2027 Best Value Special Education Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Special Education](/majors/education/special-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong special education education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 103 schools to find the best return on investment for special education students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Special Education Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in special education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Special Education Schools
For return on investment in special education, no school beat Cuny Hunter College this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,382, compared with $15,332 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for special education graduates is $11,091. Special Education graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $77,182 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Cuny Brooklyn College one of the best values for special education. Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. Students from in state pay about $7,452 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,402. Students borrow a median of $13,303 to complete the special education program here. Early-career special education graduates make about $77,678. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Brooklyn College admits about 58% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in special education will find it at Cuny Queens College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,538, while out-of-state students pay about $15,488. Students borrow a median of $12,157 to complete the special education program here. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Cuny Queens College generally make around $74,496. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny City College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value special education schools. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,340, compared with $15,290 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,389 to complete the special education program here. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Cuny City College generally make around $76,836. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Lehman College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value special education schools. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,410, compared with $15,360 for out-of-state students. Special Education graduates carry a median of $13,213 in student loans. Special Education graduates of Cuny Lehman College earn a median of $79,551 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,213 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny College Of Staten Island came in at #6 for value in special education this year. Set in the city of Staten Island, Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,490, with out-of-state students paying around $15,440. Special Education graduates carry a median of $14,688 in student loans. Early-career special education graduates make about $75,212. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Medgar Evers College landed the #7 spot for special education value this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Medgar Evers College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $7,352 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,302 for out-of-state students. Special Education graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Special Education graduates of Cuny Medgar Evers College earn a median of $49,413 early in their careers. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Maryland College Park ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value special education schools. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. In-state tuition and fees average $11,809, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. Typical student debt for special education graduates is $20,836. Early-career special education graduates make about $67,390. Set against $20,836 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Maryland College Park admits about 45% of applicants.
Suny College At Old Westbury placed #9 among the best values for special education. Set in the suburb of Old Westbury, Suny College At Old Westbury is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,372, with out-of-state students paying around $18,842. Special Education graduates carry a median of $24,145 in student loans. Early-career special education graduates make about $38,978. That is a strong return on a $24,145 median debt. Suny College At Old Westbury admits about 84% of applicants.
Suny Empire State College earned the #10 position for value in special education this year. Located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,648, compared with $17,558 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,693 to complete the special education program here. Early-career special education graduates make about $58,140. That is a strong return on a $23,693 median debt.
Kean University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value special education schools. Kean University is a large public school located in the suburb of Union. In-state tuition and fees average $14,299, compared with $22,446 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for special education graduates is $27,000. Special Education graduates of Kean University earn a median of $57,320 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Montclair State University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value special education schools. Located in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,912, while out-of-state students pay about $26,022. Special Education graduates carry a median of $25,286 in student loans. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Montclair State University generally make around $69,017. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Montclair State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Holy Family University earned the #13 position for value in special education this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Holy Family University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $35,330 in tuition and fees. Special Education graduates carry a median of $26,562 in student loans. Early-career special education graduates make about $64,967. That is a strong return on a $26,562 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Suny College At Buffalo earned the #14 position for value in special education this year. Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Buffalo. Students from in state pay about $8,533 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,653. Students borrow a median of $22,610 to complete the special education program here. Special Education graduates of Suny College At Buffalo earn a median of $35,330 early in their careers. Set against $22,610 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny College At Buffalo admits about 73% of applicants.
Towson University came in at #15 for value in special education this year. Set in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,728, with out-of-state students paying around $29,820. Special Education graduates carry a median of $19,750 in student loans. Early-career special education graduates make about $59,077. Set against $19,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Saint Peters College placed #16 among the best values for special education. Set in the city of Jersey City, Saint Peters College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,552. Special Education graduates carry a median of $22,969 in student loans. Special Education graduates of Saint Peters College earn a median of $59,785 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Peters College admits about 90% of applicants.
Mercy College earned the #17 position for value in special education this year. Located in the suburb of Dobbs Ferry, Mercy College is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $22,880. Special Education graduates carry a median of $28,304 in student loans. Early-career special education graduates make about $61,432. Set against $28,304 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Suny College At Potsdam ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value special education schools. Set in the town of Potsdam, Suny College At Potsdam is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,768, compared with $18,678 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,540 to complete the special education program here. Early-career special education graduates make about $32,485. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Wilmington University landed the #19 spot for special education value this year. Set in the suburb of New Castle, Wilmington University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,630. Special Education graduates carry a median of $26,054 in student loans. Special Education graduates of Wilmington University earn a median of $63,006 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,054 median debt.
University Of Delaware landed the #20 spot for special education value this year. University Of Delaware is a very large public school located in the suburb of Newark. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,810, compared with $41,400 for out-of-state students. Special Education graduates carry a median of $24,861 in student loans. Early-career special education graduates make about $59,316. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Delaware admits about 71% of applicants.
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value special education schools. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public school located in the town of Bloomsburg. In-state tuition and fees average $11,046, compared with $22,870 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for special education graduates is $27,000. Early-career special education graduates make about $50,527. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania admits about 93% of applicants.
Johns Hopkins University came in at #22 for value in special education this year. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. In-state tuition and fees average $64,730. Special Education graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans. Early-career special education graduates make about $68,814. That is a strong return on a $13,426 median debt. Johns Hopkins University admits about 6% of applicants.
Suny At Fredonia landed the #23 spot for special education value this year. Set in the town of Fredonia, Suny At Fredonia is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,831, while out-of-state students pay about $19,771. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the special education program here. Special Education graduates of Suny At Fredonia earn a median of $53,531 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
New Jersey City University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value special education schools. Set in the city of Jersey City, New Jersey City University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,460. Students borrow a median of $22,107 to complete the special education program here. Early-career special education graduates make about $65,141. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. New Jersey City University admits about 98% of applicants.
Suny At Albany came in at #25 for value in special education this year. Located in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,601, with out-of-state students paying around $30,991. Typical student debt for special education graduates is $23,521. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Suny At Albany generally make around $58,981. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Suny At Albany admits about 69% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Special Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s special education value ranking:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 103 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 103 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.
