2026 Best Value Education of the Deaf Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Education of the Deaf](/majors/education/special-education/education-of-the-deaf/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for education of the deaf students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Education of the Deaf Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in education of the deaf, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Education of the Deaf Schools
Oakland Community College earned the #1 spot for value among education of the deaf schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,120, compared with $5,560 for out-of-state students. Education Of The Deaf graduates carry a median of $15,865 in student loans. Soon after graduation, education of the deaf degree recipients from Oakland Community College generally make around $43,205. That is a strong return on a $15,865 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ball State University earned it the #2 place for education of the deaf. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,082, with out-of-state students paying around $29,630. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the education of the deaf program here. Soon after graduation, education of the deaf degree recipients from Ball State University generally make around $54,096. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
A rank of #3 makes Shawnee State University one of the best values for education of the deaf. Located in the town of Portsmouth, Shawnee State University is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,448, with out-of-state students paying around $16,032. Typical student debt for education of the deaf graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, education of the deaf degree recipients from Shawnee State University generally make around $42,878. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt.
Eastern Michigan University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in education of the deaf, landing the #4 spot this year. Eastern Michigan University is a large public school located in the suburb of Ypsilanti. In-state tuition and fees average $16,990. Typical student debt for education of the deaf graduates is $31,000. Early-career education of the deaf graduates make about $47,887. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Students looking for strong value in education of the deaf will find it at Illinois State University, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,410, compared with $26,058 for out-of-state students. Education Of The Deaf graduates carry a median of $20,436 in student loans. Early-career education of the deaf graduates make about $49,660. That is a strong return on a $20,436 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Kent State University At Kent placed #6 among the best values for education of the deaf. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,220, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Typical student debt for education of the deaf graduates is $25,000. Early-career education of the deaf graduates make about $44,776. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #7 for value in education of the deaf this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,363, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Typical student debt for education of the deaf graduates is $24,742. Early-career education of the deaf graduates make about $51,104. That is a strong return on a $24,742 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Narrow Education of the Deaf Schools by State
More Education of the Deaf Rankings
View All Education of the Deaf Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked 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 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
