2027 Best Value Special Education Schools in Kansas

[Special Education](/majors/education/special-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong special education education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for special education students.
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2027 Best Value Special Education Schools in Kansas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in special education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Special Education Schools
Fort Hays State University tops our 2027 list of the best value special education schools in Kansas. Fort Hays State University is a large public school located in the town of Hays. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,923, compared with $17,741 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for special education graduates is $25,967. Early-career special education graduates make about $53,586. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in special education will find it at Wichita State University, which ranked #2. Wichita State University is a large public school located in the city of Wichita. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,684, compared with $19,869 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,262 to complete the special education program here. Early-career special education graduates make about $55,624. That is a strong return on a $24,262 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Pittsburg State University one of the best values for special education. Set in the town of Pittsburg, Pittsburg State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,400 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,744 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for special education graduates is $22,669. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Pittsburg State University generally make around $52,368. That is a strong return on a $22,669 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Students looking for strong value in special education will find it at Emporia State University, which ranked #4. Set in the town of Emporia, Emporia State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,106, with out-of-state students paying around $15,419. Typical student debt for special education graduates is $23,131. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Emporia State University generally make around $53,927. Set against $23,131 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Kansas earned it the #5 place for special education. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, compared with $30,432 for out-of-state students. Special Education graduates carry a median of $23,608 in student loans. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $58,196. Set against $23,608 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Kansas State University landed the #6 spot for special education value this year. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. In-state tuition and fees average $11,221, compared with $28,568 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for special education graduates is $23,546. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $51,543. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 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.