2027 Best Value Special Education Schools in Rhode Island
[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 4 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for special education students.
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2027 Best Value Special Education Schools in Rhode Island
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in special education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Special Education Schools
Rhode Island College tops our 2027 list of the best value special education schools in Rhode Island. Set in the suburb of Providence, Rhode Island College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,300 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $27,299. Special Education graduates carry a median of $29,851 in student loans. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Rhode Island College generally make around $57,986. That is a strong return on a $29,851 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in special education will find it at Salve Regina University, which ranked #2. Salve Regina University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Newport. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $50,100. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the special education program here. Special Education graduates of Salve Regina University earn a median of $51,308 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.
A rank of #3 makes Roger Williams University one of the best values for special education. Located in the suburb of Bristol, Roger Williams University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $45,197. Students borrow a median of $25,676 to complete the special education program here. Special Education graduates of Roger Williams University earn a median of $48,664 early in their careers. Set against $25,676 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Providence College earned it the #4 place for special education. Set in the city of Providence, Providence College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $63,550. Special Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career special education graduates make about $49,664. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Providence College admits about 51% of applicants.
More Special Education Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 4 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.
