2026 Best Value Special Education Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Special Education associate’s degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 1022 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Teaching Degree Search evaluated schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Special Education Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
For return on investment, no school beat Itawamba Community College this year in the United States. This public school is set in Fulton, MS. Students from in state pay about $3,420 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,820 for out-of-state students. Itawamba Community College Special Education students take on a median of $10,942 in debt. Itawamba Community College alumni report median earnings of $32,912 a decade after entry. Set against $10,942 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Itawamba Community College
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Miami Dade College earned it the #2 place in the United States. Based in Miami, FL, Miami Dade College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,838, with out-of-state students paying around $9,661. Miami Dade College Special Education students take on a median of $9,671 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $40,654. That is a strong return on a $9,671 median debt. See the full Miami Dade College profile
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lehigh Carbon Community College earned it the #3 place in the United States. Lehigh Carbon Community College is a public school based in Schnecksville, PA. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,280, compared with $13,270 for out-of-state students. The median Special Education program debt is $14,450. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,436 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $14,450 median debt. Get the full Lehigh Carbon Community College report
A rank of #4 makes Stark State College one of the best values in the United States. Set in North Canton, OH, Stark State College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,790, while out-of-state students pay about $7,886. The median Special Education program debt is $17,349. Stark State College alumni report median earnings of $34,661 a decade after entry. Set against $17,349 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Stark State College
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Cincinnati Clermont College earned it the #5 place in the United States. This public school is set in Batavia, OH. Students from in state pay about $6,639 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,871. Students borrow a median of $19,525 to complete their Special Education program here. Median earnings reach $54,810 ten years out. Set against $19,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full University Of Cincinnati Clermont College report
College Of Southern Nevada landed the #6 spot for value in the United States this year. This public school is set in Las Vegas, NV. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,358, while out-of-state students pay about $13,024. The median Special Education program debt is $9,250. Median earnings reach $38,087 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $9,250 median debt. More on College Of Southern Nevada
Florida State College At Jacksonville landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Jacksonville, FL, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,657, with out-of-state students paying around $9,631. Graduates carry a median of $19,139 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,244. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Florida State College At Jacksonville
Gloucester County College placed #8 among the best-value Special Education schools in the United States. Located in Sewell, NJ, Gloucester County College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,160, with out-of-state students paying around $6,000. The median Special Education program debt is $13,236. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,751 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $13,236 median debt. See the full Gloucester County College profile
Brenau University came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Brenau University
Erskine College And Seminary placed #10 among the best-value Special Education schools in the United States. Read the full report on Erskine College And Seminary
Iona College
Iona College placed #11 among the best-value Special Education schools in the United States. Get the full Iona College report
Drexel University placed #12 among the best-value Special Education schools in the United States. Read the full report on Drexel University
Missouri Baptist University offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. Read the full report on Missouri Baptist University
San Francisco State University placed #14 among the best-value Special Education schools in the United States. Get the full San Francisco State University report
University Of Houston ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best-value Special Education schools. Get the full University Of Houston report
Alma College
Alma College placed #16 among the best-value Special Education schools in the United States. Read more about Alma College
Capella University came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Capella University
Francis Marion University offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. See the full Francis Marion University profile
White Mountains Community College placed #19 among the best-value Special Education schools in the United States. Read the full report on White Mountains Community College
East Central University came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. Get the full East Central University report
Florida International University placed #21 among the best-value Special Education schools in the United States. Read more about Florida International University
Goshen College
Goshen College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best-value Special Education schools. More on Goshen College
Hampton University offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. Read the full report on Hampton University
Los Angeles City College placed #24 among the best-value Special Education schools in the United States. See the full Los Angeles City College profile
Minneapolis Community And Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #25 position. Read more about Minneapolis Community And Technical College
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Special Education Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
The University Of Montana offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. Read the full report on The University Of Montana
University Of Mount Union offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. See the full University Of Mount Union profile
University Of New England offered strong value this year, earning the #28 position. Get the full University Of New England report
Western Governors University placed #29 among the best-value Special Education schools in the United States. Read the full report on Western Governors University
Bethany Lutheran College ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best-value Special Education schools. See the full Bethany Lutheran College profile
Dallas Baptist University ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Special Education schools. More on Dallas Baptist University
Inver Hills Community College placed #32 among the best-value Special Education schools in the United States. Read more about Inver Hills Community College
Mt San Antonio College came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. More on Mt San Antonio College
Muskingum University offered strong value this year, earning the #34 position. Get the full Muskingum University report
Pasadena City College offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. Read more about Pasadena City College
Schoolcraft College ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value Special Education schools. See the full Schoolcraft College profile
Sul Ross State University came in at #37 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Sul Ross State University
Suny At Albany
Suny At Albany came in at #38 in this year's value ranking. More on Suny At Albany
Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. Read the full report on Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences
Daytona State College landed the #40 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Daytona State College
Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Special Education schools. Read the full report on Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus
Lee University
Lee University ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best-value Special Education schools. More on Lee University
Quincy University landed the #43 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Quincy University report
University Of Sioux Falls placed #44 among the best-value Special Education schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Sioux Falls
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater offered strong value this year, earning the #45 position. Read more about University Of Wisconsin Whitewater
Western New Mexico University ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best-value Special Education schools. See the full Western New Mexico University profile
Martin Luther College ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best-value Special Education schools. More on Martin Luther College
Northern Michigan University placed #48 among the best-value Special Education schools in the United States. Read more about Northern Michigan University
Point Park University offered strong value this year, earning the #49 position. Read more about Point Park University
University Of Great Falls ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best-value Special Education schools. Read the full report on University Of Great Falls
Related Special Education Value Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Value Special Education Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Special Education Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Special Education Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Special Education Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Special Education Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Special Education Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Teaching Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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 · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 1022 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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