2027 Best Value Special Education Schools in Arkansas

[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.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value special education schools.
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2027 Best Value Special Education Schools in Arkansas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in special education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Special Education Schools
For return on investment in special education, no school beat Arkansas State University Main Campus this year. Located in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,090 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,522. Typical student debt for special education graduates is $23,399. Special Education graduates of Arkansas State University Main Campus earn a median of $50,720 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Arkansas Tech University earned it the #2 place for special education. Arkansas Tech University is a large public school located in the town of Russellville. Students from in state pay about $8,674 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,668 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,257 to complete the special education program here. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Arkansas Tech University generally make around $46,981. That is a strong return on a $23,257 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Arkansas is a great value for students pursuing a degree in special education, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Conway, University Of Central Arkansas is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,523, compared with $18,023 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,250 to complete the special education program here. Early-career special education graduates make about $45,044. Set against $19,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Central Arkansas admits about 90% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in special education will find it at University Of Arkansas, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,104, compared with $29,966 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the special education program here. Early-career special education graduates make about $43,718. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. University Of Arkansas admits about 74% of applicants.
Harding University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value special education schools. Located in the town of Searcy, Harding University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,962. Students borrow a median of $26,715 to complete the special education program here. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Harding University generally make around $53,629. Set against $26,715 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Harding University admits about 70% of applicants.
Henderson State University came in at #6 for value in special education this year. Henderson State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Arkadelphia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,244, with out-of-state students paying around $10,620. Special Education graduates carry a median of $23,234 in student loans. Early-career special education graduates make about $40,131. That is a strong return on a $23,234 median debt.
More Special Education Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 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.