2027 Best Value Special Education Schools in Colorado

[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.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value special education schools.
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2027 Best Value Special Education Schools in Colorado
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
University Of Colorado Denver tops our 2027 list of the best value special education schools in Colorado. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,383 in tuition and fees, 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. That is a strong return on a $26,582 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in special education will find it at University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs, which ranked #2. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a large public school located in the city of Colorado Springs. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. The acceptance rate is 97%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Northern Colorado earned it the #3 place for special education. Located in the city of Greeley, University Of Northern Colorado is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,901, while out-of-state students pay about $26,979. Special Education graduates carry a median of $26,564 in student loans. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from University Of Northern Colorado generally make around $49,499. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Colorado Christian University earned it the #4 place for special education. 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. Special Education graduates carry a median of $36,092 in student loans. 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 is a great value for students pursuing a degree in special education, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Denver. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,398. Typical student debt for special education graduates is $22,534. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from University Of Denver generally make around $57,362. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Denver admits about 78% of applicants.
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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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.