by our College Data Analytics Team
[Special Education](/majors/education/special-education/) 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 6 schools to find the best return on investment for special education students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the special education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Brigham Young University Idaho earned the #1 spot for value among special education schools in Idaho. Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Rexburg. In-state tuition and fees average $4,800. Special Education graduates carry a median of $13,287 in student loans. Early-career special education graduates make about $43,252. Set against $13,287 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in special education will find it at Idaho State University, which ranked #2. Idaho State University is a large public school located in the city of Pocatello. Students from in state pay about $8,610 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,720 for out-of-state students. Special Education graduates carry a median of $24,640 in student loans. Early-career special education graduates make about $51,446. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Boise State University one of the best values for special education. Boise State University is a very large public school located in the city of Boise. Students from in state pay about $9,048 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $27,788. Special Education graduates carry a median of $26,675 in student loans. Special Education graduates of Boise State University earn a median of $46,171 early in their careers. Set against $26,675 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
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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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.