2027 Best Value Special Education Schools in Maryland

[Special Education](/majors/education/special-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for special education students.
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2027 Best Value Special Education Schools in Maryland
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
Leading the list is University Of Maryland College Park, our #1 best value for special education in Maryland. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,809 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. Students borrow a median of $20,836 to complete the special education program here. Special Education graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $67,390 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Maryland College Park admits about 45% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Towson University earned it the #2 place for special education. Towson University is a very large public school located in the city of Towson. In-state tuition and fees average $11,728, compared with $29,820 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,750 to complete the special education program here. Special Education graduates of Towson University earn a median of $59,077 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Johns Hopkins University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in special education, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,730. Special Education graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans. Early-career special education graduates make about $68,814. Set against $13,426 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Johns Hopkins University admits about 6% of applicants.
College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value special education schools. Set in the city of Baltimore, College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,360. Special Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Special Education graduates of College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland earn a median of $64,018 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Mcdaniel College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in special education, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Westminster, Mcdaniel College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $52,081 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,247 to complete the special education program here. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Mcdaniel College generally make around $62,934. That is a strong return on a $23,247 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Mount St Marys University placed #6 among the best values for special education. Set in the rural area of Emmitsburg, Mount St Marys University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $48,630. Typical student debt for special education graduates is $23,539. Early-career special education graduates make about $50,657. Set against $23,539 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
More Special Education Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.