2027 Best Value Special Education Schools in Alabama

[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.
College Factual analyzed 7 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value special education schools.
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2027 Best Value Special Education Schools in Alabama
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in special education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Special Education Schools
Leading the list is University Of West Alabama, our #1 best value for special education in Alabama. University Of West Alabama is a large public school located in the rural area of Livingston. In-state tuition and fees average $10,990, while out-of-state students pay about $20,090. Students borrow a median of $31,894 to complete the special education program here. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from University Of West Alabama generally make around $56,329. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of West Alabama admits about 43% of applicants.
Jacksonville State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in special education, landing the #2 spot this year. Jacksonville State University is a large public school located in the suburb of Jacksonville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,894, while out-of-state students pay about $23,334. Special Education graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Special Education graduates of Jacksonville State University earn a median of $46,733 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Alabama A And M University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value special education schools. Located in the city of Normal, Alabama A And M University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,024 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,634. Students borrow a median of $27,594 to complete the special education program here. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Alabama A And M University generally make around $45,909. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in special education will find it at University Of South Alabama, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Mobile, University Of South Alabama is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,116 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,092. Students borrow a median of $26,513 to complete the special education program here. Early-career special education graduates make about $53,827. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Alabama admits about 71% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in special education will find it at University Of Alabama At Birmingham, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,098, compared with $22,562 for out-of-state students. Special Education graduates carry a median of $26,162 in student loans. Special Education graduates of University Of Alabama At Birmingham earn a median of $50,356 early in their careers. Set against $26,162 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Alabama ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value special education schools. The University Of Alabama is a very large public school located in the city of Tuscaloosa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,180, compared with $34,172 for out-of-state students. Special Education graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career special education graduates make about $45,631. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Alabama admits about 77% of applicants.
Auburn University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value special education schools. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,890, compared with $34,922 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete the special education program here. Special Education graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $46,289 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
More Special Education Rankings
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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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.