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Best Value Special Education Schools in Michigan

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2023 Best Value Special Education Schools in Michigan

Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices

18 Colleges
$23,596 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$43,967 Avg Salary

Finding the Best Special Education School for You

Special Education is one of the most popular subjects to study in Michigan. With 607 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, it ranked 5th out of all the majors we track in the state.

There are so many teaching programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

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 Schools in Michigan ranking. This report analyzed 18 schools in Michigan to see which ones offered the best value programs for special ed students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.

Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.

In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.

2023 Best Value Special Education Schools in Michigan

The colleges and universities below are the best value schools for special ed majors pursuing a .

Top 10 Best Special Education Schools

#1

Spring Arbor University

Spring Arbor, MI
$31,080 Average Tuition & Fees

Our 2023 rankings named Spring Arbor University the best value school in Michigan for special education students. Located in the suburb of Spring Arbor, Spring Arbor is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

Spring Arbor undergraduate students pay an average of $31,080 in in-state tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that special ed majors at Spring Arbor take out is $30,428.

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#2

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, MI
$13,094 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Central Michigan University. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Special Education Schools in Michigan list. Central Michigan is a large public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant.

Central Michigan undergraduate students pay an average of $13,094 in in-state tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that special ed majors at Central Michigan take out is $31,000. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $385, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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#3

Saginaw Valley State University

University Center, MI
$11,130 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 18 schools in Michigan that were part of this year’s ranking, Saginaw Valley State University landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the suburb of University Center, Saginaw Valley State University is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Saginaw Valley State University are $11,130 a year. After completing their degree, special ed graduates from Saginaw Valley State University carry an average student debtload of $30,000.

Full Special Education at Saginaw Valley State University Report

$13,900 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Grand Valley State University. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Special Education Schools in Michigan list. Located in the suburb of Allendale, GVSU is a public school with a fairly large student population.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at GVSU are $13,900 per year. After completing their degree, special ed graduates from GVSU carry an average student debtload of $31,000.

Full Special Education at Grand Valley State University Report

#5

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI
$15,966 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Michigan State University is a great value for special education students. Michigan State is a very large public school located in the small city of East Lansing.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Michigan State are $15,966 a year. After completing their degree, special ed graduates from Michigan State carry an average student debtload of $22,873.

Michigan State not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #5 on our Best Special Education Schools in Michigan list.

Full Special Education at Michigan State University Report

$13,206 Average Tuition & Fees

Northern Michigan University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for special education students. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in the town of Marquette, Northern Michigan University is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Northern Michigan University are $13,206 per year.

Read full report on Special Education at Northern Michigan University

$13,434 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #7, Western Michigan University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for special education students. WMU is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Kalamazoo.

WMU undergraduate students pay an average of $13,434 in in-state tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, special ed graduates from WMU carry an average student debtload of $31,000.

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#8

Wayne State University

Detroit, MI
$15,199 Average Tuition & Fees

Wayne State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Special Education Schools in Michigan list. Wayne State is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Detroit.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Wayne State are $15,199 a year. On average, special ed graduates from Wayne State take out $36,500 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Special Education at Wayne State University

$31,830 Average Tuition & Fees

Concordia University, Ann Arbor ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Special Education Schools in Michigan list. Concordia University, Ann Arbor is a small private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Ann Arbor.

Concordia University, Ann Arbor undergraduate students pay an average of $31,830 in in-state tuition and fees each year.

Full Special Education at Concordia University, Ann Arbor Report

$12,322 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Michigan - Flint came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Education Schools in Michigan ranking. UM Flint is a medium-sized public school located in the small city of Flint.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UM Flint are $12,322 per year.

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Best Value Special Education Colleges in the Great Lakes Region

Explore all the Best Value Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Area or other specific states within that region.

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

Special Education is one of 14 different types of teaching programs to choose from.

Special Ed Concentrations

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 18 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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