by our College Data Analytics Team
[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 4 schools to find the best return on investment for special education students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in special education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Chadron State College, our #1 best value for special education in Nebraska. Set in the town of Chadron, Chadron State College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,294. Students borrow a median of $22,912 to complete the special education program here. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Chadron State College generally make around $47,254. That is a strong return on a $22,912 median debt.
University Of Nebraska At Omaha came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value special education schools. Located in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,718, compared with $23,206 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,860 to complete the special education program here. Special Education graduates of University Of Nebraska At Omaha earn a median of $46,623 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of Nebraska At Kearney came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value special education schools. Set in the town of Kearney, University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,564, with out-of-state students paying around $16,484. Typical student debt for special education graduates is $22,173. Early-career special education graduates make about $54,521. That is a strong return on a $22,173 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a great value for students pursuing a degree in special education, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,434, while out-of-state students pay about $28,584. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the special education program here. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from University Of Nebraska Lincoln generally make around $49,528. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.