by our College Data Analytics Team
[Administration of Special Education](/majors/education/educational-administration/administration-of-special-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for administration of special education students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the administration of special education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Pennsylvania Western University earned the #1 spot for value among administration of special education schools in Pennsylvania. Located in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,436, with out-of-state students paying around $16,054. Median earnings reach $47,295 ten years out. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Gwynedd Mercy College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value administration of special education schools. Gwynedd Mercy College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Gwynedd Valley. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,838. Students borrow a median of $29,764 to complete the administration of special education program here. Early-career administration of special education graduates make about $89,947. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Gwynedd Mercy College admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in administration of special education, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,926, compared with $41,430 for out-of-state students. Administration Of Special Education graduates carry a median of $24,958 in student loans. Early-career administration of special education graduates make about $74,610. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus admits about 58% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Drexel University earned it the #4 place for administration of special education. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,412. Students borrow a median of $28,838 to complete the administration of special education program here. Early-career administration of special education graduates make about $84,701. Set against $28,838 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Drexel University admits about 79% of applicants.
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The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, 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 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.