2027 Best Value Special Education Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[Special Education](/majors/education/special-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools to find the best return on investment for special education students.
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2027 Best Value Special Education Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in special education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Special Education Schools
Utah Valley University earned the #1 spot for value among special education schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,507, compared with $18,489 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,478 to complete the special education program here. Special Education graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $50,647 early in their careers. Set against $16,478 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Southern Utah University one of the best values for special education. Southern Utah University is a very large public school located in the town of Cedar City. In-state tuition and fees average $6,962, with out-of-state students paying around $21,192. Students borrow a median of $12,886 to complete the special education program here. Early-career special education graduates make about $44,998. Set against $12,886 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Brigham Young University Idaho came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value special education schools. Set in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,800. Special Education graduates carry a median of $13,287 in student loans. Special Education graduates of Brigham Young University Idaho earn a median of $43,252 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Students looking for strong value in special education will find it at University Of Wyoming, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,768, with out-of-state students paying around $24,178. Typical student debt for special education graduates is $20,283. Early-career special education graduates make about $49,890. That is a strong return on a $20,283 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Colorado Denver earned it the #5 place for special education. University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public school located in the city of Denver. In-state tuition and fees average $10,383, with out-of-state students paying around $29,391. Typical student debt for special education graduates is $26,582. Early-career special education graduates make about $66,288. Set against $26,582 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Western Governors University placed #6 among the best values for special education. Set in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Western Governors University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $8,658 in tuition and fees. Special Education graduates carry a median of $25,158 in student loans. Special Education graduates of Western Governors University earn a median of $51,380 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,158 median debt.
Utah State University came in at #7 for value in special education this year. Utah State University is a very large public school located in the city of Logan. In-state tuition and fees average $8,560, with out-of-state students paying around $24,993. Special Education graduates carry a median of $18,125 in student loans. Special Education graduates of Utah State University earn a median of $61,474 early in their careers. Set against $18,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Brigham Young University Provo landed the #8 spot for special education value this year. Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,688. Students borrow a median of $12,184 to complete the special education program here. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $50,331. That is a strong return on a $12,184 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Utah ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value special education schools. University Of Utah is a very large public school located in the city of Salt Lake City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,620, with out-of-state students paying around $30,860. Students borrow a median of $20,798 to complete the special education program here. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from University Of Utah generally make around $65,971. That is a strong return on a $20,798 median debt. University Of Utah admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs earned the #10 position for value in special education this year. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a large public school located in the city of Colorado Springs. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,906, while out-of-state students pay about $25,039. Students borrow a median of $23,559 to complete the special education program here. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs generally make around $52,083. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs admits about 97% of applicants.
The University Of Montana Western ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value special education schools. Set in the town of Dillon, The University Of Montana Western is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,669, compared with $20,130 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for special education graduates is $22,484. Early-career special education graduates make about $36,924. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Montana State University Billings came in at #12 for value in special education this year. Montana State University Billings is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Billings. In-state tuition and fees average $7,280, with out-of-state students paying around $22,897. Typical student debt for special education graduates is $25,465. Early-career special education graduates make about $48,764. Set against $25,465 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Northern Colorado earned the #13 position for value in special education this year. Located in the city of Greeley, University Of Northern Colorado is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,901, with out-of-state students paying around $26,979. Special Education graduates carry a median of $26,564 in student loans. Special Education graduates of University Of Northern Colorado earn a median of $49,499 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,564 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Boise State University placed #14 among the best values for special education. Boise State University is a very large public school located in the city of Boise. In-state tuition and fees average $9,048, with out-of-state students paying around $27,788. Students borrow a median of $26,675 to complete the special education program here. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Boise State University generally make around $46,171. Set against $26,675 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado Christian University landed the #15 spot for special education value this year. Set in the suburb of Lakewood, Colorado Christian University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,846. Students borrow a median of $36,092 to complete the special education program here. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Colorado Christian University generally make around $41,475. That is a strong return on a $36,092 median debt.
University Of Denver earned the #16 position for value in special education this year. Located in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $61,398. Special Education graduates carry a median of $22,534 in student loans. Early-career special education graduates make about $57,362. Set against $22,534 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Denver admits about 78% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
