2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Special Education in the Great Lakes Region
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.
Special Education is the 39th most popular major in the country with 33,249 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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” ranking looked at 71 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in special education. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great special education programs and 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.
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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”.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique 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 Master’s in the Great Lakes Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region master’s degree special ed students.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Special Education in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 71 schools in the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Illinois State University landed the #1 spot on the list. Illinois State University is a large school located in Normal, Illinois that handed out 19 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Illinois State, the school also landed the #4 spot 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 Illinois State University are $11,069.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ashland University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region. Ashland is a private not-for-profit institution located in Ashland, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 25 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree special ed students list, Ashland has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ashland University are $6,444, but some majors have different tuition rates.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Marian University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s special ed degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree special ed students list, Marian has also earned the #24 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 Marian are $11,070.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Concordia University, Chicago. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region. This medium-sized school is located in River Forest, Illinois, and it awarded 42 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.
Concordia University, Chicago did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 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 Concordia University, Chicago are $9,378.
Read more about Special Education at Concordia University, Chicago
Out of the 71 schools in the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Xavier University landed the #5 spot on the list. Xavier University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Cincinnati, Ohio. It awarded 31 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree special ed students list, Xavier has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Xavier are $12,076, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Greenville University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Greenville is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Greenville, Illinois. It awarded 11 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Greenville University are $8,082, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #7, Lewis University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Romeoville, Illinois, and it awarded 20 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lewis, the school also landed the #14 spot 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 Lewis are $14,780.
Carroll University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Waukesha, Wisconsin, and it awarded 13 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.
Carroll U also took the #17 spot in our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Carroll U are $13,114, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #9, Mount Vernon Nazarene University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. MVNU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Mount Vernon, Ohio. It awarded 26 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at MVNU are $8,964, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Cardinal Stritch University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Cardinal Stritch University is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 46 masters’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cardinal Stritch University are $11,760.
Trinity Christian College landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Palos Heights, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s special ed degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Trinity Christian College are $10,767.
Baldwin Wallace University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Berea, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 16 diplomas to qualified masters’s special ed students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree special ed students list, Baldwin Wallace College has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Baldwin Wallace University are $11,191, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Special Education at Baldwin Wallace College
Northern Illinois University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Dekalb, Illinois, and it awarded 53 masters’s special ed degrees 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. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northern Illinois University are $11,086.
Read more about Special Education at Northern Illinois University
Otterbein University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #14. Westerville, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s special ed degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Otterbein are $6,767, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Muskingum University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Muskingum University is a small school located in New Concord, Ohio that handed out 35 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Muskingum University are $10,260, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #16, Ball State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. 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.
Ball State also took 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 University are $26,204, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Dayton did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #17. Dayton, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s special ed degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UDayton, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Dayton are $17,780, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #18. SIUE is a fairly large school located in Edwardsville, Illinois that handed out 5 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 SIUE are $9,300.
Spring Arbor University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Spring Arbor University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Spring Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 18 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Spring Arbor University are $8,232, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Special Education at Spring Arbor University
With a ranking of #20, Western Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Macomb, Illinois, this medium-sized public school awarded 8 degrees to qualified masters’s special ed students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Western Illinois University are $11,996, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Special Education at Western Illinois University
With a ranking of #21, Aurora University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Aurora University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Aurora, Illinois. It awarded 9 masters’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Aurora are $13,200, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Grand Valley State University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Grand Valley State University is a public institution located in Allendale, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 25 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
GVSU also made our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #23. Average graduate tuition and fees at Grand Valley State University are $17,448, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Youngstown State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #23. Youngstown, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s special ed degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Youngstown State University are $9,495, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Special Education at Youngstown State University
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #24. University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is a public institution located in Whitewater, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 32 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater are $19,200, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Special Education at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
Central Michigan University landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Central Michigan is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 masters’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree special ed students list, Central Michigan has also earned the #18 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 Central Michigan are $19,359.
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Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Special Education in the Great Lakes Region
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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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