2026 Best Value Elementary Special Education Schools in Iowa
[Elementary Special Education](/majors/education/special-education/elementary-special-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong elementary special education education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 3 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value elementary special education schools.
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2026 Best Value Elementary Special Education Schools in Iowa
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the elementary special education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Elementary Special Education Schools
For return on investment in elementary special education, no school beat University Of Northern Iowa this year. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,936, with out-of-state students paying around $21,712. Students borrow a median of $22,635 to complete the elementary special education program here. Elementary Special Education graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $60,588 early in their careers. Set against $22,635 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Buena Vista University one of the best values for elementary special education. Located in the town of Storm Lake, Buena Vista University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,798. Typical student debt for elementary special education graduates is $29,317. Early-career elementary special education graduates make about $44,780. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
A rank of #3 makes Upper Iowa University one of the best values for elementary special education. Set in the rural area of Fayette, Upper Iowa University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,475. Elementary Special Education graduates carry a median of $35,455 in student loans. Early-career elementary special education graduates make about $50,052. Set against $35,455 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Upper Iowa University admits about 96% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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 · 3 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.
