is $22,987 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Carroll University Special Education Report
University of Wisconsin - Stout landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UW - Stout is a public institution located in Menomonie, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 20 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Stout is $15,589 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Special Education at UW - Stout
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is a medium-sized public school situated in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. It awarded 28 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is $13,346 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students.
Read more about Special Education at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
With a ranking of #9, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Oshkosh, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 61 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is $14,687 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students.
Read more about Special Education at UW Oshkosh
With a ranking of #10, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Edwardsville, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 32 degrees to qualified ’s special ed students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $14,462 for great lakes region special ed students per year to attend SIUE.
Read full report on Special Education at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Northern Illinois University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Dekalb, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 114 diplomas to qualified ’s special ed students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for NIU is $13,956 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students.
Read more about Special Education at NIU
University of Akron Main Campus came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Akron Main Campus is a public institution located in Akron, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 78 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Akron Main Campus is $17,945 for great lakes region special ed students.
Full University of Akron Main Campus Special Education Report
Concordia University, Chicago ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. River Forest, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 36 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Concordia University, Chicago is $17,051 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Special Education at Concordia University, Chicago
Bowling Green State University - Main Campus ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. BGSU is a fairly large public school situated in Bowling Green, Ohio. It awarded 256 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at BGSU, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $18,558 for great lakes region special ed students per year to attend Bowling Green State University - Main Campus.
Read more about Special Education at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus
With a ranking of #15, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 72 degrees to qualified ’s special ed students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $14,417 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students per year to attend UW - Whitewater.
Read more about Special Education at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
Ball State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ball State is a large public school situated in Muncie, Indiana. It awarded 1,870 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region special ed students list, Ball State has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ball State is $14,765 for great lakes region special ed students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 Ball State
National Louis University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. National Louis University is a medium-sized school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 127 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $14,584 for great lakes region special ed students per year to attend NLU.
Read more about Special Education at National Louis University
Cardinal Stritch University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Cardinal Stritch University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 31 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Cardinal Stritch University is $18,483 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full Cardinal Stritch Special Education Report
Aurora University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Aurora University is located in Aurora, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 54 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Aurora is $16,994 for great lakes region special ed students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Special Education at Aurora
Muskingum University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #20. This small school is located in New Concord, Ohio, and it awarded 39 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Muskingum University is $18,561 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students.
Read more about Special Education at Muskingum University
Mount Vernon Nazarene University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #21. Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Mount Vernon, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 43 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for MVNU is $21,089 for great lakes region special ed students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full MVNU Special Education Report
Eastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #22. EIU is located in Charleston, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 38 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $13,098 for Great Lakes Region Special Ed students per year to attend EIU.
Full EIU Special Education Report
Baldwin Wallace University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Baldwin Wallace College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Berea, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 20 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $25,361 for great lakes region special ed students per year to attend Baldwin Wallace University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.8% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Special Education at Baldwin Wallace University
Grand Valley State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #24. Allendale, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 77 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $17,356 for great lakes region special ed students per year to attend Grand Valley State University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Grand Valley State University Special Education Report
Ashland University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ashland is a small school located in Ashland, Ohio that handed out 63 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Ashland is $20,974 for great lakes region special ed students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Special Education at Ashland University
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