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Best Value Special Education Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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2023 Best Value Special Education Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region

Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing

95 Colleges
$17,684 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$38,520 Avg Salary

Finding the Best Special Education Bachelor's Degree School for You

With 36,792 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, special education is the #4 most popular major in the United States.

There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which teaching program is right for you. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. Also, there are a number of trade schools with offerings that you might find attractive.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Teaching Degree Search has created its Best Value Special Education Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This report analyzed 95 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which ones offered the best value bachelor's degree programs for special ed students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.

This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.

For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.

2023 Best Value Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region

Check out the special ed bachelor's degree programs at these schools if you want to get the best value for your educational dollar.

Top 15% Best Special Education Bachelor's Degree Schools

#1

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, MI

Our analysis found Central Michigan University to be the best value school for special education students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in the Great Lakes Region . Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan is a public college with a large student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Central Michigan are $13,094 per year. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $385, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

#2

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, IL

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Eastern Illinois University is a great value for special education students working on their bachelor’s degree. EIU is a medium-sized public school located in the distant town of Charleston.

EIU undergraduate students pay an average of $14,551 in tuition and fees each year.

Read full report on Special Education at Eastern Illinois University

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the large suburb of Edwardsville, SIUE is a public school with a large student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SIUE are $11,496 per year. After completing their Bachelor's Degree, special ed graduates from SIUE carry an average student debtload of $21,538.

Full Special Education at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the small city of Carbondale, SIUC is a public school with a large student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SIUC are $15,240 per year. While working on their Bachelor's Degree, special ed majors at SIUC accumulate an average of around $28,021 in student debt.

In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, SIUC is ranked #3 for overall quality for special ed in the Great Lakes Region .

Full Special Education at Southern Illinois University Carbondale Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - Eau Claire is a large public school located in the small city of Eau Claire.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UW - Eau Claire are $17,149 a year. On average, special ed graduates from UW - Eau Claire take out $25,063 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.

UW - Eau Claire excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.

Full Special Education at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the small city of Oshkosh, UW Oshkosh is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UW Oshkosh are $15,306 per year.

Full Special Education at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Report

With a ranking of #7, Northern Illinois University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for special education students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the small suburb of Dekalb, NIU is a public college with a fairly large student population.

NIU undergraduate students pay an average of $14,738 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their Bachelor's Degree, special ed majors at NIU accumulate an average of around $22,819 in student debt.

Full Special Education at Northern Illinois University Report

#8

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, OH

Youngstown State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Youngstown State University is a fairly large public school located in the city of Youngstown.

Youngstown State University undergraduate students pay an average of $9,732 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their Bachelor's Degree, special ed graduates from Youngstown State University carry an average student debtload of $30,948.

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University of Wisconsin - Whitewater landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree special education programs. Located in the town of Whitewater, UW - Whitewater is a public college with a fairly large student population.

UW - Whitewater undergraduate students pay an average of $16,602 in tuition and fees each year.

Full Special Education at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Report

With a ranking of #10, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well on this year’s best value schools for special education students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the distant town of Stevens Point, UW - Stevens Point is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UW - Stevens Point are $17,035 a year.

Full Special Education at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Report

Western Illinois University landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree special education programs. WIU is a moderately-sized public school located in the remote town of Macomb.

WIU undergraduate students pay an average of $13,297 in tuition and fees each year.

Read More…

University of Wisconsin - Stout landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree special education programs. Located in the town of Menomonie, UW - Stout is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UW - Stout are $17,820 a year. On average, special ed graduates from UW - Stout take out $26,157 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.

UW - Stout not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #4 on our Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.

Read More…

University of Akron Main Campus landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree special education programs. University of Akron Main Campus is a fairly large public school located in the midsize city of Akron.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at University of Akron Main Campus are $11,880 per year. On average, special ed graduates from University of Akron Main Campus take out $24,942 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $218, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Special Education at University of Akron Main Campus Report

With a ranking of #14, Illinois State University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for special education students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Illinois State undergraduate students pay an average of $24,172 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their Bachelor's Degree, special ed graduates from Illinois State carry an average student debtload of $19,363. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $201.

Illinois State also claimed a spot on our Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.

Read full report on Special Education at Illinois State University

Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Special Education Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.

Rank College Location
15 Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI
16 Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MI
17 University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI
18 Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI
19 National Louis University Chicago, IL

Best Special Education Colleges by State

Explore the best special education colleges for a specific state in the Great Lakes region.

State Degrees Awarded
Ohio 1,329
Illinois 1,153
Indiana 2,282
Michigan 607
Wisconsin 598

One of 14 majors within the teaching area of study, special education has other similar majors worth exploring.

Special Ed Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
General Special Education 24,497
Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs 3,111
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities 1,789
Elementary Special Education 1,625
Other Special Education & Teaching 1,227
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism 1,133
Education/Teaching of Individuals in Secondary Special Education Programs 655
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Specific Learning Disabilities 540
Education/Teaching of the Gifted & Talented 504
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Speech or Language Impairments 415
Education of the Deaf 363
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Emotional Disturbances 226
Education/Teaching of Individuals Who are Developmentally Delayed 222
Education/Teaching of Individuals in Junior High/Middle School Special Education Programs 181
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Vision Impairments Including Blindness 134
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities 122
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Orthopedic & Other Physical Health Impairments 47
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injuries 1

Related Major Annual Graduates
Teacher Education Grade Specific 110,226
Educational Administration 46,469
Teacher Education Subject Specific 43,297
General Education 29,810
Curriculum & Instruction 19,832

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 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 the rest 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).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to woodleywonderworks.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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